Official Poll: What breed of Livestock Guardian Dog do you prefer?

[secuono]

Any breed that gets the job done!

 

[dragonlord483]

I have a red heeler (Australian cattle dog)

 

[Honest Omnivore]

I've been drooling over the Spanish Mastiff. I know I need to find one from working stock and I probably can't afford one, but they remind me of my dear house dog, Mrs. Figg, a Neapolitan Mastiff. Pictured below is our previous Neo mastiff, the poorly named "Hagrid's Opus"

 

[Ridgetop]

I was wondering the same thing as well as the patented "Kangal"

Kangal dogs are a color variety of Anatolians so are probably included in Anatolians.

 

[Southern by choice]

Kangal dogs are a color variety of Anatolians so are probably included in Anatolians.

LOL don't tell anyone in the US that a Kangal is an Anatolian.
They might string ya up.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Ain't that the truth!

 

[Ridgetop]

LOL don't tell anyone in the US that a Kangal is an Anatolian.
They might string ya up.

 

[Ridgetop]

Not with my Anatolian around! LOL

 

[samssimonsays]

Collie.... my girl came from working dogs and the lady has had zero issues with the nasty critters she had issues with before getting them.

and my 1/2 great pyr, 1/4 maremma and 1/4 bernard boy-all 11 of his siblings are AMAZING LGD's... him, not so much. But both parents are amazing at what they do! (yes... he NEEDS his blankie to sleep... go ahead and ask me how I know)

 

[Ridgetop]

He may be better than you think. An LGD should not sleep inside the house at night, which it looks like he may do (his blankie LOL). However the measure of a good LGD is in the number of animals you lose to predators. If you never see the dog work, but all your animals are accounted for, he is doing his job. Our Anatolian stays with the sheep all day and patrols at night. However, once she brings the sheep into the barn at night, she is off duty for a while. She comes inside for some bonding time. After a few hours she asks to go out and starts her patrols. We like the visits, and so does she. If she is on patrol at the end of the acreage, and the house dogs identify a stranger, she is at the spot in under 2 minutes! Great dog! Our Pyrs were great too, but hated being inside and would not come in willingly even in the worst storms. Rika is the best of both worlds. If your dog works for your livestock needs, that is all that is required! The old days of never touching or bonding with your LGD are past, now we know that you should bond with your dog and train him somewhat to make living with him easier. If he is properly bonded to the livestock, bonding to your family will not ruin him.