There is not much on here about livestock guardian dogs, but I figure some people have them, so here goes! Literally any advice is appreciated.
THE BACKSTORY:
ok, so I've wanted and LGD for years and years. Was never ready, but have been researching them for years. I've read every article I could find about them!
Back in November, my dad's coworker was getting rid of a 6 month old great Pyrenees/newfoundland for free. This pup was born on a sheep farm to working parents, but since being with this new family, he had no training whatsoever (didn't even know what a collar or leash was). He was around free range chickens and never touched them. And shared a fenceline with goats. He is also so stinking sweet and cute. We decided to give it a shot, and find him a new home if it didn't work out. I figured I would get some solid hands on experience working with a dog.
THE TRAINING
Upon coming home, he has a separate pen where he can see all my poultry, sheep and pigs. I would exercise him vigorously off leash morning and evening, and in the afternoons we would do training sessions (basic training around stock, and teaching him to ignore the poultry.) From the beginning he has been very playful, and wants to chase everything and play with it to death. A few months later I introduced an e-collar (before y'all get mad at me, I have used these with my shepherds, I had training with a professional trainer how to use them well, and have been very careful in how/when I use it. It provides a great way for me to give him more freedom, but still have a way to correct him when he is trying to kill my stock.
Now he is running free all night, but must be penned up during the day when I'm not around, as he is completely not trust worthy with the animals. I LOVE the peace of mind he brings protecting the place at night.
THE PROBLEM
Despite all this, he really just wants to be with people. He is not bonded to stock at all. I'm not really expecting him to bond with the animals, I was just hoping for a good guardian to protect the property...I only have a few sheep, so really the most important to me is keeping predators away from the area in general, and especially my poultry. He is decent about staying in the fence, and when he does get out, he just comes and finds us, as people are his absolute favorite thing ever. But it's been 7 months, and he has not gotten better with poultry at all. He has only killed 2 birds, but really tries hard, and I am very careful about how and when he interacts. He was severely corrected both times (but the most recent was a guinea he killed overnight, so I didn't catch him in the act...just the aftermath.) But he is quite hardheaded!
I know from all my research that they are not really reliable until 2 yrs, and completely expected that! However, I think both me and my parents are worried as he didn't have the initial bonding and training for 4 or 5 important beginning months. Everyone seems to have a different opinion...one local poultry breeder who has a few says it takes going through a few dogs to find the one that is good with poultry...my stubborn self doesn't particularly want to accept that. And others says most will kill some and then turn out great later!
So am I wasting my time with him? Has anyone ever trained an older dog to be reliable around poultry?
We really love this big dork, he is amazing in so many ways! But we are a tad worried he will never work out and we should find him a new home. I am seriously stubborn and want to just keep trying, but ultimately I want what is best for him, and if that is new pet home, maybe that is what should happen. My parents are opposite and think we need to re-home him asap. I'm just so torn you guys, I really love this dog!
So please, if ANYONE has insight, advice, things to try or train, I would so appreciate it! I want to hear you stories and training methods!!!
Thank you for reading my ridiculously long post, and in advance for any responses.
THE BACKSTORY:
ok, so I've wanted and LGD for years and years. Was never ready, but have been researching them for years. I've read every article I could find about them!
Back in November, my dad's coworker was getting rid of a 6 month old great Pyrenees/newfoundland for free. This pup was born on a sheep farm to working parents, but since being with this new family, he had no training whatsoever (didn't even know what a collar or leash was). He was around free range chickens and never touched them. And shared a fenceline with goats. He is also so stinking sweet and cute. We decided to give it a shot, and find him a new home if it didn't work out. I figured I would get some solid hands on experience working with a dog.
THE TRAINING
Upon coming home, he has a separate pen where he can see all my poultry, sheep and pigs. I would exercise him vigorously off leash morning and evening, and in the afternoons we would do training sessions (basic training around stock, and teaching him to ignore the poultry.) From the beginning he has been very playful, and wants to chase everything and play with it to death. A few months later I introduced an e-collar (before y'all get mad at me, I have used these with my shepherds, I had training with a professional trainer how to use them well, and have been very careful in how/when I use it. It provides a great way for me to give him more freedom, but still have a way to correct him when he is trying to kill my stock.
Now he is running free all night, but must be penned up during the day when I'm not around, as he is completely not trust worthy with the animals. I LOVE the peace of mind he brings protecting the place at night.
THE PROBLEM
Despite all this, he really just wants to be with people. He is not bonded to stock at all. I'm not really expecting him to bond with the animals, I was just hoping for a good guardian to protect the property...I only have a few sheep, so really the most important to me is keeping predators away from the area in general, and especially my poultry. He is decent about staying in the fence, and when he does get out, he just comes and finds us, as people are his absolute favorite thing ever. But it's been 7 months, and he has not gotten better with poultry at all. He has only killed 2 birds, but really tries hard, and I am very careful about how and when he interacts. He was severely corrected both times (but the most recent was a guinea he killed overnight, so I didn't catch him in the act...just the aftermath.) But he is quite hardheaded!
I know from all my research that they are not really reliable until 2 yrs, and completely expected that! However, I think both me and my parents are worried as he didn't have the initial bonding and training for 4 or 5 important beginning months. Everyone seems to have a different opinion...one local poultry breeder who has a few says it takes going through a few dogs to find the one that is good with poultry...my stubborn self doesn't particularly want to accept that. And others says most will kill some and then turn out great later!
So am I wasting my time with him? Has anyone ever trained an older dog to be reliable around poultry?
We really love this big dork, he is amazing in so many ways! But we are a tad worried he will never work out and we should find him a new home. I am seriously stubborn and want to just keep trying, but ultimately I want what is best for him, and if that is new pet home, maybe that is what should happen. My parents are opposite and think we need to re-home him asap. I'm just so torn you guys, I really love this dog!
So please, if ANYONE has insight, advice, things to try or train, I would so appreciate it! I want to hear you stories and training methods!!!
Thank you for reading my ridiculously long post, and in advance for any responses.