Better protector: guardian dogs or emus?

[Eastins Eggs]

Quote:
I agree we use Great Pyrenees have 6.

 

[FuzzyFarms]

Half way between Waco and Houston. The Pyrenees don't get too hot in the 100+ degree heat we sometimes get?

 

[Eastins Eggs]

We can get 100 degree days here to. The dog are given plenty of shade. Be warned they are diggers and will dig holes to stay cool.

 

[Momma_Cluck]

I have heard that Llamas and guineas are great for protection (other than dogs) as are REAL big gees/swans... but those get mean...
and actually, emu's will protect smaller birds they are raised with, as they become very attached and view the smaller birds as their babies!
There is an emu/Beefalo ranch about 3 miles from us, and whenever we drive by, the emus are followed everywhere by hoards of chickens!!! (SO are the buffalo! LMAO! Those Big shaggy buggars with chickens riding around on em!)

 

[WriterofWords]

We are regularly in the triple digits and my Pyre does great. I strip his coat out with a stripper but that triple coat also helps keep them cool just as it keeps them warm. Keep the mats out and they are good. If we have a bad heat wave, I'll get him clipped very short, but no later than Sept. 1 or he won't have his coat by Nov. for warmth.

 

[burley]

You should have no trouble introducing new creatures to your dog. A formal introduction and some time to show it is yours and your dog will protect it with their lives. Remember just buying a dog to be a guardian is not the end of it. Most guardian dogs are late to mature . My 4 year old female Anatolian will take care of any problems that arise within her perimeter. She will even break up chicken or cat fights. My year old male just wants to play. I do not trust him yet left alone with the Animals. He will become a great guardian he is just not ready yet. Dogs are a lot of work at first slowly becoming less and less and when they finally mature and go to work you will wonder how you ever lived without them.

 

[Maggidew]

Our Pyrenees do fine outside in any season. During the summer they go to the creek to stay cool during the day and stay on guard all night. We're in East Texas, about 30 miles north of Tyler.

We don't subscribe to the belief that they can't be pets, we love 'em and they still do their job. They're not overly comfortable in the house, they spend most of their time outside when they are all grown up. I do like to keep puppies close and socialize them with us, but at about 6 months they are ready to be out all night and run with the big dogs.

Right now we have Beorn and Eleanor (the adults) and my puppy Lily from Eleanor's last litter. Lily was the runt, suffered insecticide poisoning, was run over by my van which dislocated her sacroiliac on both sides and then came down with (possibly) Parvo even after 2 vaccines - all before she was 4 months old - and she's a trouper. She's been staying out with her Dad at nights while Mom is in here with the latest litter of pups.

My husband raises peafowl and we have a few chickens and Call ducks, and we wouldn't be without a Pyrenees here. Nadine (Moodene) has one of Eleanor's named Babe, she's a beautiful dog.

 

[FuzzyFarms]

This may be another dumb question but if you had 26 chickens, 3 turkeys, 6sheep, 16 ducks, 1 goose and 4 hunting dogs, would it really be neccessary to get a guardian dog to protect the livestock since the hunting dogs could care less about them?

We've never had anything happen, but isn't it dumb to wait until something bad happens to get a protector? I found a breeder that I like.

We should suck it up and pay the $500 for a proven working line huh?

 

[burley]

something will eventually get your birds and then it will be too late. and remember even with the dog you won't have full protection until your pup matures. Try not to get too caught up in purchase price. It really becomes a small part of the cost of ownership over the life of the dog.Most good Anatolians I see go for over 1000. I have sold a few to alpaca farms. if they save one animal one time they have already saved their owner the price of many dogs.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

We should suck it up and pay the $500 for a proven working line huh?

For $500 or more I'd expect a registered dog with a LONG pedigree of working dogs.

http://www.lgd.org/

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/maremmasheepdog.htm​