Another Great Pyr question or two

[Sherry]

Have a chance to get a GP for $100. They're only 3 weeks old right now.
My questions...
1) How hard are they to train to guard the livestock?

2) I have 54 acres but don't want them wandering away, how do I make them stay Home?

3) I have a mt. lion in my neck of the woods, should I get 2 GPs?

Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
Sherry

 

[taraann81]

They will guard livestock instinctively if raised with them.

2 of anything is always better than one!

 

[aaronzclark]

Hi well gp's are very easy to train i just put mine in the fence at a few months old (gives it time to get used to the family) and if it grows up with the livestock it will protect it. As long as your acre's are fenced they won't wander because wherever the livestock is the Great Pyr is with them. personally with that much land I would get two but it is also according to how much livestock you have. Goodluck

 

[lotzahenz]

I agree, two is always better than one. I've read that females don't roam as much as males, especially if spayed. That if you walk the boundry with them every day for several weeks, they learn which boundry you want them to guard. The guarding instinct is natural, they protect whatever you put in their "space". Don't overly socialize them, and my groomer recommends shaving them once or twice a year when it gets so hot. Here they get really matted, and shaving them makes it so much easier on them. She charges about $75. per dog. Try to make sure the dog is not deaf, a common problem. They are supper dogs to have.

HenZ

 

[Sherry]

Quote:
The livestock is fenced, the rest of the acres are not. I have goats and chickens that are fenced seperately but pretty close together. Does the dog have to be in the fenced area?

I thought I might start with the pups, while small and young, being kenneled close by the chickens and goats. Think that will work?

 

[pixie74943]

http://www.lgd.org/trainfaqs.html

I read this before and it seemed pretty useful

 

[mekasmom]

Get two. They work better in pairs when there are large predators. They don't have to be trained to protect their livestock. It is inbred instinct with them. When they are young, we usually keep them in the small barn at night, and let them out with the goats during the day. They aren't large enough to protect themselves or the goats until they are a few months old.

 

[pixie74943]

Quote:
woah.. Umm, without being rude, No.

They MUST be trained. If you dont train them their just a big tough dog surrounded by food.

There's someone on the forums right now who bought a Pyr and integrated it with the flock for one day. Next morning, 9 dead chickens and 5 injured. And that dog had grown up with chickens being taught that they werent food.

While alot of the protecting of the flock is instictive, you need to teach them that the Chickens/Goats are there to be protected, not played with/eaten.

Without the training, its just a dog. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise

EDIT: Just to add, I've heard about goats injuring Pyr puppies. So both the dog and the goats need to learn each other.

 

[taraann81]

Quote:
woah.. Umm, without being rude, No.

They MUST be trained. If you dont train them their just a big tough dog surrounded by food.

There's someone on the forums right now who bought a Pyr and integrated it with the flock for one day. Next morning, 9 dead chickens and 5 injured. And that dog had grown up with chickens being taught that they werent food.

While alot of the protecting of the flock is instictive, you need to teach them that the Chickens/Goats are there to be protected, not played with/eaten.

Without the training, its just a dog. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise

EDIT: Just to add, I've heard about goats injuring Pyr puppies. So both the dog and the goats need to learn each other.

Could you clarify, it sounds like she integrated an adult dog in with a new flock, correct?

 

[pixie74943]

Quote:
woah.. Umm, without being rude, No.

They MUST be trained. If you dont train them their just a big tough dog surrounded by food.

There's someone on the forums right now who bought a Pyr and integrated it with the flock for one day. Next morning, 9 dead chickens and 5 injured. And that dog had grown up with chickens being taught that they werent food.

While alot of the protecting of the flock is instictive, you need to teach them that the Chickens/Goats are there to be protected, not played with/eaten.

Without the training, its just a dog. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise

EDIT: Just to add, I've heard about goats injuring Pyr puppies. So both the dog and the goats need to learn each other.

Could you clarify, it sounds like she integrated an adult dog in with a new flock, correct?

The dog was 5 months old

Heres the link BTW
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=206914