How to Introduce LGD?

[bcorps]

Besides being a mediocre at best chickeneer, I am an avid gardener. However, I have just about had my eternal fill of rabbits. I have shot countless lop-eared varmints, but rabbits are like Doritos...they just make more. They completely devoured my entire pea and bean crop last year inside of 48 hours.

So this year, I am strongly considering getting a Great Pyrenees to scare off the rabbits, since they are supposed to also be great livestock guards. Ive' got my eye on a 3-4 month old puppy who has been raised around livestock already, so she's comfortable with them.

But what about my flock? They've never seen a dog before. How do I introduce them to the pup?

I am currently building a 6 ft fence to keep the little gluttons out of my garden as well. Should I just let them kind of nose to nose through the fence until they don't freak out any more? My roosters are getting to where they will fight at the drop of a hat, and I don't want the pup getting flogged.

All suggestions are welcome!

 

[casportpony]

@KsKingBee, any suggestions?

 

[ronzxcvb]

The pup needs to be exposed to the chickens at a young age
Just keep an eye on them a few pecks or getting flocked a few times is probably good for the pup
Some dogs are great around birds others even from the same litter may not be
But do research about the LGD breed to make sure that it fits with what you expect the dog to do. Some work best only when guarding a large area. Any breed may work for what you want but you should pick the proper breed for what you want it to do.

 

[RiverOtter]

Great Pyranees are huge, and hairy. That means that spring, summer and fall, they are hot. Do you know what dogs do when they are hot? They find some nice, moist dirt, and dig down to the cool and rest their bellies on the cool earth.
= that dog will do infinitely more damage to your garden than a horde of rabbits.

Also, being huge, they aren't exactly sprightly. More lumbering. Have you noticed that really big dogs don't tear around like small ones? Pyrs are bred to challenge a bear, not chase bunnies away from lettuce. They are bred to guard huge flocks of sheep across hundreds of acres of mountain terrain. Not 20 chickens in a backyard.

This sounds like a bad breed choice for the situation. Beagles are rabbit dogs.

 

[bcorps]

The pup needs to be exposed to the chickens at a young age
Just keep an eye on them a few pecks or getting flocked a few times is probably good for the pup
Some dogs are great around birds others even from the same litter may not be
But do research about the LGD breed to make sure that it fits with what you expect the dog to do. Some work best only when guarding a large area. Any breed may work for what you want but you should pick the proper breed for what you want it to do.

I am not concerned with the dog's reaction, but the chickens. They have never seen a dog in their life.

 

[bcorps]

Great Pyranees are huge, and hairy. That means that spring, summer and fall, they are hot. Do you know what dogs do when they are hot? They find some nice, moist dirt, and dig down to the cool and rest their bellies on the cool earth.
= that dog will do infinitely more damage to your garden than a horde of rabbits.

Also, being huge, they aren't exactly sprightly. More lumbering. Have you noticed that really big dogs don't tear around like small ones? Pyrs are bred to challenge a bear, not chase bunnies away from lettuce. They are bred to guard huge flocks of sheep across hundreds of acres of mountain terrain. Not 20 chickens in a backyard.

This sounds like a bad breed choice for the situation. Beagles are rabbit dogs.

I have friends with Great Pyrs who tell me they have never once dug up their garden. I have shady places in my yard for a doggo to hang out and stay cool. And I said "scare" rabbits, not chase and kill. I would hope just the smell of a large predator would keep the Peter Cottontail away.

 

[RiverOtter]

Well, you can certainly hope.

Good luck!

 

[MaryTheChickenLover]

Great Pyranees are huge, and hairy. That means that spring, summer and fall, they are hot. Do you know what dogs do when they are hot? They find some nice, moist dirt, and dig down to the cool and rest their bellies on the cool earth.
= that dog will do infinitely more damage to your garden than a horde of rabbits.

Also, being huge, they aren't exactly sprightly. More lumbering. Have you noticed that really big dogs don't tear around like small ones? Pyrs are bred to challenge a bear, not chase bunnies away from lettuce. They are bred to guard huge flocks of sheep across hundreds of acres of mountain terrain. Not 20 chickens in a backyard.

This sounds like a bad breed choice for the situation. Beagles are rabbit dogs.

I've heard from lots of people that great Pyrenees are really good guard dogs for chickens, and one of my friends has one that guards their chickens really good.