Our first LGD puppy coming home tonight!! **update**

[SDGsoap&dairy]

We're so excited to be picking up our Pyr pup tonight! He's out of working parents and has been around goats and chickens since birth.

My newf is the best puppy raiser I could ask for, so he'll have an adult dog to teach him manners around the other critters. As "playground monitor" she even breaks up scuffles between roosters! We wanted to bring home a puppy while the old girl is still in good health and can knock him around when he needs it.

Of course pics will be posted soon.

 

[BetterHensandGardens]

Yes, please post the pics.......... just a little jealous here

 

[Beekissed]

Could you post pics of your Newf as well and tell me about his skills as a LGD? I've been told they are too laid back to guard livestock.

Just got two half Newfie pups and am hoping they can fill the shoes of my dying Pyr/lab mix girl.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

Here he is!!!

We've named him Elbert.

My newfie was never intended to be an LGD. We adopted her in 2005 from the Southeastern Newf Club's rescue group at nearly 4 years old so I've no idea what her socialization background is. She's been a super dog and has zero (seriously, she could not have less) prey drive. The only time she really switches on is in the water. She's attempted to "rescue" lots of swimmers who were clearly not drowning.

She's travelled with us from Atlanta to Seattle and back (in the car) and swam her heart out in every lake in between! We bought our first home last year and now that she's getting to be an old girl she's just enjoying "retirement" outdoors and barks at night when she hears something.

If someone were looking specifically for an LGD I probably would not recommend a Newf. It's really not what they were bred for. Her drive is to be in the water and with her family. She's trustworthy around the goats and chickens but she doesn't have any real attachment to them. Now that she's moved outdoors (she lived in an apartment with us for several years) she refuses to sleep anywhere other than below our bedroom window. From there she can still access the chickens.

The "playground monitor syndrome," as a trainer friend of mine referred to it, is common with newfs though. She'll break up any rough stuff whether it's between people, kids, other dogs, or chickens. She's the perpetual "mama" to everyone. You couldn't ask for a better family dog, but they'd probably always be breaking out of the pasture and working out a way to get on the couch (or the neighbor's Koi pond- ask me how I know...)

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

Here's our newf: this girl's skills are in the water!

 

[Mea]

What a cutie !!!

The ole Gal looves like a luv too.

 

[ksalvagno]

What a cutie!

 

[helmstead]

He's adorable!

Remember, make sure he can't get into any medicated goat feed...puppies just don't know any better than to hoover everything up.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

Absolutely. There's not a crumb of medicated feed on the farm right now. I'm sure he'll find trouble somewhere else though...

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

Whoops! He can still just barely squeeze through the field fencing... I'd better feed him a big dinner.