Training a puppy?

[rrhall]

We just picked up a 6 week old puppy,we have had him for a little over a week now.We are hoping to make a Guard dog out of him we have goats and chickens,the person we got him off of had goats and chickens also,so he has already been exposed,which makes it nice.We have him sleeping in the same pen as the goats right now,we made a little cage he could get into to get away from the goats but he does not use it,he just stays with the goats.We work with him every day,we take him with us when we go into both chicken coops to feed the chickens,he will follow you around.So far he has been really good with the chickens,and the chickens are getting use to him,I think he was sleeping in a chicken coop at his old place.

Does anyone have any tips on anything more we can be doing with him,besides the normal sit,down,stay ect. commands ?

Here is a picture of Nugent,he is a Anatolian/Pyrenees Mix.

It has been cold and windy around here but today we were able to open the barn up and let the goats out for a little while.

 

[Roll farms]

I've 'trained' 3 LGD's and have one in training now and the number one point I need to make here is...Do Not Trust Him Alone With Any Babies.

Especially in 2-3 mos. when he's big enough to hurt things.

He is a PUPPY and puppies like to play...sometimes too roughly for newborn goats and chicks who can't outrun him or fly away.

The number one thing I hear from people w/ bad experiences is, "Well, he was fine with them until....."

I never, ever completely trust any LGD around small things until they're closer to 2 yrs old. At that point (could be earlier, could be later) it's like a switch is flipped and they suddenly "get it".

We lost our 8 yr old pyr this week, Razor....he would jump in the air after chicken hawks, and killed many a stupid possum and skunk who got into his pasture....but even he, as a pup, played too rough.

Watch them for any 'bad' behavior, correct it immediately (not with anger or yelling...with positive reinforcement), and reward GOOD behavior.

Join "goatslivestockdogs", a yahoo group, where you can get real-time answers to your questions.

Check out the info at this site...
http://bountifulfarm.com/Greatpyrs.htm

these folks know more about LGD's than 'bout anyone else I know... They even wrote the training module at Langston University's LGD training module.

Your pup "looks" more pyr than 'Tolian, but he could show characteristics of both (I've had both and our current pup is a cross) but LGD training is basically the same, regardless of breed.

Don't be surprised if he is hard to train "simple" commands to...they're bred to be stubborn, decision makers when they're alone, so they can 'decide' what to do...that and our idea of training don't always mix.

Personally, I like to put pups in w/ older goats who won't truck w/ their foolishness....A couple good butts and they learn pretty quick what's ok and what's not.

Do not take him out of the pasture, into your house, or let him play w/ other dogs...he will not bond w/ the goats or consider them "his" if he would rather be with you. He may think all dogs are ok if he accepts yours. Keep him in the fence. Some try to expand their territories. We've been lucky that ours haven't.

I would nueter him at 6 mos. All of our males have been and it hasn't reduced their guarding instinct one bit...it enhances it b/c their mind is on their job, not breeding.

If it's easy, bring him into a seperate area to feed, so you don't have to worry about him getting either food aggressive or having his food stolen. (We've had dogs who'd let does steal all their food, and dogs who'd bite any doe who came near their pan...)

Research, learn as much as you can, and don't give up on him....Be patient until he's past his puppy phase.

Be aware that they bark a lot...you will learn to tell the difference between his "I'm here..just letting you bad guys know it" patrol bark and his "I'm serious, something's wrong" bark...but that something wrong can be a deer in the next woods or a real threat. As they age, they better learn the difference.

One of ours usually runs the herd into the barn and stands guard at the door, while the other(s) run AT the threat.

One also pulls night shift, while others pull day shift.

I dunno how they work all that out, but they do it on their own.
I am often dumbfounded at how well they work together.

These are amazing dogs, I love to watch mine "work".

Best of luck to you w/ him....

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Oh dear...I think you need to send him to MD so I can have him. He's adorable!!!

 

[rrhall]

I've 'trained' 3 LGD's and have one in training now and the number one point I need to make here is...Do Not Trust Him Alone With Any Babies.

Especially in 2-3 mos. when he's big enough to hurt things.

He is a PUPPY and puppies like to play...sometimes too roughly for newborn goats and chicks who can't outrun him or fly away.

The number one thing I hear from people w/ bad experiences is, "Well, he was fine with them until....."

I never, ever completely trust any LGD around small things until they're closer to 2 yrs old. At that point (could be earlier, could be later) it's like a switch is flipped and they suddenly "get it".

We lost our 8 yr old pyr this week, Razor....he would jump in the air after chicken hawks, and killed many a stupid possum and skunk who got into his pasture....but even he, as a pup, played too rough.

Watch them for any 'bad' behavior, correct it immediately (not with anger or yelling...with positive reinforcement), and reward GOOD behavior.

Join "goatslivestockdogs", a yahoo group, where you can get real-time answers to your questions.

Check out the info at this site...
http://bountifulfarm.com/Greatpyrs.htm

these folks know more about LGD's than 'bout anyone else I know... They even wrote the training module at Langston University's LGD training module.

Your pup "looks" more pyr than 'Tolian, but he could show characteristics of both (I've had both and our current pup is a cross) but LGD training is basically the same, regardless of breed.

Don't be surprised if he is hard to train "simple" commands to...they're bred to be stubborn, decision makers when they're alone, so they can 'decide' what to do...that and our idea of training don't always mix.

Personally, I like to put pups in w/ older goats who won't truck w/ their foolishness....A couple good butts and they learn pretty quick what's ok and what's not.

Do not take him out of the pasture, into your house, or let him play w/ other dogs...he will not bond w/ the goats or consider them "his" if he would rather be with you. He may think all dogs are ok if he accepts yours. Keep him in the fence. Some try to expand their territories. We've been lucky that ours haven't.

I would nueter him at 6 mos. All of our males have been and it hasn't reduced their guarding instinct one bit...it enhances it b/c their mind is on their job, not breeding.

If it's easy, bring him into a seperate area to feed, so you don't have to worry about him getting either food aggressive or having his food stolen. (We've had dogs who'd let does steal all their food, and dogs who'd bite any doe who came near their pan...)

Research, learn as much as you can, and don't give up on him....Be patient until he's past his puppy phase.

Be aware that they bark a lot...you will learn to tell the difference between his "I'm here..just letting you bad guys know it" patrol bark and his "I'm serious, something's wrong" bark...but that something wrong can be a deer in the next woods or a real threat. As they age, they better learn the difference.

One of ours usually runs the herd into the barn and stands guard at the door, while the other(s) run AT the threat.

One also pulls night shift, while others pull day shift.

I dunno how they work all that out, but they do it on their own.
I am often dumbfounded at how well they work together.

These are amazing dogs, I love to watch mine "work".

Best of luck to you w/ him....

Thanks for the info,and I'm very sorry to here about Razor,he sounded like he was one heck of a dog.
I do not know how much Anatolian or Pyrenees he has in him,his mom was marked a lot like him,did not see the father.
It was amazing to see the path they had worn around the property fence line,I thought it was from his goats,but the owner said it was from the dog making patrol runs all night long.
We are also checking in on getting him neuter,I have read where a few of you have said this now. Thanks again.