LGD love!

[PatriciafromCO]

Great for Ben... <3

I don't feel it's that LGD's can't bond with chickens, more that it's shouldn't be an expectation or more importantly the only expectation for them. I see mine as more territorial around the birds barn and property areas, like the birds are just part of the property. But then my male was acting so weird inside the barn, he was in an odd place in the barn and every time I went out to the barn he was still there. I actually thought he might be ill because it was so odd. He wasn't bothering anything that I let him be. But I couldn't help but notice a few days in a row 24/7 of him being in the same spot in the barn... Then he went back to his old routine to some extent but had moved to more usual positions in the barn. One morning I had brought the older puppy in the barn with me while doing chores. puppy sniffing around and my male shot across the barn and nailed the pup to the ground. Did think my male had lost his mind in that second of "What in the world" I scanned the area and realized there was a mamma goose with all her new goslings gathered right behind the chest freezer where the puppy had started to look. Then looking back at the odd place my male had been laying for a few days, it made sense that the goose on her nest was now gone.

is it possible my male knew the eggs were hatching out to position himself with her and the babies? then be on watch for her moving around with her babies in tow.. He did keep an eye out for them until they were months old and guess his work was done. He did it for a second Mamma goose on her nest, positioned himself around where she was, then watched from a distance once they were moving around. Then he was done.. Do feel he as a strong sense for babies when it comes to the birds.. He does watch after my favorite's a bit more closely... which is good.

 

[Hebandgene]

I'm so glad I found this thread. I am considering getting a LGD to protect my birds from the neighbor dogs that occasionally get loose and have killed some of my birds. I'm afraid to let my birds free range unless we are outside with them because I never know if those pests will show up. I have lots of questions though and the Internet is information overload. Would love to get some answers from "real-people" experts.

How do I decide which breed is right and how do I train a dog? The "ferociousness" of some breeds that were mentioned scares me. (See my note below about large dogs.)

I really don't want to start with a puppy so the advice about how to start with an older dog was helpful, assuming I could find one. But is there a chance an older dog won't come to see us as its family and so won't do its job?

Our entire property is not fenced and frankly it would be very hard to do that. But I don't want my dog wandering on to the neighbors property. Do LGDs need to be fenced?

I have never had a large dog. I find the size and strength of large dogs intimidating, although I love animals and know I would love any dog we took in. What do I need to know about managing a large-breed dog?

Will a LGD make friends with my little dog?

I could think of plenty more questions, but these seem the most important for making a decision about whether to proceed. I appreciate any advice and expertise you can offer. Thank you!

 

[lgdnevada]

You are not set up for an LGD - they need containment - that, or be prepared to have your dog shot, run over, disappear, be kidnapped by dog fighters, or yourself sued by irate neighbors if your dog trespasses… LGDs are only run "open range" on large commercial operations with sheep, goats, cattle, usually with full time herders by their sides 24/7, not part time hobby farmers. Most farms/ranches must have fencing up to successfully use these dogs. Otherwise, like I said above, gird your loins for the fallout.

You'd be better off putting up dog proof fencing around your flock's coop and area. Something to keep predators OUT and chickens IN.

LGDs are a huge commitment of time, money and responsibility. Unfortunately they've become a huge fad to where everyone now thinks they have to have one when what they really need is to build better fences and manage their livestock more appropriately

"Good fences make good neighbors".

Finally, these dogs should never be run solo - in pairs or three's or more.

You're talking a huge financial commitment to do it right. You have a lot more soul searching to do on this. Please don't be swayed by people who just want to sell you a puppy then disappear when your check clears the bank. You need to consider other options.

More stuff for you to chew on here: http://spanishmastiff.blogspot.com

 

[Beekissed]

I've got a LGD on wireless containment and had used the same with my LGD mix at my previous home. Neither dog was a huge commitment of time and money, nor were they hard to train...and they hold the same responsibility as owning any animal~food, shelter, water, training, tending to the health. The first came to me as an adult and the current one I got as a 2 mo. old pup and trained here.

It's not as hard as folks make out and it's not this exclusive club that only the wealthy or large land owner can be in....you can get them for use on small acreage and for watching your chickens the same as you can for large acres and large livestock. Just takes common sense is all.

Not for someone intimidated by large dogs, though, as these breeds need someone who can be in control if you would train them in the way they should be.

Hebangene, I'd study up on these dogs and breeds for awhile and also learn a good deal about basic obedience before you get one....many get them and don't have a clue on how to train them to do a job, so they wind up getting in trouble, having to be rehomed or getting killed.

Don't let folks tell you that they can't watch chickens...they can and they do it very well. Don't let anyone tell you that they can't be obedience trained, they are remarkably intelligent and eager to please and train very well. And, last, don't let anyone tell you they are all cookie cutter dogs that "only" do this or can "only" do that...they are very versatile and much like any other dog about many things. They don't have to work in pairs on a small acreage and a single dog does very well, though they tend to get bored and restless without a good job to do or without dog companionship for play or socialization.

Right now my LGD is paired up with an older Lab/BC mix and they make a great pair...the LGD has learned a lot of good things from the older dog but has added his own twist to things, so he does a better job at keeping strays from the flock.

For your situation, it might be cheaper and more efficient to just build a really big run or fence in part of your place and put hot wire top and bottom to keep out the neighbor's dogs. A fence is something you don't have to train, feed or vet and will likely give you better peace of mind, particularly if you've never handled or owned a big dog.

 

[PatriciafromCO]

would have to say the opposite.. is do let people tell you and do listen to what they are saying. They are truthful experiences for the breed, not every individual dog , and not every individual owner. It is still truthful in the breed. I was told that LGD's / CO's can have a tendency to be very food aggressive and resource guarders.. My first puppy from day one of his arrival at 3.5 months old that was very true in him.. For me I was really impressed, that little puppy could put out not only a tremendous amount of visual and verbal display with such intensity, that he really meant it, to the death to the end on the spot right now... My back ground in the dogs is Military K9 handler and trainer for rehabbing the dogs pulled off duty for eating their handlers... So it didn't offend me, you work with what you have. And he is a great dog with lots of maturity and time spent together. He will always care about his food/ his stuff,, You couldn't ask for a more gracious individual in how he handles himself especially when you know where he came from. It was a matter as an individual getting him from don't have any control of his intensities as a puppy, into an adult who does have full control of himself and the power he can wield around without effort. My second puppy total opposite wasn't important to her...

Must of been 30 years, that I have always been fond of the LGD's but I didn't need them at the time, didn't want to work with Independent, suspicious traits. When you have a choice me personally I don't want to get a dog to spend all my time and effort wanting to change them.. I get a dog that has traits that I want to work with, that I want to have that is already there that I don't have to train for, because they are natural to them and I agree with them, give them the opportunity to be good at them. SO MUCH LESS WORK. This point and time and situation in my life all the natural traits are a perfect a fit....

totally feel you should listen openly to the full spectrum and decide how you feel about it.

 

[Hebandgene]

Thank you for the responses so far. This is exactly the kind of thing I need to know. I'm not certain a LGD is a good fit for us and certainly wouldn't get one on a whim but would want to be fully prepared. We have been discussing fencing, particularly along the border where the neighbor dogs cross onto our property. 15 of our 30 acres are usable and because of the layout it's not practical to fence the whole 15 but might be possible to fence the area accessible from their property. Other option would be to move chickens' free-range territory to the fenced-in goat field, replacing current fencing with smaller-diameter fencing.

I appreciate info so far and would be happy to read others' experiences. It's great to hear from "real" LGD owners.