Show us your Livestock Guardians

[Grazer]

Thank you very much Stubbornhill

Moose23, I am glad your Pyr Lola now has a much better life with you guys


Southern, that story about poor Lucy really made me laugh. And I think it's amazing how a dog of this mix gets along so well with the farm animals. I think that says a lot about your training skills

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

They look like completely different looking dogs without their winter fur.

 

[Southern by choice]

They look so much lighter in the pics than I remember them.
The one to the right... is she your troublemaker?

Look at those faces! So smoochable!

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

They look so much lighter in the pics than I remember them.
The one to the right... is she your troublemaker?

Look at those faces! So smoochable!

Why yes....how can you tell? I know...that sweet and innocent face right? Primo on the left. "Dumb-dy dumb. I'm a happy dog. I love my life. Is it time for a belly rub?" Wisdom on the right, "watch them, watch them, watch them." "OK, they're not looking! Let's make a break for it!!"

 

[Nardalyn]

This is Georgia at four months -- still in training. Which means she chases everybody - lambs, chickens, duck... So, she lives next to but not with the animals. We also had our first knock-down, drag-out fight over a glove she wouldn't give me. I won, (I have to win, right??). All was forgotten on her part in less than a minute. And she started defending her space in the last two weeks! She drove off a moose eating my rutabagas.

Oh, and Southern, I know you don't like collars, but I never learned why. Georgia's so heavy now that I can't carry her to her pen when she chooses not to come, so I use her collar.
What else to do?

Narda

 

[Southern by choice]

first she is a pretty girl!
We do not allow any "possessive" games with humans. Drop it is drop it for a pup.... so yep...good you won! LOL
They may not be possessive over anything when it comes to a human. It is often an alpha display.... not always... sometimes it is puppy silliness.

Oh, and Southern, I know you don't like collars, but I never learned why. Georgia's so heavy now that I can't carry her to her pen when she chooses not to come, so I use her collar.
What else to do?

I'm not sure what you mean. Sorry if I somehow have brought confusion about collars.
I have collars on all my LGD's with their tags displayed.
For initial training which I start at 16 weeks (official) I use a prong collar. Prong collars correct pulling and bring the dog under control quickly. Prong collars do no tracheal damage like traditional collars do. They immediately learn to heal, walk on lead and not to pull. After this is well accomplished a choker is used ( proper use of a choker is important as well) , briefly , then their regular collars suffice.

I am not a fan of shock collars. They can be a training tool if used properly. Sadly many do not know how to use them properly and often ruin their dog or end up causing other behavioral issues. Most commonly I see the shock collars used, not as a last resort, but because often people are simply lazy and do not want to have time to work with the dog. I have never found the need for one. I am not completely against them just feel they are often not really needed. LGD's are highly intelligent breds and many will often figure out very quickly when the shock collar is on and when it's not.

From a small pup the pups learn sit, come, down.... as they grow older and start to become more aware of themselves I start actual training. 16 weeks. come, lead training, sit and stay. I also will emphasize the requirements for the LGD breeds are NOT those of any other kind of breed.

With my GSD's, or for that matter ... any breed... I require strict obedience. Non- LGD breeds I train with voice command only, first no lead no collar... then I move to lead/collar but those are German Shepherd Dogs....not a LGD. I cannot require that same level with a LGD because it is going against the nature of the breed, they must be independent thinkers. This is somewhat foreign to the new LGD owner. LGD's really are like their own species.... they are not like other dogs. There is a balance with training and requirements.

The LGD's should never be overtrained. EVER.

As little pups they always come to you, but by the age of 4 months they actually will regress and decide- No , I don't want to. That is why I do not start formal training til 16 wks with any breed.

The real naughty time comes around 7-8 months! Doesn't last long though.

For a brief description of how we work with our dogs ....
http://www.winginitfarms.com/about-our-lgd-s

 

[greybeard]

It's all I've ever needed here in the Big Thicket. Keeps cougars, dogs, people and chupacabras away.
(well--him and my 7.62x39)

Here's his backup when I ain't around (but I'm ALWAYS around)

 

[bj taylor]

greybeard, i thought he WAS a chupacabra. lol

 

[Grazer]

Love the new picture of Primo & Wisdom! And I love their markings!

Georgia is so very cute

 

[Robbin]

AWESOME dogs...