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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
 
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | We want to get one as a pasture pet/companion for my other horse for when i go away to shows/rodeos. I've never owned one before and have been doing my reseach but, i also want real life opinions and tips. I know they are known for keeping coyotes away and being herd protectors, but are they going to try and kill our family dogs? I just want to be sure this is going to be a good fit before i go and get one. So im just trying to get as much info as i can :) |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
  
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Not all donkeys are guardians, if your buying a donkey thats been a pet and not working as a guardian then it should be good. But if buying a donkey that is a working guardian you may have a problem.. I have 3 donkeys and dont have any problems with my dogs around them. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| I have one. He's pretty much a pet, although he does work helping halter break weanlings. While mine will not go after my dogs and run them out of the pasture - he will take a shot at one if they get too close. My dogs learned quickly to give him a wider circle of space. One other thing to consider - donkeys take much less feed/grass to sustain them. I have to keep an eye on mine to keep him from getting dangerously fat. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | we dont necessarily NEED him to be a guardian, as we dont have anything small around besides the chickens but they are in the coop at night. So he doesnt have to be, I just want to make sure the dogs wont be killed if i turn my back for a second. The dogs are respectful, have been raised around horses and never chase them/attack, but they are in the pasture and run and play and i didnt want the donkey to take that as a "threat" and try to hurt them. Would you suggest a mini donkey?? it doesnt have to be a standard. I just want something there so my horse who stays home doesnt tear our barn down while im gone. He has horrible seperation issues. lol |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | We don't own a donkey yet but are expecting to be getting one very soon. If they are raised as a pasture pet you should be fine. Keep the grain to a minimum and you shouldn't have a problem with them getting too fat. They are great pets!
My daughter adores donkeys. Obsessed may be a better word. Our friends ride and show donkeys and mules so we go over to their barn daily for her to get her donkey fix. They are very smart and loving animals. You're going to fall in love!
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I have 3 minis, they are hilarious. They all will stomp my dogs if they get too close. The dogs can cross through their pen and they won’t go after them if they keep their distance which they have learned to do. You have to treat the minis like ponies as far as care, not too much green grass, no grain etc. and have good fencing they can’t get out of because they will try to get out. They call minis dogs of the equine world -personality plus and love attention. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Mine dont get grain are any type of feed at all just pasture and during winter I put out round bales for them. Right now since theres no grass I'm having to feed one donkey because this winter its been really hard on him, hes in his late 20's maybe early 30's so trying to keep weight on him, now the other 2 that are so much younger then he is still have their fat pocket's from just being on pasture so they do just fine on hay only.. So donkeys dont/cant be fed like a horse, they founder super easy if not careful. And will get super ugly fat too. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1611
Location: bring on the heat, NV | Food for thought...
I LOVE my long ear!! But she was scary to some horses. So theres a introduction period... Most of mine treat her the same as the others now. Shes okay with the dogs but will chase them. My dogs chase the coyotes off (constant patrol I kid you not) so im not sure what shes like towards them when im not watching... She'll chase the cats sooo much fun she thinks poor kitties (they're out there hunting gophers). Never nailed anyone its more a mock charge. She sounds like a squeaky door hooked to an amp soooo be ready for loud talking at feed time (check with neighbors so no hard feelings). She is young and plays rough... Biting hocks, shoulders, and wrestling constantly very physical critter. The colts are uber desentitized though Very very easy keeper so metabolically a connumdrum just pay attention and they train easier with treats similar to a dog. |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | Mules are much more likely to stomp a dog. Donkeys just put their heads down, bare their teeth and chase things. After a while, they get used to their own dogs and leave them alone. |
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 Stinky Cat Owner
Posts: 4097
Location: Oregon | I have a Sicilian donkey and got him for my older gelding because he needed a pasture buddy and someone to hang out with when all the other horses leave when we go ride. He’s funny to have around because of his personality BUT he’s almost killed my cats several times and if my dogs hadn’t become donkey savvy, they’d be dead too. He does chase off anything that comes onto the property – which includes any invited, visiting dogs so I’ve always got one eye on him. The ONLY reason he’s still on the property is because my gelding comes UNCORKED if he doesn’t see him. But when the gelding is gone, donkey is gone. Lol |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | My donkey started life in a small donkey herd as a cattle guardian and was leery of the horses at first but acclimated to them quickly. He knows which dogs are ours and will let the mini Aussie herd him, but he chases strange dogs and coyotes. The only problem we have is keeping him contained—little turd finds any weakness in the fencing and goes where he wants. Electricity is just another challenge to be overcome in his mind. LOL |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | 
Edited by Three 4 Luck 2018-02-25 9:07 AM
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | If you find one you like, ask the owner how they are with dogs. If it's advertised as an excellent guard donkey, odds are it won't be a good fit for your dogs. They're all different, some will chase a dog clear across the pasture until it either catches it or the dog escapes, some will just pin their ears and run a dog away a few feet, and others will completely ignore them. I wouldn't say there are donkeys that are 100% safe around dogs because it's instinct to drive them away, but you can definitely find one that won't really care if the dogs are around or not. Just make sure your dogs are able to escape if need be. |
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Oh, and don't get a jack!! They are cheaper but can be more aggressive towards other equines. Yes there are exceptions, but I'd recommend a john/gelding. Jennies are good too, but may have more of a chasing instinct since they're hard-wired to protect their young. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| Buy a mini. I have one and she is awesome. We couldnt even touch her at first, within a month, she wanted to be in your lap. She is a pet and doesnt attack dogs. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| What about getting a goat? |
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 Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: SoCal | Curious if the mini donkeys have any issues with being attacked by coyotes?
It sounds like they can defend themselves pretty well, and that has been my own concern with getting a mini horse, as we have had coyotes come in and grab chickens, I wouldn't put it past them to pester a mini. We've had more packs of coyotes in recent years, so it concerns me. We do have mountain lions occasionally, but I think they usually just keep moving if they do come past us, and would probably grab a neighboring dog than a mini with other horses.
Asking because I'm looking to get a mini donkey as a companion as well, so I'll be following this thread. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Last Catt - 2018-02-23 5:36 PM Curious if the mini donkeys have any issues with being attacked by coyotes? It sounds like they can defend themselves pretty well, and that has been my own concern with getting a mini horse, as we have had coyotes come in and grab chickens, I wouldn't put it past them to pester a mini. We've had more packs of coyotes in recent years, so it concerns me. We do have mountain lions occasionally, but I think they usually just keep moving if they do come past us, and would probably grab a neighboring dog than a mini with other horses. Asking because I'm looking to get a mini donkey as a companion as well, so I'll be following this thread.
A pack of coyotes will take down a mini. I keep my minis up at night |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | rodeomom3 - 2018-02-23 6:16 PM
Last Catt - 2018-02-23 5:36 PM Curious if the mini donkeys have any issues with being attacked by coyotes? It sounds like they can defend themselves pretty well, and that has been my own concern with getting a mini horse, as we have had coyotes come in and grab chickens, I wouldn't put it past them to pester a mini. We've had more packs of coyotes in recent years, so it concerns me. We do have mountain lions occasionally, but I think they usually just keep moving if they do come past us, and would probably grab a neighboring dog than a mini with other horses. Asking because I'm looking to get a mini donkey as a companion as well, so I'll be following this thread.
A pack of coyotes will take down a mini. I keep my minis up at night
I would not want to put a mini in this situation, get a full size donkey if you want a companion for your horse. I have coyotes and cats around here too, but my mini horse is with my horses and he gets put up every night with the others. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Fun2Run - 2018-02-23 10:39 AM
Mules are much more likely to stomp a dog. Donkeys just put their heads down, bare their teeth and chase things. After a while, they get used to their own dogs and leave them alone.
Haha this is so true, I have a mini mule, she is dr jekl and mr Hyde combined. She will play with the dogs, then sudden mood change and she is trying to kill them.
She is much more aggressive then my mini donkey.
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