Dogs at home & on the trail

[Nanno]

I only have livestock guardian dogs, but they would make horrible inside pets and they eat like horses! So I don't really have any particular breed recommendations except that I would want to avoid herding breeds like Heelers and Border Collies. They are typically very intense and tend to chase anything that moves in an attempt to "herd" it. To be good with livestock they need to have a constant, demanding, and specific job. I've always been partial to Labradors and Lab crosses, but some bloodlines can be overly energetic when young and they shed a lot. If you get a small breed of dog you wont' have to worry about it harming your goats. Any large breed could potentially kill a goat if it got excited and started chasing. With small dogs you have to be more concerned that the goats might injure or kill the dog if it started to chase. I especially tend to love mutts and there are so many shelter dogs that need good homes. You may not know its breeding, but sometimes the right dog finds you at a shelter and can make the most loyal pet and obedient farm dog. You may even be able to adopt an adult dog and skip the exuberant puppy stage, which is when chasing incidents are most likely to occur. Best of luck! I hope you find exactly the dog you're looking for!