Best Dog Breeds For a Homestead

A homestead is much different than your run-of-the-mill, suburban household. It is much more isolated, surrounded by land, and generally used for agricultural purposes — for crops and livestock. There are many advantages of homesteading your property. Still, when you have the money invested in a large piece of property for agriculture, you need to ensure that it is well guarded. Or you may be looking for the perfect companion for you, your spouse, or your children.

A dog is a perfect addition to any homestead. Whether you want a porch pup, a working dog, or a hunting companion, there is no shortage of great canine breeds.

Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd is a mid-sized dog that is eager to please. They have unlimited energy, so your only concern should be if you have enough land for the playful pup to run around. Australian shepherds are great for herding. Australian Shepherds (as the name suggests) are great at watching over a flock, whether cattle, sheep, or horses. They are also great with kids, so look no further if your flock is your kid(s).

They come in a variety of colors, and they are brilliant. The thing with intelligent dogs — if there are no things to do, they can often get into trouble. So make sure to keep them entertained; otherwise, they may default to digging or digging through your trash.

Lifespan: 13 to 15 years;
Height: 18 to 23 inches;
Weight: 35 to 75 lbs;
Temperament: Intelligent, active, protective, loyal.

Labrador Retrievers

The Labrador Retriever is the epitome of a homestead dog. They are easy-going, trainable, playful, hard-working, and loyal. It makes them an ideal homestead dog for work, but they are also the perfect family companion. They love water, so if you have kids who love to swim or are big into hunting waterfowl, there are few better options than the “lab.” As long as you’re shooting, they’ll retrieve: an ideal hunting companion.

There are several different types of labs to choose from, all of which are common species for breeders. So whether you’re looking for yellow, black, silver, or chocolate labrador puppies for sale, you should have no issue finding them.

Lifespan: 10 to 12 years;
Height: 22 to 24 inches;
Weight: 55 to 80 lbs;
Temperament: Intelligent, trusting, loyal, active, even-tempered.

Australian Cattle Dogs

The Australian cattle dog — also known as the “heeler” — is the ideal breed of herding dogs. As the name suggests, they were initially bred for herding cattle. Since they are short in stature, they are the perfect canine candidate for nipping at the heels of cattle, horses, or sheep and keeping them in line. They come in two different color forms — red heelers and blue heelers.

Heelers aren’t considered “aggressive,” but due to their fierce loyalty, they may not be the best fit for homesteads filled with children — although there are plenty of families with Australian Cattle Dogs.

Lifespan: 13 to 15 years;
Height: 15 to 19 inches;
Weight: 31 to 35 lbs;
Temperament: Energetic, loyal, protective, brave/bold, hesitant.

Border Collies

The Border Collie, also coined as “collie,” is an excellent breed for a homestead. They are highly trainable canines because they are knowledgeable. In addition, they are loyal, making them an ideal companion for long days outside working or looking after your children.

They are great dogs for herding, but since they are so bright, they are easily trained for any work. Although they are similar in appearance to Australian shepherds, they have some key differences. They also come in a variety of colors. Fun fact: Border Collies can reach up to 30 miles per hour — one of the fastest dog breeds around.

Lifespan: 10 to 17 years;
Height: 18 to 22 inches;
Weight: 27 to 45 lbs;
Temperament: Athletic, intelligent, attentive, responsive, loyal.

Great Pyrenees

The Great Pyrenees is one of the “great” ones. This behemoth comes in at around 100 lbs. They are gentle and mellow enough to be the perfect sidekick for a child, but they also are strong and large enough to ward off any potential danger — be that of predators or humans.

The Great Pyrenees were initially bred to watch over a shepherd’s flock at night while they sleep, so they are naturally nocturnal. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they are genetically active throughout the night. So if you need help taking watch over your flock at night, they could be the perfect fit. But if you are looking for a dog to keep your children occupied, the Great Pyrenees may not be the one for you.

Lifespan: 10 to 12 years;
Height: 26 to 30 inches;
Weight: 80 to 120 lbs;
Temperament: Mellow, gentle, confident, strong.

Bernese Mountain Dogs

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a gentle giant you may not know about. They are not the most common breed, but this lovable giant is one of the most versatile breeds. They thrive on human affection and companionship, so they are excellent family dogs, making them protective.

They were originally bred for work in the mountains — similar to a Saint Bernard — but they do just fine in all types of regions/weather. They love the water and running around your acreage doing odd jobs, but they are perfectly fine with a night on the couch.

Some large dogs, like Bernese, Great Danes, Newfoundlands, etc., have shorter life spans. Bernese do not have long lives, but they will make the most of every second.

Lifespan: 6 to 8 years;
Height: 23 to 28 inches;
Weight: 79 to 110 lbs;
Temperament: Gentle, faithful, affectionate, protective.