taming our LGD

[oweirdo]

The beginning of February we bought 2 LDG. They are sisters from the same mother and father but different litters, both mother and father are great pyrenees and Anatolia Shepherd mixes. dad looked more great pyrenees while mom was more Anatolian. Waylon the oldest is approximately 9 to 10 months old while Willie is aproximately 3 months old. Waylon is very skittish, we cannot walk to her she has to come to us. Sometimes she will come to us and sniff us, sometimes we can pet her then, other time she smells us and runs, and sometimes she's playful with us. We see the same traits and Willie, although her being younger she will let us pet her a lot.
From what I've read I understand these are good traits for these braids because they are guardians for the animals and not pets for us. However the problem lies in we cannot teach Waylon hardly any commands. She jumped over the fence after some fireworks were set off and it is taking us three days to regain her trust. And we still don't fully have it back, anytime we walked towards her she runs to the fence. I don't want her teaching her younger sister these bad habits so we are trying to enforce with the younger one that we are her friend. However Waylon being the oldest is much better with our goats, Willie still wants to play with them.
When we got Waylon and Willie we bought them from a lady who had about 50 too many dogs, I don't think they were ever socialize with people. Neither had ever had a collar on, much less been trained. Within the first few days they had both learned the boundaries of our land, even though we didn't have a fence on one side. She never left our yard, but since the fireworks scared her so bad we can't hardly keep her in our yard.
I guess my question is how do we get her to trust us enough to let us walk up to her, interact, teach commands, yet keep her with the livestock a hundred percent of the time? now that a few days have passed after the fireworks she seems to have calmed down a lot. Sunday she wouldn't even stay in our fence Monday she would jump over but come back after a few minutes. Today I haven't seen her over the fence, she's stayed with the goats

 

[Southern by choice]

both mother and father are great pyrenees and Anatolia Shepherd mixes.

Is there a possibility the parents are litter mates and pups are inbred?

From what I've read I understand these are good traits for these braids because they are guardians for the animals and not pets for us

No these are not good traits. For many years the premise was put them in the field and don't touch them or they won't be good guardians and will not bond with the animals.

None of that is true and has actually led to serious issues with LGD's. That failed theory came from Ray Coppinger.

Waylon the oldest is approximately 9 to 10 months old while Willie is aproximately 3 months old. Waylon is very skittish, we cannot walk to her she has to come to us. Sometimes she will come to us and sniff us, sometimes we can pet her then, other time she smells us and runs, and sometimes she's playful with us. We see the same traits and Willie, although her being younger she will let us pet her a lot.

She jumped over the fence after some fireworks were set off and it is taking us three days to regain her trust

Obviously it is impossible to evaluate a dog based on a paragraph but the older dog IMO is not showing to be a very stable dog. She clearly would not pass a noise test. You are doing the right thing by slowly gaining trust. A key factor here is to work with that younger pup. Play with her (outside livestock areas), pet her, love her. start getting her use to a lead and walking her, teach basic commands etc. The older one may come around just by watching. The older one seems very fearful and this is never a good thing to see in a LGD. She will more than likely run off in thunderstorms too.
You have a better chance of working with the younger pup and hopefully she will be more stable.

Good that the older is doing well with the goats. The issue bois down to if she starts chasing or goes after a kid at kidding will you be able to get a hold of her or even correct her. This is an iffy dog.

 

[Southern by choice]

BTW- Welcome to BYH!

 

[oweirdo]

she was just fine during the thunderstorms and ice storms. shes fine with the neighbors shooting ( which they do way to much) shes even great with the kids. she watches over them, and they can pet her. just not us, me more than my Dh

 

[Southern by choice]

Have you sat on the ground and called her over? Will she come to you if you are down low?

The Lady who had her.... what did you get from her ? What was she like? the environment? where were the dogs kept?

 

[oweirdo]

and thank you! if she killed a kid (not human) i would think theres only so many options. none too happy

 

[oweirdo]

Have you sat on the ground and called her over? Will she come to you if you are down low?

The Lady who had her.... what did you get from her ? What was she like? the environment? where were the dogs kept?

she was a lonely old bat. about 50 little breed dogs , then 2 parents, 3 older pups and 4-6 little pups. they were all feed in one bowl, pecking order feed. The other animals there were pretty thin,horses, donkey,goats.
not well adjusted. Serious emotional abuse!
She has been accepting of the new animals, chickens, the added goats. I did work with Willie, on sit, lay down, and come. She loved all that, picked up quick.

 

[meme]

Welcome. I haven't had time to read through the entire thread, but that woman you got them from is a hoarder and needs to be turned in if she hasn't been already. Those poor animals.

 

[oweirdo]

Waylon loved the beef jerky treats, smeared with pb, I had back here for 2 days. Fixed one fence, but she found another way out. I can't let her show this to Willie, but Willie is to young to protect by herself. I'm hoping to find another older LGD. And, I guess, find Waylon another home

 

[Southern by choice]

Sorry I have forgotten... do you have any hot-wire or tape up?
You have had them for such a short period of time, she may come around just might take time.
I forgoyt what kind of fencing do you have?