LGD x Golden Retriever... would this make a good mix?

[Southern by choice]

I couldn't agree more with Mzyla-
What about the rest of the litter?
Mutts are great dogs-or can be... I have worked with hundreds of breeds. Rare breeds, herding,working, etc. all groups in a professional capacity keeping the true nature of a breed in mind is so important! Your friend could always find a good stud and have Golden pups!
We have 4 LGD's 1 GSD(German Shepherd Dog) working stock-not herding, yet has natural instinct for herding and 1 really awesome MUTT! Best farmdog ever- but she was raised up from a pup by a working GSD who taught her everything.
Small to medium "mutts" are easy to find pet homes for but Lg-xlg dogs don't seem to fair as well, the cute pup stage wears off and then the size is realized. It's not for your everyday pet owner-sadly .

 

[CochinBrahmaLover=)]

I couldn't agree more with Mzyla-
What about the rest of the litter?
Mutts are great dogs-or can be... I have worked with hundreds of breeds. Rare breeds, herding,working, etc. all groups in a professional capacity keeping the true nature of a breed in mind is so important! Your friend could always find a good stud and have Golden pups!
We have 4 LGD's 1 GSD(German Shepherd Dog) working stock-not herding, yet has natural instinct for herding and 1 really awesome MUTT! Best farmdog ever- but she was raised up from a pup by a working GSD who taught her everything.
Small to medium "mutts" are easy to find pet homes for but Lg-xlg dogs don't seem to fair as well, the cute pup stage wears off and then the size is realized. It's not for your everyday pet owner-sadly .

OK Myzla and Southern -->

Why is it going to be hard to sell a mutt? A LGD is a LGD to some people, I don't see why making it a mutt would suddenly make it unsellable.

 

[CrazyCatNChickenLady]

I couldn't agree more with Mzyla-
What about the rest of the litter?
Mutts are great dogs-or can be... I have worked with hundreds of breeds. Rare breeds, herding,working, etc. all groups in a professional capacity keeping the true nature of a breed in mind is so important! Your friend could always find a good stud and have Golden pups!
We have 4 LGD's 1 GSD(German Shepherd Dog) working stock-not herding, yet has natural instinct for herding and 1 really awesome MUTT! Best farmdog ever- but she was raised up from a pup by a working GSD who taught her everything.
Small to medium "mutts" are easy to find pet homes for but Lg-xlg dogs don't seem to fair as well, the cute pup stage wears off and then the size is realized. It's not for your everyday pet owner-sadly .

Just saw someone trying to rehome an 8 month old St. Bernard X GSD on CL. I agree with this completely. Cute, adorable puppy is now HUGE and life situations change when your pup outgrows you and you keep him locked in the backyard all day. Plus large litters can be pretty big. I've personally seen a mama with 15 pups. and we were standby one night for a great dane that had 13 or 14 via c-section(I worked at the emergency vet in town). I saw a great pyr X greyhound on CL last week. Hows that for a horrible LGD mutt!

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

I have a Karakachan/Great Pyr cross, intact male. I have a friend in need of a LGD and I wouldn't mind having another guardian myself. She has a Golden Retriever that desperately wants to have puppies. She's a great dog, but not really a guardian dog. Has good instincts does not have a strong prey drive and is really sweet. What kind of combo do you think that would make? Would it be better to mix only two LGD breeds?

To the op: I think that your statement will help you make your own educated decision.

If you want a LGD (Livestock Guardian Dog) that is a true LGD, from a LGD breed with all of its instincts as they have created for, then you would want to stick with strictly a purebread LGD or a cross of LGD breeds. This would also make it easier when trying to rehome or sell the pups. A person with livestock that is looking for a true LGD breed would certainly consider a LGD x LGD. However, most likely, they would not consider a LGD x "XYZ" as you are taking away from the insticts that have been bred and adding other insticts that are not condussive to Guarding.

With the two breeds of dogs that you have mentioned, you have a breed that has guarding instincts and a breed that has retrieving instints. Both of which are complete opposites. Which instincts are going to show up more dominant in your pups? It's not going to be a 50/50 split. This is where a problem might arise. You may end up with a pup that wants to instinctually, go get every loose chicken and bring it back to you. Or one that is more loyal to the family instead of the livestock. (another common Golden Retriever quality) Because that is what their breed is for. Or you may end up with a great guardian, but you just have no way of knowing. This is why someone that wants a true LGD would most likely not want this cross and for this situation would be more difficult to get rid of the pups.

You absolutely may get wonderful dogs that will bark, be good around your livestock and be great family pets. Just maybe not the best Guardian dog if that is what you are setting out to breed and own.

 

[Southern by choice]

Understanding the nature of a breed is important, this suggested mating is not going to produce a LGD.
Example: my mutt (from the above post) is great but she is not a LGD. She will do anything on command and will always return to your side. Loyalty is strictly to people. My GSD is not an LGD- although she has extreme prey drive she would constantly try to herd all the animals to one place and hold them there- she is not in the fields with the animals because overall it would stress them severely.
If the mating were to take place I have no doubt they would be adorable... and great pets but more than likely wouldn't do the job you want them to, and finding pet homes with ample space and owners that are use to and understand xlrg dogs are few.
I was just on the phone this am talking to a young woman who is trying to place an anatolian. Dog is 3yrs old, she got her from the pound a month ago, long story short original owners tried to make her a housepet, new owner knew nothing about the breed, the dog is way too much for her, she loves her but first thing she said was this dog needs some land after informing her about the breed and its heritage( up at night-nocturnal animal, digging, barking, running, size etc) she said she wish she had known this beforehand. SAD
I don't think there is anything wrong with a Mutt. I love mine!
Rule of thumb: if you breed a dog are you willing to take a pup (no matter the age) back if things don't work out for the new owner???
one of the saddest things is to go on the Great Pyrenees Rescue website... look how many dogs and mix pyrs there are then look at how they will never be adopted out because they deny the nature of the dog.... no outdoor, not too many children,no Lgd, etc. soooo sad.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

I couldn't agree more with Mzyla-
What about the rest of the litter?
Mutts are great dogs-or can be... I have worked with hundreds of breeds. Rare breeds, herding,working, etc. all groups in a professional capacity keeping the true nature of a breed in mind is so important! Your friend could always find a good stud and have Golden pups!
We have 4 LGD's 1 GSD(German Shepherd Dog) working stock-not herding, yet has natural instinct for herding and 1 really awesome MUTT! Best farmdog ever- but she was raised up from a pup by a working GSD who taught her everything.
Small to medium "mutts" are easy to find pet homes for but Lg-xlg dogs don't seem to fair as well, the cute pup stage wears off and then the size is realized. It's not for your everyday pet owner-sadly .

OK Myzla and Southern -->

Why is it going to be hard to sell a mutt? A LGD is a LGD to some people, I don't see why making it a mutt would suddenly make it unsellable.

A golden retriever is NOT a LGD.