Another live stock guardian question

[eggcited2]

I am a bit concerned wise about food. I just found out yesterday she feeds only raw meat diet. I would feed dry kibble food.

Actually, large or giant breed food. It contains correct protein amount for large dogs and the puppy large breed has adjusted protein and such for how large breed puppies should grow, so that they don't grow too fast for their bones and body. The adult large breed usually is larger chunks to help slow down eating. I also know to elevate their food bowl, to help on bloat happening. Both adult and puppy have glucosamine to help with joints and such, plus other things for healthy joints, bones, muscles, and everything else for large/giant breed of dogs.

How would I go about switching from the raw to dry kibble? I know to do it slowly (as with any food changes for any animals), but would it be slower than from one kind of dry to another kind of dry? Would I be out of line to ask her to some how supply (sell?) me some of the raw meat she feeds, enough for the switch over time?


And: yet another thing in this quest of what is best. I will be having total knee replacement surgery Nov. 8. I will be unable to get out and close up the chickens houses during the recovery time, and really need a livestock guardian. Even now, while able to take care of my chickens, I am having huge losses to raccoons and other predators. Mostly raccoons. I have written on here before about this problem and am not asking for help of what to do. I have been through every kind of 'solution' and still have raccoons coming around like crazy. I know I have lost at least 100 chickens over this past spring and summer. This past month alone, I have went from almost 50 chickens to now about 20.

The only solution and help is a live stock guardian.

This is a horrible year for predators. I am hearing all over and from so many people of huge losses of their chickens from raccoons and such. Everyone is shocked and super upset at how bad it has been this year. I do know of at least a couple people I have spoken to that lost entire flocks. Every chicken they had.

 

[drumstick diva]

When I first read your post, I was thinking why so cheap? Even on BYC auctions I have seen LSGD for $ 500 to 1000, for young pups from working parents. Even pet puppies of those breeds sell for plenty in classified ads ( and they aren't working stock and maybe not even purebred). I kinda wonder why she wants so little. Maybe she just doesn't have a market where she is, or small scale.

 

[cgmccary]

drumstick diva When I first read your post, I was thinking why so cheap? Even on BYC auctions I have seen LSGD for $ 500 to 1000, for young pups from working parents. Even pet puppies of those breeds sell for plenty in classified ads ( and they aren't working stock and maybe not even purebred). I kinda wonder why she wants so little. Maybe she just doesn't have a market where she is, or small scale.

I was thinking the opposite and agree with the OP that $350 is a lot to pay. I see GP around here cheaper (unregistered) but registered ones $300-400. Another L.G breed I was considering (and more rare), I was quoted $400 a pup. I guess it is whatever the market will bear.​

 

[carolinagirl58]

You will not be able to trust this pup with your stock yet! If you are going to have surgery, I would put off the pup until after, once you are recovered. A LGD pup is not trustworthy enough to be left alone with any stock. The only young pups that are safe with stock are those who are with their parents or an older dog to correct bad behavior. Without that, YOU are the one who needs to be able to supervise and correct problems.

 

[eggcited2]

Quote:
She used to sell them for $700-$800, but the economy is really bad here. She sells pups for $500 still, but since she has two left out of the litter that are older, (6 months now) she has reduced the price to $350. In our area, older pups sell for less than 8-10 week old ones.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

She used to sell them for $700-$800

To get that much for a breed as common as a Pyr, they would have to be show quality.

Also, the price normally goes UP with age, since the dogs should be considered "trained".

It doesn't sound like that great a deal to me​

 

[eggcited2]

Quote:
To get that much for a breed as common as a Pyr, they would have to be show quality.

Also, the price normally goes UP with age, since the dogs should be considered "trained".

It doesn't sound like that great a deal to me

I think the pricing has to do with the area we are located. Farmers will pay for good LGD's in this area, but they will not pay for older ones. They want little pups - not over about 12 weeks old at the most. Usually 8-10 weeks old is the prime age they want. They want the younger to "train" them exactly how they want. They figure older ones would be too hard to "re-train" them to exactly what they want.

I think price wise, all the price variations that have been mentioned by everyone, actually has a lot to do of where you are. What part of the country you are located, what state and even where in that state. Closer to a town, or big city, more rural, lots of rural. It is going to be quite different from place to place to place. What a LGD would cost in one state or area of the county could be a major difference in a totally different place. I am just trying to explain why the price might seem unusually high to someone, but a good price to someone else, and even too cheap to yet someone else.

Also when you say "as common" again, it may not be common in some areas. Around where we are, I only have heard of a few people who have them. Two people are well known (the lady I am seeing is one of those two) and then there have been a couple people on craigslist that have had pups for $150 or even $100. The one ad was from an accidental breeding (not even sure the daddy was GP). The other have no papers and are first time owning GP and breeding them (they want to get in on the money is their reason).

 

[dallen]

I have had pyrenese dogs for about 5 years now. When I introduced baby ducks to them, they did chase after them but all they did was sniff them. My old girl "tater" acually sat on some of them which was cute because there were several little duck heads sticking out of her fur. I have had to take my dogs to a dog sitter two times over the past year due to traveling and both times i lost a duck. this tells me that they are doing thier jobs.

 

[watchdogps]

Quote:
Don't switch. Learn about raw, and find sources near you. Raw is the most species appropriate diet you can feed. My raw fed dogs will get sick on kibble. Its not what they are suppposed to eat, period. Healthier dog, less poop pickup (actually NO poop pickup). Its not difficult nor expensive if you keep it simple.
Now, regarding the november surgery, your pup will not be ready to be alone with the birds by then. You need to think about how to handle that. A pen for the pup inside the chicken area may be enough to keep predators out.