LGD feeding arrangements? and UPDATE: goat surprise! on pg 4

[zzGypsy]

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Since baby goats and ducks cannot correct him, I think the associating other animals around his food with good things is the best way to go, but I'd still do mealtime feeding not free fed. The only thing I can think of that might allow free feeding is a dog door with an electronic collar key. I know they make them for cats but not sure if they make big-*ss dog ones. The other worry is that if the dogs both had one, they might enter the feeding area at the same time and in an enclosed space, they would be sure to fight.

that's an interesting thought, I'll have to look into it. would have to see if I can get differently keyed collars, its not much harder to set up 2 feeding pens than one, if each is keyed to a particular dog. for now, it's feeding in the kennels.

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beyond growling, yes, he pinned a baby goat to the floor. didn't do it any actual damage, but grabbed it by the back of the neck and held it down. that got A Really Big Correction. Turk has not bitten anything with damage or actually bitten really, just pinned. it's usually growl and snap and snarl. and over the last couple of weeks, it's reduced to growling and head swinging, and then only when I'm out of sight.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Since you've seen the behaviors on the decrease, I am hoping that things continue to get better with some work with him. Teaching food refusal is a good thing to do, and something I have taught dogs before. But, again, if you're not there, chances are if the food is enticing enough or he is really hungry he's gonna eat it out of your sight. That is just the reality of a dog. You can train and train and train, but it is very hard to get a dog to go against his insticts, without supervision, and have that training stick a majority of the time.

As I said the food aggression is an insecurity the dog either has wired in to the brain or something the dog learns. Hopefully as he gets older and matures he won't feel the need to guard his food.

 

[TDM]

Quote:
That is very true. My GP LGD is food aggressive, as are many other LGD's on working farms around here. It's funny to watch my LGD chase away the chickens when she is eating from her food dish, or guarding a treat. They are just mock attacks, though.

 

[zzGypsy]

So I'm doing the usual routine, bring Turk and Seka in and put them in their kennels to eat, kennel the border collie, feed the birds, feed the cats, feed the goats, then put the puppies back out... and in the 20 minutes between when I fed the goats and when I put the pups back out, one of my nannies laid down and popped out two kids! she was apparently waiting for me to pull the pups out of the yard , ate dinner, and then got down to serious business. she'd been at the feeder with the other goats not more than 10 minutes earlier!

so I'd alread turned the pups out and moments later I notice the nannie down and hear that unmistakeable baby kid squeek... so do the pups. they're there first by 10 feet - and do just what LGDs are supposed to do... sniff, lick, nudge... perfect instincts

not bad for 5 month old pups.

they were a little tentative about approaching, but not more than I'd expect for a new experience with a momma goat giving them the eye. this is a nanny that regularly, but not viciously, puts them in their place. anyway, I let them sniff and lick for 5 minutes under close supervision in case anything needed correcting or pulling them out of there, and then put them up and got the nanny and kids settled in a kidding pen.

none of the nannies were supposed to be bred when I got them 3 months ago, all had kids on and nursing. she must have bred back within a week or two of kidding the last time. I was starting to suspect she might be bred, because she was getting a little wide, but she didn't look like she might be due. <sigh> sometimes they keep secrets. gonna have to keep a close eye on the rest in case more of them are bred. just glad this goat had the sense to wait until I was there to supervise!

and happy

about my good pups.

I think I'm really getting a crush on LGDs.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

What a wonderful surprise, both from the goat and the dogs!