information wanted on guardian dogs

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Hi, I've recently gotten some sheep and am thinking of using a guardian dog, I would like to hear from others who have had these and what they feel about them. I have only a few acres and a family. someone told me once that kids and these dogs don't mix what do you all think? thanks

-- David (nelson3@bright.net), July 21, 2000

Answers

i have great pyr. and children and they are best friends,it is hard to have a good working and a family pet. my female is a pet, she is with the children all the time i dont worry about them . she will defend the stock if something happens. the male is always out w/ the stock at night he is brought in the house, because i have a crazy neighbor. in the winter his favorite thing is pulling a sled for the children. if you need help setting up a good training program e mail me and i will more the happy to help!

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), July 21, 2000.

We have had Great Pyrenees and a Maremma. Both are good breeds, and safe with children if raised with them. If you only have a few acres, you may have to do as Renee does, and bring the dog in at night. They are awake more at night than during the day, and can be annoying with their barking -- at least to your close neighbors! Of course, the greatest need for the dogs is at night, so it may negate your whole purpose in having them! If you don't have to worry about the barking, then I would whole-heartedly endorse either of these breeds. There was a study done of LGD's a while back, and if I remember correctly, the only breed in the test that did not bite someone at one point or another was the Pyrenees, so they recommended them as the best choice for small farms, where there would be more contact with people.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), July 21, 2000.

In another USDA study, however, Great Pyrenees were the *least* successful breed of livestock guardian dog according to their owners. Maremmas were the most successful, and ASDs and Koms were next.

-- Julia (charmer24@juo.com), July 21, 2000.

I have alway had Australian Shepard/Border Collie cross dogs. They,ve always been a good all around family-farm dog, if they are given enough work to do. If they are allowed to get bored, they are neurotic and destructive.

They are very gentle, but fiercely protective of their charges, children, livestock, fowl. I have watched the same dog gently guide a toddler away from a dangerous situation, then turn around and make a stubborn angus bull get into the pen with as much force as neccessary.

Do they bite? They have teeth! Out of the seven dogs in my lifetime, none ever bit a child. Those people they perceive as predators are usually pinned and held or run off. A stranger who gets between them and their charges won't be hurt unless they try to fight the dog. They've always been 100% in their perceptions. Kids, parents, friends, family or anyone who follows farm protocol are greeted with a sniff and a tail wag.

They are also easily trained in obedience, whistle and hand signals.

Whatever dog you choose, make sure it has the qualities and abilities you need, and what quirks you can live with. It is a sad thing to love a dog who does not work out on a farm.

Let us know what dog you choose and how it works out.

Laura

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), July 21, 2000.


Bringing the guard dog into the house at night?? 'Scuse me, but what's the sense of having a 'guard' dog? Perhaps I've misunderstood, but livestock guard dogs are left with the stock 24/7 to protect against predators ~ and most come out at night.

I shop in a pet shop that has 3 of those great white rugs (Great Pyrs) laying on the floor in various areas. You have to step over them to shop! They're very friendly to the customers; just don't try to go in there at night when the shop is closed! Like most dogs, it's all in the bloodlines and training.

I have a list of breeds of livestock guard dogs that really surprised me ~ I never realized there were that many different breeds capable of doing the job.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), July 22, 2000.



I have a GP and find her to be a wonderful guard dog. She will not come into the house even if I invite her, guess she figures her home is with the livestock. She patrols all night and has a path worn into the earth from her frequent travels. She has never shown any agression toward humans but will not allow even a raven or crow to land on "her property".

This is the onhly breed of guard dog I have ever had so I can't comment on other breeds, but I can vouch for GP's.

-- Marci (ajourend@libby.org), July 22, 2000.


Fella I went to high school with, got to breeding Bulmastiffs. He found they were very territorial of his stock and property and raised with the family got along with and protected his children wonderfully. The American Kennel Club and your local vet can tell you more about your particular needs. I had Bullmastiffs as a child and they had great bonding personalities when raised with the family and they are classified as a working/guard dog and weigh in full grown 90 to 120 pounds. The history of the breed is that it is a manmade breed mixing the old english pit bull (now extinct) and the large mastiff. The result is a quiet, docile animal with great loyalty to its imprinted family, that will only exibit agressivness when it feels its family or territory is being threatened.Also we found the breed trains for obiedence very well.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), July 25, 2000.

I have a friend who has used LGs for several years with tremendous success and I have had one for about 3 years now. The one thing I can say is that you have to use the right tool for the job. There is a HUGE difference between herding dogs and gaurdian dogs. From watching my friend who has both and from my own experience, I would say that trying to have one dog do both jobs is asking for trouble! We have GP, Akbash (sic), Maremma X Akbash, and GP X Akbash. Different crosses / breeds do the job differently and then there are the differences between individual dogs. Only the Akbash has gotten after anyone and she never did actually put her teeth on them much less bite down......and both times the people involved deserved it! All the dogs are extemely good with people and children. They are night owls though as mentioned by other people. (DUH! That's when the predators are most active!) However, being as we have so many, they have worked out among themselves a "schedule" where some of them work in the day and some at night. Usually it's the younger dogs who work the day. I think it is because the older, more experienced dogs work so hard at night that they are exhausted and pups are just pups!

Just a couple of thoughts....hope it helps you.

-- Monica Flood (monicaf@colorspot.com), September 07, 2000.


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