| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| viva |
Posted - Jun 29 2008 : 09:43:45 AM
Hello Ladies!
Does anyone use a livestock guardian dog? I'm thinking of getting a Great Pyrenees... If any one has input they would like to share- i'd love to hear it!
Thanks,
Jen
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| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| viva |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 9:47:40 PM
Thanks guys! I really do appreciate all your thoughts. |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 09:27:54 AM
Hi Jen! Boy do I have a LGD!!! My dog is a Maremma, which is an Italian breed relatively "New" to the United States (less than 30yrs). I've had him since he was a 2mo old, 50+lb pup!!! (he'll be five this Novermeber) He's been such a joy and such a BLESSING that words cannot describe him!
There are a few things you really should know about LGD's though, not ALL breeds are created equal, and you DON'T want to get mixed breed LGD's, regardless of WHAT breeds are in them (say a Maremma crossed with a Kuvasz or an Anatolian etc...) Pure breed is best, as each breed has certain personality traits-- some NOT so desirable. When you get mixed breed LGD's it's hard to know what traits will come out and when.
I reasearched for a year on the different guarding breeds (including other guardians NOT in the Canine family) and I chose the Maremma because that breed suited MY specific purpose. I did not choose an Anatolian (which are EVERYWHERE where I live) because they have a reputation for Human aggression. We have close neighbors and just can't have an animal like that. I did not choose a Pyrenees because I know that they have been bred in this country for decades by AKC breeders and many have lost their LIVESTOCK guarding instincts. I did not want to pay $1200 for a 130+lb dog that wants to sleep in my bed every night instead of keeping an eye on the animals in the barnyard like it's supposed to! (many Pyrs WILL guard livestock, but a lot of them won't either!)
LGD's are GREAT animals, but you must understand that they CANNOT play a dual role-- they will either be strictly an ANIMAL guardian, OR they will be strictly a PET (which some are NOT suited to!) They can't really be both, as many breeds get confused as to their protection roles and can become a serious liability. (In fact, some homeowner policies will NOT cover LGDs-- read the fine print carefully) I think the Pyrenees might be an exception, since I know several people who have them and they just are the biggest LOVE BUGS on the planet! The Maremmas, on the other hand, are EXCELLENT livestock guardians, VERY dedicated to their job, but they can be a bit headstrong at times, AND a bit CRANKY!!! Maremmas would NOT make good pets or people guadians-- they MUST have a job to do, or they can get into ALL KINDS of trouble!!!
LGD's are wonderful--- IF you choose the RIGHT one (and only YOU will know which that is). If it's in your heart to get one, do your research carefully. Talk to breeders and people who own the specific breeds you are interested in. Be sure to ask them "What's the WORST behavior I can expect from this particular breed?" (and yes, they ALL have some type of "bad" behavior that must be dealt with!) If the breeder won't tell you any specifics and keeps trying to push a dog on you--- FIND ANOTHER BREEDER!!!!! It's quite a commitment to devote 14+yrs to the responsiblity of one of these dogs. They are not, and CANNOT be dealt with like PET dogs. If YOU can't trust the dog, it can create a VERY dangerous situation, since the relationship you have with your LGD will be based on mutual trust and respect. You have to let the dog do his thing, but you also have to learn how (and WHEN) to discipline him properly if need be-- which is quite different than your house pet!! I'm not trying to scare you away from them, just trying to help. They truly are an asset to any farm. Good luck and I hope you find a good dog! ~~Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| Farmtopia |
Posted - Jun 29 2008 : 1:18:06 PM
Haha Jami, Sterling looks good in his poodle cut..I mean..umm...shearing 
~*~Dream all you dreamers~*~
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| Jami |
Posted - Jun 29 2008 : 12:05:12 PM
Hi Jen:
I have a Pyr LGD. What do you plan to do with the dog? Are you getting one that has been raised with livestock? Ours guards our sheep. I don't know what to tell you besides make sure you have a good fence and don't mind barking at night if you have coyotes around...mine really hates coyotes! But he's a great dog and I would lose lots of sheep to coyotes if we didn't have him. I just sheared him...you can see a picture of him on my blog...kind of funny actually.
Jami in WA
Okay, so now I have a blog. http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/ |
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