Keeping goats penned

[ksalvagno]

Llamas too! Just have to find a llama that is naturally a guard and likes goats.

 

[cmjust0]

until the big dog on the inside remembers he is a predator

That is why a person TRAINS a dog very well from the time it is a pup. I have four dogs that run with my goats and cattle.

I, too, have a GP in with my goats. But, don't throw a dog in with the goats and expect them to train themselves. Usually ends in disaster for the goats.

I think it all depends on the breed and the individual dog.. We have a Sarplaninac, and he didn't really need any training to do his thing. He was born and raised around goats, but he's not "bonded" to anything.. When we go into the barnyard, he comes over for a good scratching just like any other dog would....whereas, we've seen lots of LGDs that truly believe they're goats and act nothing like dogs whatsoever..

Characteristic of the breed, our dog simply has zero prey drive, an enormous frame, and is naturally fear aggressive.. That's really all that's required of a good guardian dog.

I've literally held the door open and invited him into the chicken coop with me before, but he won't go. He knows a chicken is no threat, so he's not afraid enough to attack one...they seem to make him a nervous wreck with all their flapping and squawking, so he backs away from the coop door like "oooooh no...too much excitement for me!"

He's a good boy, for sure.

 

[lilhill]

I think it all depends on the breed and the individual dog.

Exactly.

 

[Buster]

For predator control, I prefer strands of hot on the outside and a big dog on the inside.

Do you keep your dog out with the goats all the time? I have a wonderful lab, and she watches to the chickens and turkeys I have on the front of the property, and that is where she will stay,.

The goats and meat chickens will be on the back few acres, and this is where a second dog would watch if I did it that way. I would worry about a dog being isolated like that and having to stay out there ALL the time.

Have you found this to be an issue at all? Maybe I am worrying about nothing.

Glad to hear from others my idea might work, though. I may just try that.

 

[lilhill]

My Great Pyr stays with the goats 24/7.

 

[cmjust0]

Do you keep your dog out with the goats all the time? I have a wonderful lab, and she watches to the chickens and turkeys I have on the front of the property, and that is where she will stay,.

The goats and meat chickens will be on the back few acres, and this is where a second dog would watch if I did it that way. I would worry about a dog being isolated like that and having to stay out there ALL the time.

Our LGD came off the truck and went into the barnyard almost a year ago, and he hasn't set foot outside it since. He's just where he wants to be.

You gotta understand...a good LGD isnt what most folks are used to in a dog. They don't cry at the door when it rains or snows or the wind howls -- they could pretty much care less. It's not uncommon to look out the window and notice that it's raining only to see the big goofy dog laying stretched out in the weeds, sound asleep.

He's never happier than when it's about 10* outside and the humans feel like we're going to freeze to death....that's when he takes running fits and wants to play. In the summer, he blows a coat that would spin a sweater for John Candy, so he tolerates the heat quite well..

Suffice it to say they're built to be outdoors.

The goats and meat chickens will be on the back few acres, and this is where a second dog would watch if I did it that way. I would worry about a dog being isolated like that and having to stay out there ALL the time.

Have you found this to be an issue at all? Maybe I am worrying about nothing.

Nah.. I think ours could probably do with another canine companion, and they say that two dogs work better than one dog because of the tendency for coyotes and wolves to send out two groups -- one to fight the LGD, and another to kill the stock...but he's not going stir crazy or anything like that. He's got his goats, and goats make good companion animals for almost every species -- including humans!

Afterall, there's a reason why they used to keep goats with high-strung racehorses. They were so good at keeping the horses calm and collected that horse owners had to be vigilant of their competitors sneaking in to "get their goat" before a big race, to upset the horse...hence the old saying.

 

[angelib1]

I have always kept female dogs, because coyotes will sent a female in heat to lure a male dog out. then the rest of the pack runs out and shreds the dog before you can do any thing about it. Gut renching, I may still be traumatized. (Yep, still traumatized!)

My dog protects all animals on our proprty including chickens and rabbits. she sits in front of their pen and scans the surroundings. It is really funny to watch, because she is so serious about it. she also is good with the animals (and kids)if the rabbits get out,she brings them back. She lets baby goats try to nurse on her (also funny). What is she? Mutt.

If I could clone her I could make a mint..she is nine yrs. old and never had puppies. Dosen't like the boys, they have cooties I guess.

Llama's are great too you only need one that way they bond to the goats and not each other.

 

[cmjust0]

Your dog looks to have a fair amount of border collie in her.. We have two BCs and love them dearly.

I'll tell you this, though...if either of our BCs went up against an average sized coyote in this area, they'd be ripped limb from limb. Our 'yotes seem to be supersized...like, GSD sized.

 

[Buster]

Your dog looks to have a fair amount of border collie in her.

And the head has the shape of a Rottweiler. Good combination.

 

[onedozenphyllises]

We have four Nubians and use livestock panels to fence in their permanent pen. They have NEVER made any attempt to break free. In fact, we let them out loose from time to time when we're working outside, and they either stay glued to our sides, or they want back in the pen. We've also never had anyone get stuck in it. Our buck "thinks" he's stuck in it from time to time, in that he stands there with his head through the fence hollering, but he always has plenty of room to get his head out if he would just BACK UP.

We like it for pen fencing since it's inexpensive and very easy to put up. We plan to put up pasture fencing for them this fall/winter and I'd like to use electric for that.

We keep a Great Pyr with ours and he does a great job. The goats like him and he likes them. He's very affectionate toward us, too, but has no problem staying outside all the time (and yes, he sleeps out in the rain, by choice). We got him from another family with goats that he was already guarding, but he was having some compatibility problems with their female Pyr. In short, she HATED him and henpecked him all day long. Poor guy.