LGD’s?

[chickens really]

I wouldn't say that. I don't have a single bred to purpose LGD here(Mallinois, Lab, Heeler, Rottie, and Pit) they are all LGDs. They only need to be taught the importance of where your livestock are in the list of priorities. Sure my LGD's thieve chicken food and eggs. They do however, protect the property from other predators and leave the chicken in peace. I pity any dog that crawls under my fence to meet my pack. Or a poor pack of coyotes that show up here. They do give me tons of 3 AM wakeups telling me the door needs opened so they can patrol.

Sorry you don't under a true LGD breed. They have been bred soly for the purpose of guarding livestock for thousands of years. Independent thinkers, stubborn and aloof. I have a Maremma and he is a fantastic LGD. I also have a Golden Retriver/Aussie that patrols my property and chases off coyotes and anything else that comes through.
Nice your dogs protect your property.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Sorry you don't under a true LGD breed. They have been bred soly for the purpose of guarding livestock for thousands of years. Independent thinkers, stubborn and aloof. I have a Maremma and he is a fantastic LGD. I also have a Golden Retriver/Aussie that patrols my property and chases off coyotes and anything else that comes through.
Nice your dogs protect your property.

I understand Pyrenees they aren't suitable for my environment or livestock mix. I do know what a true LGD is and they don't deal much with us human types. I still stand by my pack they do a great job of thwarting my local threats. The worst predator we have around here is a mountain lion and they won't mess with an angry pack of healthy dogs.

Additionally, the guy that lives down the road on 320 acres I buy my hay from, always has his livestock caged off in his barn because his LGD's attack his livestock and they need time to heal. He is running heeler/pit mixes and I have seen way to many of his livestock injured from his own animals. Not to mention they are all flea and tick infested animals. This guy for sure treats his animals like "true LGDs".

I say mine are indoor LGDs but the windows are always cracked so they can alert when needed. Then I am forced outta bed to let them go get whatever it is they think is off in the world. I just do not believe that on my 1 acre and change I need a dedicated outdoor only lives with the chicken flock LGD, though it would be cool to see a dog on a roost!

 

[chickens really]

I understand Pyrenees they aren't suitable for my environment or livestock mix. I do know what a true LGD is and they don't deal much with us human types. I still stand by my pack they do a great job of thwarting my local threats. The worst predator we have around here is a mountain lion and they won't mess with an angry pack of healthy dogs.

Additionally, the guy that lives down the road on 320 acres I buy my hay from, always has his livestock caged off in his barn because his LGD's attack his livestock and they need time to heal. He is running heeler/pit mixes and I have seen way to many of his livestock injured from his own animals. Not to mention they are all flea and tick infested animals. This guy for sure treats his animals like "true LGDs".

Not LGD either. A true LGD will protect their animals, humans and property and generally without any training other than basic commands. A watch/Gaurd dog or herding breed isn't a LGD.

 

[tribalacres]

Hello,

thank you all for the amazing answers and input. Yes, that is correct.They were at a farm in Cali, then they moved here to have a baby, the parents, they had one and couldn’t secure a property so they are moving back and with a baby now they no longer want a farm.

I understand we may have gotten a problem, but we hired a trainer that specifically works with with LGD and I am pleased with them and yes they are a work in progress but we have stepped up our game as humans too. We are introducing the, daily to all animals, they are getting ready to have a pen built in with the sheep’s and goats.

 

[maeganj]

I'm no expert either, someone above mentioned that LGDs don't bond with poultry and I'm not sure if that's entirely true. People up the road from me have anatolians and pyrenees that protect their flock. The Anatolian I have has guarded chickens in the past. Whether she "bonded" with them I'm not sure but she very rarely let the other LGDs she worked with near them, out of protection. This may have a lot to do with the breeder I bought her from. The adult dogs train the puppies via their own temprementand around animals, they are also exposed to a variety of livestock early on: alpacas, chickens, sheep, small dogs. The breeder really started them young on who and what they are exposed to. I didn't get much detail I forgot to ask but she said if there is any violence towards the animals you want them to protect you need to nip it in the bud fast, be on them, watch them closely but don't give up it can happen, especially if they weren't previously trained. I'm actually heading out her way tomorrow and I'll pick her brain on it. I find a lot of the experts claim their opinion to be fact. I was terrified of getting LGDs because of all the myths floating around and I wasn't wasn't sure if I could make it work. But I will say for sure that I've never seen anyone keep any variety of LGD caged up with positive results. I don't know anyone that keeps them in kennels. A family member basically kept one as a small house pet and he was a violent terror. If there is a way to make a seperate, large and secure paddock for them within visual of the animals you want them to protect that would be the way to go. They all need to be comfortable before physical intros.