Farm Tender

8 Best Dog Breeds for Australian Farm Life

  • Dec 13, 2021
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If you’re living a farm or country life, you may wish to have the best farm dog by your side all the time.

Whether looking for a furry friend to keep you company during long farming hours or to assist you with never-ending tasks like herding cattle, protecting livestock and humans on the farm, eradicating farm pests, or other farm-related tasks.

Farm dogs are exceptional at what they do and are an absolute necessity for making farm life easier.

Here are the 8 best farm dog breeds that would love to accompany you in bustling country life.

Australian Cattle Dog (Heeler):

Hardy, energetic and smart - Australian cattle dogs are amazing herders and the best dogs to have on a farm.

They are Strong and agile to take advantage of their small size to move around and across the herd.

Popularly known as Australian heelers, their personality is such that they always keep you entertained on the field.

Their high intelligence makes them quite easy to be trained as guard dogs. They are loyal and follow the master but are wary of outsiders.

This dog breed is tough and highly focused to work on ranches, handle hard life on the terrain and survive in high temperatures. Apart from being your loyal and hard-working mate, Blue Heelers or Australian Cattle Dog have several other intriguing traits that are way more impressive than other breeds.

As per the expert observation, Australian Cattle dogs are very sensitive when they get trolled or criticized. Novice dog masters looking for Australian cattle dogs & puppies for sale be aware! The dog breed needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay healthy and happy. They thrive to do more jobs and May not be suitable for apartment living.

Height 18-20 inches
Weight 35-50 pounds
Colour Red, Blue, Grey
Life span 12-15 yrs
Friendliness Children and adult
Breed Type Herding
Coat characteristics Short straight double-coated

Australian Shepherd:

Despite their name, Australian shepherd, they are a breed from the U.S.

Energetic yet easy-going, this affectionate Australian sheepdog breed is a great match for anyone looking for an intelligent, obedient, adaptive companion to protect their farm territory.

Certain traits that make them popular farmer dog breeds are their smart herding instinct, trainability, adaptability, and high intelligence. This is why besides herding animals, they also are great police dogs, narcotics detectors, and competitors in obedience trials. Aussies are hard workers and can work all day long.

Although the dog breed seems shy to socialize. But with proper training, they can be stimulated to get cozy with strangers too.

If you are on the prowl for cute Australian shepherd dogs & puppies for sale, explore our listing of the most popular dog breeds in Australia looking for a new home.

Height 18-23 inches
Weight 40-65 pounds
Colour Black, blue merle, red, red merle
Life span 12-13 yrs
Friendliness Families and other dogs
Breed Type Herding
Coat characteristics Straight to wavy dual coat

Border Collie:

Border Collies are one of the most popular working and herding dog breeds. They are quite intelligent, playful, and are popularly bred for their unbelievable heading instinct.

Not just smart, they are gentle and loving too. Besides farm work, the Collie breed also makes a great addition to your family as a loyal and fun-loving member.

They are very quick learners and workaholics, the athletic dogs love when they are put to work continuously. Kids in your family find a perfect buddy in them.

However, they are more reserved around strangers. Choose your pet among border collie dogs & puppies for sale, to get an energetic and notorious companion on the farm.

Height 18-22 inches
Weight 35-55 pounds
Colour Most common colour: white and black
Likely have Chocolate brown, red, blue, black, grey colours too
Life span 12-15 yrs
Friendliness Families and other dogs
Breed Type Herding
Coat characteristics Smooth or rough double coats

Jack Russell Terrier:

If you are fed up with rodents and pesky pests, bring on the Jack Russell on the farm. He can clean them all. These breeds of furry dogs are best to wipe out the small insects and may accompany their master from one field area to another to catch the raccoons and rats.

These canines are very alert, clever, and confident. Apart from that, they are also playful, which makes them a complete package of working as well as the best family dog breeds in Australia. They showcase the dog inside them by digging the land, barking loud, and chasing like mad.

Looking for a purebred Jack Russell dogs & puppies for sale in Australia. Have a look at our listing to buy from registered breeders online.

Height 10-15 inches
Weight 13-17 pounds
Colour white, white - black
Life span 10-15 years
Friendliness families
Breed Type Terrier dogs
Coat characteristics Flat and hard, Short Double coat

Fox Terrier:

This breed is one of the largest Terrier dogs, that very well suits Australian farm work and backyard needs. They are intelligent, friendly, fearless and forthcoming and originally bred for a fox hunt. They are best to catch prey all-around and are very versatile.

Though training is important for this farming dog breed, They can even be utilized for driving livestock and as a protector for fields, farms, and lands.

Small in size, they have great balance and symmetry. Like most terriers, they are more lively, playful and require ample exercise. Thus should always be placed in a fenced yard or field.

Most popular dog breed in a farming community, look at Fox Terrier dogs for sale to find a multitasking dog as your best friend.

Height Up to 15 inches
Weight 15-19 pounds
Colour Wire fox terrier: White with tan, black, fawn
Smooth fox terrier: prominently white with black or tan markings.
Life span 10-15 years
Friendliness Families children, dogs
Breed Type Terrier dogs
Coat characteristics Wire Fox Terrier: dense wired outer and soft inner coat
Smooth Fox Terrier: Smooth dense flat coat

Kelpie:

The iconic sheep, goats, and cattle herding dog breed is known for its good temperament in Australia. Kelpies are typical Australian dogs, besides Australian Silky Terrier, Australian Labradoodle, Australian Cattle dog, and Australian Bulldog.

Highly energetic, intelligent and independent - they are always ready to work tirelessly around your livestock and farms.

Red kelpies and heelers are popularly known as Red Dog (crossbreed of cattle dogs and kelpies).

Their natural herding instinct makes them well suited to their job without human supervision. Moreover, With time and training, they can learn impressive skills. A trained kelpie can perform search or detection work, dog guide duties, therapy work and more.

Before you plan to buy an Australian kelpie, make sure you are ready to give him suitable training and living environment.

Height 19-25 inches
Weight 28-60 pounds
Colour Red, brown, blue, cream, fawn, black, liver, chocolate
Life span 12-15 years
Friendliness Pets, kids, families
Breed Type Herding or working Dogs
Coat characteristics Short and denser, weather repellent double coat

Maremma:

Also known as ' Maremma Sheep Dog’ as they are bred to protect Sheep and a flock of goats on the farm.

Their level of energy and determination towards their master is unmatchable. They are always ready on their toes to obey their masters. However, they lose their patience quite easily if you play rough or tease them.

The dog breed acts very wise and is intelligent, provided they are trained well.

One of the best livestock guarding dogs for sale - End your search here, if looking for the best guard dog in Australia for protecting farms and livestock.

Height 23.5- 28.5 inches
Weight 66-100 pounds
Colour  White or cream
Life span 11-13 years
Friendliness Kids, families
Breed Type Guardian and working dog
Coat characteristics Long, thick and shaggy dual coats

Koolie:

Koolie, traditionally known as German Koolie is a hardworking Australian dog breed. Powered with a high energy level and excellent stamina, they are true outdoor dogs fitted to work on ranches and farms, herd cattle and ward away intruders.

Both intelligent and energetic, the Australian Koolie responds positively in a training session and enjoys his job.

Though a valuable asset for farmers, expert breeders describe Koolie as fun-loving, obedient, easy-going, and lively and hence they can become excellent companion dogs too.

When Looking for a Koolie dogs & puppies for sale. Note that they are fairly novice-friendly best farm dogs, provided you have enough time and work to share with them.

Height 13-23 inches
Weight 33-53 pounds
Colour Blue and red merle, red, grey or black
Life span 12-15 year
Friendliness Kids, families
Breed Type Working and herding
Coat characteristics Short and smooth, short and rough or medium double-coated dense fur