English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

Tricolored. I was told he was a sable until I got there. A bit of bait and snatch, but color did not matter anyway. Pup is neither outgoing nor shy, a bit stand offish. He has a bare stretch on his tail that needs to be remedied. His father is sable and decidedly people aggressive. His mother is outgoing with good athletic potential although overweight. Pup's default approach to humans may be like his father's so I will work on that immediately. He is confined to a dog crate in barn next to Flo's pen for the night. Introduction to pack will start with her. They will be paired with defending barn and sheep / goat herd. Pup will be scared tonight and a little cold. As soon as I can make it happen, he will be penned with Flo for warmth and developing people skills.

This pup is to be mine. His name is to be Bandit. First critter I've named in over a decade. All those other critter names came from others in the family. Very good names all.

Pup Pup somehow knows trick to opening dog crates from inside. A new, stronger model must be acquired.

 

[centrarchid]

Honey and Pup Pup engaging coyotes now. Need male to balance their power play.

 

[centrarchid]

Introductions going well. Going up heirarchy Flo-Pup Pup - Lucy - Honey. Lucy and Honey yet to go. Bandit is adjusting well and now comes to me and daughter when called. He barks at sheep, goat, and chases chickens. All to be expected. It is coldish here about 10 F yet pup handling it very well. Keeping him in water will be a challenge.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Introductions going well. Going up heirarchy Flo-Pup Pup - Lucy - Honey. Lucy and Honey yet to go. Bandit is adjusting well and now comes to me and daughter when called. He barks at sheep, goat, and chases chickens. All to be expected. It is coldish here about 10 F yet pup handling it very well. Keeping him in water will be a challenge.

Glad it's going well. Sounds like someone just needed to take a chance on him

 

[centrarchid]

We are starting to walk together as a pack around barnyard area and to chickens on far side of house. Pup very interested in chasing chickens. My approach is to give subtle "no" involving growling. He is seeing only Pup Pup interested in the festivity of chasing chickens and she stops immediately when I speak. Pup Pup tries to push chickens back to barn.

Daughter and I took Bandit and Pup Pup out dog stuff shopping to spend about $300. He has a new doghouse `and a large Kong brand mat to use inside his own 10' x 10' kennel that is next to one of the American Dominque hen pens. We still need a heated water bowl although three drinks per day appear adequate. He drinks heavily after eating feed but no so much otherwise. The adult dogs see to lap up water every time they encounter it because they want to. nit for actual need.


Bandit walks along with leash like a natural until we approach sensor activated doors. He also approaches strangers when called and seems to enjoy the attention.

Pup Pup and Flo both roll him when he starts running. Bandit figured out he can get under vehicles and hold his ground more or less. I started getting on the girls and he quickly figured I was better place to be a smarty pants than under the truck.

 

[aart]

We need a pic of bandit...and how old is he?

 

[centrarchid]

Bandit male welped October 13, 2021. Not my photograph. Current age about 13 weeks.

 

[fisherlady]

Looks like he shouldn't have trouble with cold weather! Nice looking tri color. I don't understand why anyone pulls bait and switch with farm dog colors. Hard to believe people really choose farm dogs based on colors, that is unfortunate.

 

[centrarchid]

Looks like he shouldn't have trouble with cold weather! Nice looking tri color. I don't understand why anyone pulls bait and switch with farm dog colors. Hard to believe people really choose farm dogs based on colors, that is unfortunate.

I spoke to mother / wife via Facebook and husband / father over phone. Daughter was identified as owner. Facebook conversation was all I had until leaving house to pick up pup. Facebook conversation had tricolored pup available while phone conversation had sable. Color did not matter to me, although I wanted to see pup before committing to purchase.

From what I have seen is most of the ES are selected based on color provided by pictures through internet. A big part of the pups are then picked without buyer actually meeting pup first. A bunch of pups appeared picked as newborns with a given litter often spoken for well before they are old enough to be weaned.

I will be upfront; I was looking for a brindled male with white to go with Flo. Did not find any after months of looking so started looking for pups from varied litter where one parent lacked white. White patches make the dogs so much easier to see and identify under poor seeing conditions.

 

[fisherlady]

Agree on the white for visibility, and that us of great benefit when truly working with a dog in real farm situations. My shaded Sable old girl (mindy) is hard to see in tall grasses/fields. My male is black and white and easy to keep track of. The new girl I got last month is Sable with white on face and tail and generally lighter than Mindy. Hopefully easier to see than Mindy in field grass sutuations and in edges of woods where dappled sunlight seems to be great camouflage for Mindy.
Will be getting genetic testing and hip check on the new girl (Jenibelle) in the next year or so before solidifying any breeding plans. She is great with the chickens, hope to expose her to my sister's goats and horses to see how she handles them soon. Those traits/behaviors will need evaluated before making final decisions on a good match for her.