LGD issues

[Chickpalooza]

I’m going to be pretty straight forward- so far I’ve only had one good LGD out of 4. At this point these dogs have driven me to the edge as I from the beginning had a sense of distaste for dogs in general. The only good LGD we had died of complications with a seizure, the next was okish but a bit violent with chickens and was never let out with them, the next two spiraled into hardwired chicken killers. Where did it go wrong? All were the same breed, #4 was influenced by #3 and #3 just randomly started killing chickens. What do we do?

 

[Chickpalooza]

We already know we’re going to have to get rid of 3 & 4. At any moment one of our lambs could wander out of the pen and we could go from losing $3.50 animals to $350 animals if they so decided.

 

[Lisawbsn]

What breed are they?

 

[BenlynFarm]

I am by no means an expert as I have only dealt with two of them myself. But we currently have one who will kill smaller chickens if she gets the chance. The other is the perfect guardian dog. What breed are they? And did you get them as young puppies and put them with the livestock as soon as you got them? There are so many factors that can go into how they turn out.

 

[orloffer]

What breed are they?

x2
And how were they trained?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

So sorry to hear of your difficulties. Besides snswering the questions already asked .... how old were the dogs (pups?) when you got them? Did you meet the parents? Did you get them from a breeder or if not, where? Do the parents have a history of working livestock? Did you train the dogs to work livestock yourself, or did they have any specific training of that kind? If so, who trained them and for how long?

 

[Chickpalooza]

All were got as puppies, all claimed to have been trained by their parents to guard livestock, and all were Pyrenees/ Anatolian mixes. #1 lived close quarters with the animals for 2 years and was put out to work with them after that, sadly he passed away due to complications. #2 has lived close quarters with the animals for about 1 year and has not been put out with the animals yet. #3 & #4 have lived close quarters with the animals for <6 months, the killing started when some chickens got out of the coop one day and now if they escape it’s almost guaranteed death.

 

[Chickpalooza]

All were got as puppies, all claimed to have been trained by their parents to guard livestock, and all were Pyrenees/ Anatolian mixes. #1 lived close quarters with the animals for 2 years and was put out to work with them after that, sadly he passed away due to complications. #2 has lived close quarters with the animals for about 1 year and has not been put out with the animals yet. #3 & #4 have lived close quarters with the animals for <6 months, the killing started when some chickens got out of the coop one day and now if they escape it’s almost guaranteed death.

@BigBlueHen53 @orloffer @StuckeyFarm @Lisawbsn

 

[orloffer]

@BigBlueHen53 @orloffer @StuckeyFarm @Lisawbsn

Unfortunately I don't actually have any experience with LGDs and livestock, so I cannot offer much helpful advice. I hope some of the other members whom you tagged can, though.

 

[sourland]

If you have a distaste for dogs, why not get another species as your live stock guardian? Dogs, regardless of breeding, require time/patience/training.