What kind of Guardian does your herd have?

[lgdnevada]

We have a Great Pyrenees that stays with our goats and horses. We originally got him to keep wild animals away from the chickens though. He's a great dog, but also one of the laziest dogs I've ever seen. He hates the heat and always finds a cool spot where he stays all day long.

That is what LGDs are supposed to do. While you are asleep all night your pyr is out there busting his butt keeping predators away. Please make sure he has access to shade during the heat of the day and access to cool clean water. All my 17 LGD's do the same thing. They'll get up and chase something if warranted but they sleep most if not all of the day. During the night they are up and on it. Hating heat does not equate lazy......are YOU out in 100+ weather in the blazing sun everyday working? I did last week and got heatstroke....not doing it anymore....you are very fortunate, your dog is smart...and doing his job.

 

[rockdoveranch]

Yikes! I cannot believe I missed this thread.

We do not have any LGDs, but as some of you know, I did a lot of research on the different breeds a few years back after a neighbor's dog came onto our property and killed a lovely blackbelly ram lamb. When asking one of our vets who has 3 family members with large goat herds, he said one has a Prys, another Llamas, and the third a donkeys, and that they are all happy with their choices.

Someone I know in East Texas breeds ASDs and she and many of the hair sheep people I know here in Texas swear by them. Because of my background I know I would do better with Prys. At one time I was considering a rescue from a Pry rescue group up in North Texas. I think now, since we are keeping our Trophy rams next to the neighbors property we would get donkeys over there if we ever had another problem, but a certified letter to them letting them know we know the laws here in Texas has convinced them to contain their dogs.

I DO like the look of the ASD and Boz and I KNOW they are EXCELLENT choices, but I have never ever had a dog that protected people, and I do not understand the dynamics. I know that sounds stupid. I can read my dogs and they me, so maybe I could do the same with ASDs and Bozs. I have always believed in my 60 years of having Boxers that if they had to protect me, they would fight to the death.

We have 4 dogs with strong prey instincts, 2 of which are 6 month old puppies. I HAVE to have my Boxers. The GWP was a stray. And the pups are a healthy mix of both. Idiot for having such dogs on a "ranch" with 33 sheep with more on the way? I think YES! But I need my Boxer!

Carolinagirl, thanks for starting this thread! I am eager to learn and looking forward to more posts.

 

[elevan]

Am I the only one who uses a llama?

 

[rockdoveranch]

Am I the only one who uses a llama?

We have a llama breeder a stones throw away from us. I hate that we cannot see his pastures when we drive by.

I have heard from hair sheep people I know that both llamas and donkeys sometimes stomp newborn sheep and goats to death, and that donkeys have been known to pick newborns up in their mouths and shake them to death. I guess they do not recognize them as part of the herd when they are born. Then again, I have heard that you have to be very cautious with LGD puppies as they too can injure and kill newborns.

I love the idea of having a llama. Elevan, have you ever had a bad experience or known of anyone who has?

I guess this is another reason I do not have LG animals. I read and read, and yet, I feel like I don't fully get it . . . Flat Lining . In the other group I was in I was pretty much shamed for not have LG animals, and then when I talked Prys I would get PMs telling me they are not good dogs.

Maybe I am just afraid a LG animal would think I was a prey animal, yet all my dogs bond deeply with me, even my daughter's dog(s).

Once again, I know I sound like an idiot. I have seen LGDs at work and walked through them with the shepherds. I NEED CHOCOLATE!

 

[elevan]

Am I the only one who uses a llama?

We have a llama breeder a stones throw away from us. I hate that we cannot see his pastures when we drive by.

I have heard from hair sheep people I know that both llamas and donkeys sometimes stomp newborn sheep and goats to death, and that donkeys have been known to pick newborns up in their mouths and shake them to death. I guess they do not recognize them as part of the herd when they are born. Then again, I have heard that you have to be very cautious with LGD puppies as they too can injure and kill newborns.

I love the idea of having a llama. Elevan, have you ever had a bad experience or known of anyone who has?

I guess this is another reason I do not have LG animals. I read and read, and yet, I feel like I don't fully get it . . . Flat Lining . In the other group I was in I was pretty much shamed for not have LG animals, and then when I talked Prys I would get PMs telling me they are not good dogs.

Maybe I am just afraid a LG animal would think I was a prey animal, yet all my dogs bond deeply with me, even my daughter's dog(s).

Once again, I know I sound like an idiot. I have seen LGDs at work and walked through them with the shepherds. I NEED CHOCOLATE!

I've heard the horror stories about donkeys and don't know of anyone who uses a donkey.

We have a large sheep farmer just around the corner from us who has a llama as a guard (we have a HUGE llama farm around the corner too...which is where he got his)...Anyway...His guard llama is GREAT with lambs. You should see them bounce on him

Not all llamas make good guards though...which is probably why they are a rarer guardian.

 

[runamuck]

Well we have a few.... The dogs Darcey (cattle dog jack russel terrier mix) is the great fox destroyer and with her sidekick Sophie ( bordercollie /irish setter mix) they keep everything away...... The geese are great for flying evils and sooooo are the 3 tom turkey who move as one unit Larry, Curly and MOE ......

 

[MonsterMalak]

Rockdoverranch,

I understand your concern for the LGD's, but have to say 70% of the info on the net just does not seem to fit the dogs. The Pyrenees are a more mellow dog, but are somewhat Aloof and independent. (Not all, but most)
The Turkish breeds bond to people (My family refers to them as BUTT DOGS). Thousands of years with following the shepherd in the grazing season, and living with him during the winter. As opposed to living with the flock year around without people interaction. A Turkish Kangal, Boz, or Anatolian will bond to you, and protect all in your domain.

Their aggression is to the predators. Love is to you.

In Turkey, they say that the Boz is a dog that can kill the wolves, and sleep with the lambs.

This is our MONSTER, our Boz pup at 9 months old, would attack anything that threatened us. He goes into town with me all the time. A perfect gentleman. Great with hundreds of kids at the ball fields. He is 32.5 inches tall, and 120 already.

This is his dad

And you would never feel safer!!!

Just my opinion, but I feel much of the info on the Net paints a picture of a a hard to control independent, mean dog. Nothing could be futher from the truth.

 

[lgdnevada]

Am I the only one who uses a llama?

I guess this is another reason I do not have LG animals. I read and read, and yet, I feel like I don't fully get it . . . Flat Lining . In the other group I was in I was pretty much shamed for not have LG animals, and then when I talked Prys I would get PMs telling me they are not good dogs.

Honestly LGD's are not for everyone, I've said this before and will always say it. Some people are better off with other alternatives that frankly, just work better for them. I'm sorry however those people in the other group were harsh. I love all LGD's. Of course some breeds I favor more than others, but still, you won't find me bashing Pyrs - they were my first LGD breed. Like every breed they have their strengths and weaknesses and some breeds fit some people better than others. Don't beat yourself up....use what works best for you. Me, its dogs. Others, maybe llamas, still others can use just fladry and vigilance, still others maybe a donkey. We all have different situations. We're fortunate that there are so many options! ;~)

 

[Roll farms]

Elevan, I started w/ a guard llama (we actually used to have 8 llamas as 'pets' before we got into goats), he did a *fantastic* job guarding the goats / sheep / other llamas....only trouble w/ him was that he didn't care if a coon / opossum / skunk came in and treated our coop like an all night buffet. They weren't 'predators' in his eyes, I guess.

Since birds used to be a big part of our operation, I *had* to have something that would protect them, too.

We got our first Pyr pup and...the llama was hell bent on killing him. No amount of introduction / getting used to him helped the situation, he saw that cute lil fat pup and got blood in his eyes. I tried everything that was suggested to me at the time by various LGD sites and llama resources available and nothing worked...so we had to rehome the llama. I had visions of them working together...but as with a lot of pretty livestock dreams vs. reality, it wasn't meant to be.

Our LGD do a great job for us watching over everything. I'd rather look out and see a llama out there...or maybe I should say I'd like to see them both out there.

After that 1st pyr grew up we tried to 'rescue' an adult llama / make him a guardian. He was scared spitless of the goats and dog and tried to jump our 5' fence to get away from them...even though he was in a seperate pen so they could 'adjust'. He went right back on the trailer and my guardian llama dreams died.

We now have Edge (4 yr old pyr) and Gus (1.5 yr old son of Edge and an ASD we used to have) and they're wonderful guardians. Lost Razor, our old original pyr, 1.5 yrs ago and he is still greatly missed.

 

[rockdoveranch]

Thanks to all who have been so kind and understanding to me with your responses to my post.