Your choice of breed will depend on the answers to these questions and others, but there are many great breeds of dogs that serve as popular choices for horse people. The most important part of selecting a good barn dog is doing your research on what type of breed will suit you and your lifestyle best, but here are just a few of the most popular breeds of barn dogs:
Rat terriers and Jack Russell terriers are small, clever and energetic, with a penchant for hunting rodents.
Miniature Australian shepherds and Australian shepherds are intelligent, energetic and loyal. While they generally love spending time outdoors, they are herding dogs, so these dogs may require special training to ensure they don’t herd your horses.
Corgis are a popular choice among horse people – just ask Queen Elizabeth II! They’re compact, bold, playful and friendly, but like Australian shepherds, they are also herding dogs.
Labradors and golden retrievers are beautiful, easy to train and always down for an adventure.
If you’re looking for a dog to live at your barn or serve as a livestock guardian, consider a Great Pyrenees. These large, fluffy dogs are gentle enough to care for small animals but fierce enough to fight off coyotes and other aggressive dogs. Their long hair coats and dew claws require a lot of maintenance, and they are prone to wander, so good fences are a must.
Blue heelers, or Australian cattle dogs, are another popular choice. Like Australian shepherds and corgis, they are herding dogs, so they will require training to harness those instincts.
Don’t discount mutts or rescue dogs. Some of the best barn dogs are mutts of indeterminate breeding. In addition to having lots of hybrid vigor, mutts can be the best combination of characteristics from a variety of breeds – not to mention they can be one-of-a-kind!