Livestock Guardian Dogs

[rockdoveranch]

I spent a lot of time researching LGDs after a neighbor's dog came onto our land and killed a ram lamb. That was several years ago and we have not lost a lamb or sheep since to any predators.

In our state you can shoot and kill a dog on your property if it is harassing livestock, or has been known to kill livestock, but this is really not something I want to have to do. The problem with the neighbor's dog was resolved when we sent them a certified letter asking them to keep their dog contained, adding that we know our legal rights.

I have never had a working dog, or a dog for protection, and have only seen working LGDs once, and that was when we bought our White Dorpers last year. Most of the dogs were Pyrs, and a couple Pry/ASD mixes. They had about 17 dogs in all.

From what I have read, the Anatolian makes a superior LGD to the Great Pyrenees, however I have never been comfortable with breeds that can be aggressive for any reason, and worried about the children who live on adjoining property. I like the Pyrs, but have read that they sometimes wander, and sometimes like to guard from the other side of the fence.

I still think about getting LGDs from time to time, especially now having learned someone in my county has Pyr pups they are wanting to give away. The parents live with goats.

I would be interested to learn what breeds members here use to guard their sheep, or if you are using donkeys or lamas, or like us, nothing at all. If you use dogs, do you handle them at all?

Thanks.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I don't have a livestock guardian of any kind right now, but I would love to get a dog someday. Well, I'd like to get a dog now, but I worry that it would bark all night and bother our few neighbors. :/ I would probably get a Pyr or a cross.

I used to have a small donkey, but he was very aggressive with any animals smaller than he was, even after he was gelded. "They" say not to get more than 1 donkey because they will bond to each other and not to sheep, but I have seen how miserable single donkeys are, and I would not subject one to that. Donkeys are way too smart to be left alone with boring ole sheep.

I probably wouldn't get a llama either, because I'd rather not have an animal that spits on me if I make it mad.

 

[jodief100]

I have goats and Great Pys guarding them. Occasionally they get out of the fence and they wander for a little while and then come back. Because of this I make certain they cannot get out of the fence. They also bark- a lot. My male has a booming bark that you can hear about 2 miles away.

If we didn't live out in the boons I am certain my neighbors would complain.

They do a great job guarding the goats. I have seen them chase off hawks and coyotes. I have chickens outside the goat pen that free range and we have never lost a one.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

We got or first LGD pup in November. He's only 4 months now, so all I can say at the moment is that it's amazing how quickly and strongly he bonded with the goats and he's growing at an unbelievable rate! He's out of working parents and I've been really impressed with his temperament so far.

We have a senior dog who has done a great job of keeping stray dogs off the property but she's getting up there in years and I wanted to have an LGD trained and ready to go before we lose her.

 

[lilhill]

We have a Great Pyr that is fantastic with our goats. She does bark, and lets the coyotes and stray dogs know that she is there and on duty. And yes, we handle her all the time. If you get a dog, especially a large dog, and can't handle them, then you're asking for trouble. They have to know that even though their job is guarding the livestock, you are still the boss. Don't know what we'd do without our Daisy.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

i'd have an Anatolian in a hot second.. but we dont have enough livestock to justify having a 'one job dog' to live out with the barnyard crew.

however i have 2 big shepherds who guard me (and the property) and we just got a pup - from a hunting breed.

our dogs keep the neighborhood dogs off the property and we got the hunter to handle our varmint problem (my shepherds herd not hunt). i also spend a lot of time training our dogs to help me work the property so they are invaluable. i wouldnt leave them in the yard with the goats unattended, but they do help me get everyone rounded up and keep the mean roosters off me. but this is a lot of work that is successful because i'm home with them all day.

however, a big territorial dog is not for everyone. so if its not your thing consider improving your fencing (electric) or one of the other flock guardians (like a donkey). there are some good threads around her about LGD's that might help you understand how the do - and do not- work.

good luck!

 

[KellyHM]

Just a quick question. For those of you that do have LGDs (specifically GPs), can they be trained to get along with the other dogs in the household? I'm interested in getting one eventually, but am not interested in having dog fights 24/7. Are they intelligent enough to be told (by me) which animals are allowed to be on the property and defend against others? Or are they too single-minded?

 

[rockdoveranch]

Thanks to everyone for their great input. I am still stuck on having never had a dog that was used for any type of protection. I am back to doing a lot of reading. Perhaps I should visit the lady with the pups and see her adult dogs at work.

I was raised with Boxers and currently have a 15 year old pup. I also have a German Wirehaired Pointer that came to us as a stray a few years back. I had never had a pointer before and did a lot of research on the breed before bringing her home. She is so devoted to me that she pays no mind to our free ranging chickens and ewes, and cats.

Kelly, You might find this article interesting - http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/companimals/guarddogs/guarddogs.htm

I was in another group when our lamb ram was killed and most the people there had ASDs. In fact if I talked about Prys I would get private emails from ASD owners telling me not to consider Prys. I believe my personality leans more towards the Pry, although I love the look of the ASD.

Several of the people in the earlier group had LGDs that roamed freely though their acreage and trusted them with their children, and all their other animals.

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Maremma is another breed to consider. They are less aggressive but really effective. All mine have managed to keep my poultry safe without contact with any coyote or raptor, they prevent entry and if challenged harass and chase. The breed is known for not getting into fights and thus preventing injury and Vet bills.

With humans, especially kids you get 2 typical Maremma reactions, one is to stay away, very aloof and the other is very submissive and crawling up to be petted. To a certain extent how you raise them socially will determine this. All mine have allowed any dogs that I tell them to allow. Even visiting dogs, they often act disgruntled but they allow if I say so.

 

[dianneS]

I have a 3/4 Karakachan 1/4 Great Pyr. He is wonderful! He will be two in April of this year. Last year about this time, he gave me a hard time when he was going through his teenage phase, but we got through it and he's an amazing dog now. He was guarding right from day one when we brought him home as a 5 month old puppy. He had been living with livestock since birth. But with the cold weather and boredom as well as adolescence he gave me a hard time for about two months. He was playing too rough with some of the goats and was escaping. Some hot wire and discipline, as well as the addition of a full-sized (I only had dwarf breed goats) doe who would put him in his place and taught him some manners! He's now a perfect dog.

This winter I was expecting him to have another outburst with the onset of cold weather, but no, not at all, he's been a perfect gentleman. He's a super guardian too and really bonded to his herd. He's very mature already for a LGD. I think Karakachan's mature faster mentally than a lot of other LGD breeds.

I was concerned that the 1/4 great pyr might make him want to wander or be with people more than his goats, but no. I have no hot wire for him at all anymore. He knows he could dig his way out or even jump the fence, but he chooses not to. If a gate accidentally finds its way open, my dog actually comes to the house to get me and shows me that the gate is open. He runs ahead of me and right back into the pasture where he belongs! He supervises while I secure the gate and of course I thank him for notifying me. He really likes when I show appreciation for his hard work. I should get him an employee of the month award.

Oh and I've never had a breed of dog used for protection before this either. I have two small dogs (7 and 10 pounds). My LGD gets along with them just fine. He loves the smallest one. I'm not sure he knows she's a dog, he just thinks she's pretty cool to play with. Now if my sister brought her GSD to my house, and her dog chased or threatened the goats, I think we'd have a different situation on our hands. I don't think my LGD would have any issue with another dog unless that dog threatened his herd. Same goes for people. My dog is suspicious of people but he instinctively knows the difference between a friendly stranger and a threatening or suspicious one. I would completely trust him with children as well. Now that he's maturing and not jumping up and romping around as much I don't have to fear him accidentally knocking a child over and I really don't think he'd ever show aggression towards a child, but when it comes to kids you can never be too careful.

I wouldn't hesitate to have a full-blooded great pyr as long as it came from a guardian background with two working parents and is raised with livestock from day one. I think pyrs get a bad rep as being wanderers and preferring people to their herd due to them being bred for pets. The people who owned my farm before I moved here had two great pyrs and one of the dogs died three days after the entire sheep herd was sold. They think he died of a broken heart. He's buried in my pasture under a walnut tree "to be close to his sheep" I was told.

Good luck in your search for a dog! Let us know what you decide! I highly recommend them.