Guarding Fallow Deer?

[LoneOakGoats]

In the last 3 months, our fallow deer have been attacked twice by a neighbors dogs. First attack, police shot the dog, but it killed one deer. Neighbor brings in more strays. Second attack happened Tuesday. Two of her dogs got in our pasture & attacked 3 of our deer, killing one. We have fencing that keeps the deer in, but the dogs climbed over in one attack and dug under in the other. Wondering of anyone has had guardians for deer? We have an Anatolian that guards goats at a different location, but we need something for our deer. I'd appreciate any information and or advice you may have. Thank you!

 

[Bruce]

I really feel for you and am sorry for your loss!! I am of the opinion that I shouldn't have to protect my property from other people's animals. Wild ones, sure. But clearly your neighbor doesn't give a damn.

The fastest immediate solution (shy of sitting outside with a gun) would be to run hotwire both above your fence and low on the outside so the neighbor's dogs are loathe to try to go over or under.

 

[Alexz7272]

I know here in Colorado it is a 'fence out' state, making it my responsibility to keep predators away from my livestock. I think Texas may be the same? I dont know if you can use an LGD, bit maybe that'll help? I'm sorry for your loss!

 

[dejavoodoo114]

I know of someone who is working with LGDs to see if they will protect their deer and other exotics. I will ask and see how that is going.

 

[LoneOakGoats]

I know of someone who is working with LGDs to see if they will protect their deer and other exotics. I will ask and see how that is going.

Yes, please do. Thanks

 

[babsbag]

I see no reason that an LGD couldn't protect deer. They protect penguins, poultry, goat, sheep, cattle, alpacas, humans, cats, and anything else that they are trained to guard. It is all about the LGD knowing that the animals are yours to protect.

@Alexz7272 about being a 'fence out' state... it may be your job to have the fence but they are responsible it that fence is breached. Now of course I am guessing that 'livestock' and neighbor 'dog' would fall under the same law and while that is logical it may not be the case. I just saw this same discussion elsewhere.

This is from the CO Dept. of Ag.

Any person maintaining in good repair a lawful fence may recover damages for trespass from the owner of any livestock that break through such fence. Refer to CRS 35-46-102. Livestock invading fenced property is not a criminal offense, but civil recourse is available to the property owner.

 

[Bruce]

Doesn't that law say ONLY that if livestock breach someone ELSE'S fence the livestock owner is responsible for any damage? Dogs are not livestock (at least not in the USA). And that law is a bit loose to my mind. A lawful fence could be 3' high plastic picket fence that in prime condition couldn't keep out livestock.

I HOPE there is another law that says if your non livestock go through a properly maintained fence on someone else's property, you are responsible for any damage.

I am sure a good LGD could and would guard the deer but unless @LoneOakGoats is willing to pull the Anatolian from the goats, leaving them in peril, I don't see how there would be any fallow deer left to guard by the time a trustworthy, trained LGD could be obtained.

 

[Alexz7272]

@babsbag Unfortunately here in Colorado it is my job to keep predator out of my fence line, not others job to respect it
In communist Boulder they really take that seriously. Unfortunately some mindless city folk bought the house next to us & let their two dogs run wild. Our fence is not 100% on that side yet and we are still welding together our gate & building the mechanism. My friend is a cop & she confirmed that it is my responsibility to keep the dogs off my property BUT if they do cross my property line, I can legally 'dispatch' of them if I feel they are a threat. I am obviously a dog lover but I have already warned them several times that if they cross & go after my dogs or seem threatening to my livestock, I will shoot the dog(s). That is also legal, its so weird & I live in a VERY odd place in Colorado. Odd doesn't even begin to cover it!

@Bruce The law does say that if my livestock crosses into another property, I am responsible for any damages. From my experiences as well, companion animals (dogs) do not qualify under that same law.

@LoneOakGoats Have you found any additional information, possibly look into an LGD?

 

[Southern by choice]

Simple answer- Yes.
I do think your first defense and fastest solution right now is to put hotwire to the outside of the fence.

 

[BrendaMNgri]

I woke up to a dead dog this morning in my kennel house - 1 1/2 year old female SM in perfect health and shape - stone cold dead
in her sleeping bed - no signs of diddly - no blood no struggle no bloat no froth no poop - appears to be natural causes -
so my response is going to be to sound terse and the point.

But. Since the SM thread put up by TAH got hijacked into chicken training 101 what the heck may as well
steer this one off course a tad too. In my mental / shock state I'm in I should not even be posting in here but I have silently watched the
direction this thread is taking and I feel compelled to say something.

So. Fallow deer…..had to look them up to see what they look like. Peaceful pretty creatures and sitting ducks for predators alright.
But back to the question.

What's missing here in this thread?

OP has not offered their level of comfort zone and experience rearing up LGDs. That is my first 'gotta know'.
Rank amateur? Struggling? Old hand? Wrote the book? Barely hanging on? Train wreck?

This is not a question of whether a dog can do this or not - it's a question of the owner's ability to train a dog to do it.
How does the OP plan on bonding a pup/pups to the deer? Details? Details? Graphic details???????
Assuming they have the money and huge time it will take to train a pup on deer?
Have you located an EXPERIENCED, ETHICAL, HONEST BREEDER who will give you the support you will need?

In other words, Does OP have a plan? Just because someone else can do it does not mean you can.

Although LGDs can be trained to guard just about anything, that does not mean they automatically should.

A few years someone contacted me about the same situation, they wanted to buy a puppy to guard deer.
I turned them down. No LGD experience. How in the world…..? I won't go there.

What was needed there and as in this situation, as SBC and others have intimated, was BETTER FENCING and more hands-on participation, i.e. shepherding,
by the owner. And using other means to deter predators.

OP has not told us or shown us what their fencing is constructed of.
That dogs are digging under and going over it, tells me it is probably less than adequate.

This is where I'd be bringing in your deer at night into an enclosed barn.
And as Bruce pointed out, if you pull the Anatolian out of goats - you are up the creek there.
Not enough dogs, not good enough fence.

But personally I am not promoting you getting a dog to guard the deer.
One dog is not going to cut it. You'll need two.

LGDs are huge commitment of time, money, effort, and more. Does OP have all that?

Electric fence doesn't eat or require vet bills - how about some heavy railroad ties placed at fence base where dogs are digging in -
those would be way cheaper and more effective probably than an LGD.

A puppy ain't going to do squat for you for a year or so.
An older dog who was NOT RAISED FROM PUPPYHOOD on fallow dear, could prove to be a wreck. Would I take my dogs from cattle/sheep/goats/poultry
to guarding deer without a lot of training? Heck NO. And not even then would I guarantee it would work.

Too many people jumping in getting dogs where they don't really need them but what they need is to be more involved, better fencing, use other means,
bring/pen stock up at night, etc. etc. etc.

Does OP own a gun? Lock and load and don't miss if the dogs are on your place. If you know their owner, go talk to him, give him fair warning,
next time - there will be no next time. And depending on your local codes if neighbor is breaking law, start paper trail by calling local LE and filing
reports.

Please do not only resort to a dog to solve this issue. Much more homework needed.