LGD Question

[BHep]

For those with LGD, would I be best with a single dog or a pair?

Protecting my birds from Fox & Coyote on 8 1/2 Acres.

They are Great Pyreneese x Maremma.

 

[galanie]

A pair. With two, one will sleep while the other patrols the property. Also sometimes it might be up against a pack or more than one animal and be overwhelmed and need the other's help.

 

[SarahMcD]

My favorite dog is the Komondor - mellow, not too barky and super protective and oh so sweet. If socialized well they love children.
The only hassle is their coat - has to be kept clipped or live in a place without stickers and twigs (that is definitely NOT Tx!)

Next are Anatolian Shepherd and Pyrenese. There are so many good large guard breeds - I'd like to have one of each!

 

[LR Gamefarm]

a pair of rotts would be best they dont bark unless something is acutually bothering something plus rotts are also used for bear hunting i have coyotes and just about any other predators execpt bears and havent had one problem with coyotes only thing ive had problems with is snakes

 

[galanie]

I don't think I'd want a pair of rotts in with my chickens. Good for overall protection but nope, not for mixing with tasty birds. The other breeds mentioned are specifically bred for guarding and living with livestock.

 

[centrarchid]

I don't think I'd want a pair of rotts in with my chickens. Good for overall protection but nope, not for mixing with tasty birds. The other breeds mentioned are specifically bred for guarding and living with livestock.

Correct me if I am wrong, but no breed was specifically bred to be guarding and living with livestock in the form of chickens. Breeds promoted for such services on this site were bred for guarding and living with mobile groups of sheep and goats. Rottweilers can also not be excluded since at least part of their historical employment involved herding and guarding cattle.


Very few chickens have the freedom of movement mine have yet they still are sedentary relative to herds of sheep and goats that had to move about as they exhuasted the local forage base. This business of confining herds on the little overgrazed paddocks that require supplemental haying and often involve grain feeding was not part of the LGD's development.


So rotts good as any.

 

[DrusillaCLake]

Rotties were bred as the butcher's dog to herd livestock to and from the market, as well as pull carts loaded with produce. Then at the end of the day, they herded what was left of the stock back home, protect the money by wearing a pouch around its neck. When roads were improved for better traveling, they guarded homesteads and factories.

I raised the breed in addition to German Shepherds and Dobermans for fifteen years. I also raised Labs after the switching out the Dobermans. Even today, the Rottie, might be in the AKC Working Group, but it still is eligible for Herding Titles. They are considered the "Rolls Royce" of the dog world.

 

[TXchickmum]

-can't go wrong with a pair of Great Pyrenees!

 

[zazouse]

Two are always better than one, but i recommend you get one raise it up to a year when it is starting to come into it's roll of guarding and then purchase a second one , the older one will mature more and as the pup gets older it should start learning from the older dog.
Raising to pups can be a daunting task but can be done if you can be there 24/7 to monitor them and correct the mistakes they may make.
I have 6 guardians here and i trust every one of them with my birds, i raised them up one at a time and each year i add another as some of the dogs start getting old. LGD don't live long like a poodle, 10 years is good life for them.

The breed you have chosen is a great one.
good luck on making your decision and please post some photos of what you purchase.

 

[centrarchid]

If more than two desired for long-term I suggest spreading ages by more than a year for acquisition of first second dog. First may not yet be an old hat at job until 2 or more years of age. My much smaller dog is still maturing into role as approaching two years of age and the larger breeds tend to mature slower.