In search of LGD in Florida

[Baymule]

She is pretty, and she is already with goats and chickens! Yay!

 

[Angeliki Manouselis]

I hope she does well for you and your animals.

A mix isn't exactly like other Pyr's but it gives you an idea of what they are like. When people say LGDs are not like other dogs, it's really true they are not. Be warned though, our Pyr barked a lot and your's might too. She went every couple of hours at night and did warning barks on each corner of our property which was about 20 minutes every few hours at night. We got used to it and were fine with it, you may as well but your neighbors might not. I'm happy you're not getting puppies as from what i've read/seen they can be extremely hard to train not to chase your small livestock.

As far as your goats not being aggressive.... You are putting a "predator" in with prey animals, they will likely be aggressive and not accept any LGD for awhile esp with new kids on the ground. If they have no fear of her they may simply beat her up, so just be prepared for anything when they meet.

Congrats!

She is half Pyr, half Karakachan,
I am ok with the barking, and I don’t have neighbors, thankfully! I will definitely be prepared for anything and I will watch them closely throughout the day and night.

 

[Angeliki Manouselis]

She is pretty, and she is already with goats and chickens! Yay!

She is a lovely girl!
I am so happy I really hope it works out well, I am trying to learn about how I should go about instroducing her to new grounds (fenced area) and her new goats.

 

[Baymule]

She is half Pyr, half Karakachan,
I am ok with the barking, and I don’t have neighbors, thankfully! I will definitely be prepared for anything and I will watch them closely throughout the day and night.

You have a full-on Livestock Guard Dog. Karakachan is a LGD breed. So you did good. The concern with a "half" is that the other half might be a Border Collie or a Blue Heeler, both stock dogs, but in the chase and round up way. Those type crosses can be a disaster. But your dog is a cross of two LGD breeds, you did good.

 

[Ridgetop]

Did you read the book? It has information in their on introducing new dogs to livestock.

 

[Ridgetop]

It is too bad you can't look at her before getting her, and see her with the animals. Although the owner says she has been with livestock, it is always better to see the dog interacting with the livestock for yourself. Only having been with horses doesn't mean much since livestock guardians do not always bond with horses. I don't think there are too many predators between Florida and Georgie that prey on horses either. Being with chickens - how? Were the chickens loose and she interacted with them or they were in their yard and she was loose on the property? Not losing any animals to predators if the poultry was in a coop, and the only other animals were horses would not be hard.

Both those breeds are guardian breeds. But you will have to introduce her to the goats if she has never been with goats or sheep. She may decide she likes them, or she may decide to chase them if they run from her. Do you have any more information on her? Was she raised with sheep and goats? Were her parents?

She needs to get to know you and trust you as well as bonding to the new livestock she will have to guard. Take it slow just as you would with a puppy. The good thing is that you will not have to lock her up to protect her from predators like you would have to do with a puppy. You will have to train her with the goats. Penning her up next to them like you would with a puppy would be a good way to start. Put her on a leash and take her into the pen with the goats so you can control her if she does not react properly to them. Also walk her around the property borders (the fence line) to let her know the boundaries she is going to protect. As you add new fenced pastures, you will have to do the same introduction to the new property borders. Is she spayed? Since she is 2 years old, you will want to get her fixed asap because of your dad's intact male Doberman. You don't need a litter of Dobie x LGD puppies! Ask the owner when she last came in season and you can figure 6 months from that date. You don't want to spay a dog while she is in season since it can result in excessive blood loss. Plan to have it done about 2 months after she comes out of season.

If you received your copy of The Way of the Pack, try to read it before you bring the new dog home. Hopefully the new dog will work out and bond easily to your goats.

 

[Angeliki Manouselis]

You have a full-on Livestock Guard Dog. Karakachan is a LGD breed. So you did good. The concern with a "half" is that the other half might be a Border Collie or a Blue Heeler, both stock dogs, but in the chase and round up way. Those type crosses can be a disaster. But your dog is a cross of two LGD breeds, you did good.

Yes, I did some reading about the breed, as i've never heard of it!

 

[Angeliki Manouselis]

It is too bad you can't look at her before getting her, and see her with the animals. Although the owner says she has been with livestock, it is always better to see the dog interacting with the livestock for yourself. Only having been with horses doesn't mean much since livestock guardians do not always bond with horses. I don't think there are too many predators between Florida and Georgie that prey on horses either. Being with chickens - how? Were the chickens loose and she interacted with them or they were in their yard and she was loose on the property? Not losing any animals to predators if the poultry was in a coop, and the only other animals were horses would not be hard.

Both those breeds are guardian breeds. But you will have to introduce her to the goats if she has never been with goats or sheep. She may decide she likes them, or she may decide to chase them if they run from her. Do you have any more information on her? Was she raised with sheep and goats? Were her parents?

She needs to get to know you and trust you as well as bonding to the new livestock she will have to guard. Take it slow just as you would with a puppy. The good thing is that you will not have to lock her up to protect her from predators like you would have to do with a puppy. You will have to train her with the goats. Penning her up next to them like you would with a puppy would be a good way to start. Put her on a leash and take her into the pen with the goats so you can control her if she does not react properly to them. Also walk her around the property borders (the fence line) to let her know the boundaries she is going to protect. As you add new fenced pastures, you will have to do the same introduction to the new property borders. Is she spayed? Since she is 2 years old, you will want to get her fixed asap because of your dad's intact male Doberman. You don't need a litter of Dobie x LGD puppies! Ask the owner when she last came in season and you can figure 6 months from that date. You don't want to spay a dog while she is in season since it can result in excessive blood loss. Plan to have it done about 2 months after she comes out of season.

If you received your copy of The Way of the Pack, try to read it before you bring the new dog home. Hopefully the new dog will work out and bond easily to your goats.

I know this thread is so confusing. I went back and forth from puppies, to the LGD that doesn't have goat experience, decided against her because i just cannot risk her injuring my new kids! but now I found a Pyr/Karakachan who is already with goats and kids, chickens too, owner sent me lots of photos of her with the goats, and the family cat sitting on top of her. Too cute. "Indy" is about to turn 2 years old, and she's lived with goats and chickens her whole life. Owner says she has never lost any livestock with her on guard. She has been with kidding does, which was important to me because one of my does is very pregnant. I know I have to speculate a bit because people can say whatever they want but I did see photos. Owner is getting out of the goat raising so she doesn't need her anymore. She also has another Pyr. She is in North Carolina and offered to meet me in Georgia Wednesday morning. I intend to open the book tonight and read as much as I can before I go to get her. I think this is my best option at this point.
I will be getting her spayed, even though all the dogs around are fixed, including dads dobe.

 

[Angeliki Manouselis]

New kids this morning. First kidding i've ever witnessed. AMAZING!

 

[Hens and Roos]

Congrats!!