We currently have four foster dogs that should be leaving at various times over the next month. Once they're gone, no more fosters. Well, maybe a small one inside ocassionally, but no more long termers. I've been kicking around the idea of getting a Pyr / Pyr mix puppy and training it to be a LGD. A friend has chickens, goats, horses and her Pyrs in the pasture together and the Pyrs are highly protective of the other animals. They've got coyotes that come to the fence line but won't break the perimeter because of the Pyrs. We have tons of coyotes and at least one mountain lion on our property that we've seen. Now, we also have a concrete block wall that runs along the back of the property so that helps to deter them too, but I know it's not high enough and the chickens will be able to get over it. I'm sure eventually we're going to lose a chicken or two. But I'd like to cut the chances that anything wild will jump the wall (which I really, really doubt anyway) and that a hawk or other type of bird will come into the yard and grab one. We didn't have problems with the hawks or anything last time and there were always dogs out with the chickens.
Eventually we'll be adding some fencing in the back pasture and bringing in some goats to help us clean up some of the land. I'd like to be able to let the chickens range out with them and have a LGD there to keep everyone safe. I'm just wondering how difficult it is to train them? I'd get a puppy if I had to but really would prefer a 6 month to year old dog. Is that possible? Is it better to have male or female, or is there even a difference? Anyone have any insight? Oh, we do plan on keeping them in their room at night too. They just went out last night for the first time over night and are officially outside. I'm going out every night before sundown and taking them to their room hoping we can make it a routine.
Eventually we'll be adding some fencing in the back pasture and bringing in some goats to help us clean up some of the land. I'd like to be able to let the chickens range out with them and have a LGD there to keep everyone safe. I'm just wondering how difficult it is to train them? I'd get a puppy if I had to but really would prefer a 6 month to year old dog. Is that possible? Is it better to have male or female, or is there even a difference? Anyone have any insight? Oh, we do plan on keeping them in their room at night too. They just went out last night for the first time over night and are officially outside. I'm going out every night before sundown and taking them to their room hoping we can make it a routine.