We have recently started having some trouble with wild dogs. There is a creek that runs through some property a few miles from us and people have started dumping dogs around there. Over the last several months we have spotted them in our pasture at least once a week. They have never came up to our goats pens but they are starting to get a little closer and yesterday I walked outside to them chasing a deer closer to our pens than I am comfortable with. We are getting ready to fence in about 2 acres for our goats because we are growing our herd. I'm convinced that we really do need an LGD but I have some concerns and would like to get advice/opinions. I have 3 boys 5 and under and we are out with the animals most of the day so I need a dog that is well around wild boys. We also have a large lab that is my other baby and he likes to hang out in the pens around the animals with us. The pasture we use actually belongs to my parents and they live 2 houses over from us. They keep 3-5 cows and I worry about the dog around them. I plan to keep the dog in the 2 acres and barn but is it possible to train the LGD to be okay with the cows even though they won't be in his pasture? Thanks in advance
Thinking about an LGD, need advice
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BrownSheep
Lost in the flock
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Your dog ( if you start it as a puppy) will be acclimated to what ever you raise it with. LGD's have a very calm disposition and are often very protective of their family as well.
Until, you can get a LGD I would a) contact the local animal warden and b) keep some sort of deterrent by the door. Be it a gun, a bat, or even a broom.
Until, you can get a LGD I would a) contact the local animal warden and b) keep some sort of deterrent by the door. Be it a gun, a bat, or even a broom.
SassyKat6181
Chillin' with the herd
I was at a farm recently and they raise great pyrenees. Very friendly and great at protecting the herds. The young buck pen had an anatolian shepard in with them and it was the worst dog. Very hyper, trying to get through the fence to me, and very snippy with the goats. The farmer said it was her second anatolian and she will never have another. With small children, you may want to consider the great pyr.
I also have a neighbor up the road and he has 3 llamas that range with his goats and they protect them very well. Maybe that could be an option for you too.
I also have a neighbor up the road and he has 3 llamas that range with his goats and they protect them very well. Maybe that could be an option for you too.
Southern by choice
Herd Master
We have 3 pyrs and an Anatolian. Our Anatolian is wonderful. I do prefer females over males with the anatolians and male pyrs over female pyrs.
Some of if it is individual traits in the LGD, some of it is in the owning raising and training of the LGD.
As far as the two breeds there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Anatolians are wonderful dogs.
With your children being young I would recommend a pup or a mature dog that has been raised in a family ranch/farm capacity. These dogs are different than any other dogs. They require a certain level of understanding of their nature and how they work and think.
Some of if it is individual traits in the LGD, some of it is in the owning raising and training of the LGD.
As far as the two breeds there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Anatolians are wonderful dogs.
With your children being young I would recommend a pup or a mature dog that has been raised in a family ranch/farm capacity. These dogs are different than any other dogs. They require a certain level of understanding of their nature and how they work and think.
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woodsie
Loving the herd life
I would second the vote for the Great Pyr with kids...they have been the only LGD we have had (can't say anything about the other breeds) but they have been EXCELLENT with our kids. My youngest (boy) crawled over and rides on the back of my male Pyr all the time...even good with new kids. We have had 2 males and one female and I prefer our males over our female (she's still young, maybe she will get better with time)..however they do wander they REQUIRE a GOOD fence. (Mine ran away today, 3km in a very short time the very first time they have escaped, so I have to relook at my fencing situation).
The only issue was sometimes they "paw" for attention but can be trained out of it....can be dangerous a giant paw coming at the kids, they are looking for one more pet....nip it in the bud right aways with a swat down and a firm no, then walk away...never reward the "paw" with another pet.
My girls are always screetching and yelling (5 & 3) and the dogs have never acted inappropriately...if someone is hurt or scared they might come running to check it out but never are aggressive. I wouldn't want to see someone mess with my kids though....dogs would probably have something to say about that!
Awesome guardians but make sure you are ready for them...already have the animals you want them to guard so they bond with the animals right aways and a proper fence/containment situation with your livestock. I can't see the cows being a problem if they are already there when you bring the dog home.
Welcome to the LGD world...you will hold such a deep appreciation for the job they do and how well they do it!
The only issue was sometimes they "paw" for attention but can be trained out of it....can be dangerous a giant paw coming at the kids, they are looking for one more pet....nip it in the bud right aways with a swat down and a firm no, then walk away...never reward the "paw" with another pet.
My girls are always screetching and yelling (5 & 3) and the dogs have never acted inappropriately...if someone is hurt or scared they might come running to check it out but never are aggressive. I wouldn't want to see someone mess with my kids though....dogs would probably have something to say about that!
Awesome guardians but make sure you are ready for them...already have the animals you want them to guard so they bond with the animals right aways and a proper fence/containment situation with your livestock. I can't see the cows being a problem if they are already there when you bring the dog home.
Welcome to the LGD world...you will hold such a deep appreciation for the job they do and how well they do it!
Straw Hat Kikos
The Kiko Cowboy
Both Anatolians and Prys are great dogs. That Anatolian that saw talked about above is NOT a good example of one and is either from bad lines or just a bad dog. Don't let that fool you though. They are fantastic dogs.
goodolboy
Ridin' The Range
Straw, which of the dogs ya'll have there is more high strung? We have a friend with both and I think thier Anatolians are alittle more active toward people. Is this true for most of them compaired to the GP?
Straw Hat Kikos
The Kiko Cowboy
None of them are really high-strung, imo. Two of the GP's are not very people friendly (they love us and their family though. Just not strangers) and they don't like them coming at their fence or animals. Then the one GP and my Anatolian are good with people, as long as we let them know that they are ok. Like if you came by there is no way your going in with the two GP's but if we were there and told the one GP and Anatolian that you are ok then we could bring you in and you could be around them. Well unless they just didn't like you.goodolboy said:
When you say active do you mean active as in wanting to bark and let you know this is their's or active as in they want to say high kind of active?
goodolboy
Ridin' The Range
I've only owned GP, and the only dealing I've had with the Anatolians is a friend. They own two, and it just seems to me that all the GP I've owned or seen (they have two of our pups also) are alot more layed back dogs. My females I've owned have been more hiper than the males. We have two intact males right now and I don't think that affects thier temperment at all. I was just asking a general question about the GP vs. Anatolians which you thought was more high stung.
