best age for introducing a LGD puppy

[treeclimber233]

I am thinking of getting a LGD puppy. The puppies are two weeks old now so it will be a while. The problem is two of my goats came from a herd that had dogs attacking them and killing someof the herd. The killings stretched over 2-3 years so these goats are very scared of dogs. How will I ever be able to get them so they will accept a dog in their pen. I don't want to tramatize the poor puppy either.

 

[ksalvagno]

Do you have a real predator problem? I have no experience with LGD's but I love my guard llama. She definitely does her job but she would be no match for a pack of dogs or coyotes. Of course probably neither would one LGD.

 

[Roll farms]

Of course probably neither would one LGD.

For the most part, coyotes want an 'easy' meal, so unless they're starving or there are no other prey animals around, one dog can be effective as a deterrent to coyote predation.

Dogs...it just depends on their attitude. If they're after FUN (chasing goats), then a big dog threatening may take some of the wind out of their sales. I've seen that happen here w/ the idiot neighbor's dogs.

However if the pack is led by an "alpha" type, the LGD may increase the desire to get in and 'win'...and then have fun. (Heard of cases like that, where the dogs get in, attack the LGD, THEN the goats.)

As far as the puppy...if you get him tiny and introduce him as tiny, they should adjust ok. We've got goats from all different situations, few were used to dogs but accept the pups easier than the adults. There may be a few hiccups until they accept him, but they will eventually.

My usual caveat, though...don't leave him alone w/ them (he may get hurt when he's small, and when he grows he may play too rough.)

You CANNOT just 'turn them loose' w/ goats and expect miracles. They don't need trained on their job, but they DO need trained as to what's acceptable behavior...and they ARE puppies for 2 yrs or so....and will play / rough house as puppies.

Good luck, I'd be lost w/out our dogs.

 

[Beekissed]

I penned my new pups in the next fence to the sheep where they could get exposure but the sheep wouldn't hurt them. They had tried to butt them every time they entered their fence, so I couldn't leave them unattended together.

Now my pups are much larger and they simply ignore the sheep or get out of their way. I worried more about my sheep killing my pup than my pup scaring them.

Now both parties accept that they have a right to be just where they are at...but I had to train the sheep to stop being so aggressive to the dogs!