LGD: seeking advice from experienced owners

[WingItRanch]

I'm 4'6 and disabled, they're big teddy bears, you'll be fine. They're certainly not dogs you can hold back on a leash, you have to have a helper or really good training.
Just try to keep the environment under control for those first few days, no meeting new dogs, no being left completely free and alone with the goats, and just focus on showing him you're trustworthy. They want to trust you and chances are he'll mellow out into a great LGD. If you don't have peace about it don't get him, trust your gut, you've had dogs before and you will know what you're comfortable with, like personally I'm not comfortable with shy LGDs, my 90-130lb dogs need to direct their aggression towards strange animals not people, most people will not want to cross them anyways, so I like the dopey goofy dogs who give big bear hugs, I'd be bristling at the sight of anything less than joyful, but you may find yourself being more comfortable with a passive dog, only you know at the end of the day. Do not fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy, wasting some hours and inquiring about a dog you don't end up liking is far better than guilt adopting a dog you're not comfortable with.

Thank you so much for talking this through with me. You're absolutely right. Just go meet the dog. Make an informed decision and if I end up taking him home, train him property with patience. Every LGD I've met have been big sweethearts. At a year old, I know he's still in puppy stage.

How long do you recommend keeping him within eyesight and smell of the goats but separate? I was hoping to leave them together at night but if that's not possible at first, I do have a backup plan.

 

[NotabitaiI]

Thank you so much for talking this through with me. You're absolutely right. Just go meet the dog. Make an informed decision and if I end up taking him home, train him property with patience. Every LGD I've met have been big sweethearts. At a year old, I know he's still in puppy stage.

Absolutely, I love seeing people get LGDs, they're a great investment and I'd have them even if I went back to just raising rabbits. I was losing my cats pretty frequently until I got my big dumb yard LGD, he loves them so much and runs to the rescue at the first sign of trouble. They don't even have to be exceptional guards to deter 90% of predators and pests.

How long do you recommend keeping him within eyesight and smell of the goats but separate?

Well definitely for those first three days, just long enough to make sure he's not ill and he's not losing his marbles from all the new sights and sounds, chances are since he's been around goats he'll want to be with them pretty early on so I don't see any reason to keep him separated for longer.
Personally I've always tethered younger dogs (and I'd do the same with a newer dog) to keep them with the goats where they belong but also to make sure the goats could escape them should the dog lash out or become overly playful. Just until they prove that they can safely interact with the goats and they have healthy boundaries.

I was hoping to leave them together at night but if that's not possible at first, I do have a backup plan.

I'd be wary about putting a new dog in with them on the first day, but because of his previous experience I'm sure you could do it in a pinch. I just like to closely monitor new adult animals for a minute so I tend to keep them aside for a couple days at least.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

I'm going to go meet Beaux this weekend. Anything I should look for? Specific behavior as a LGD?

I'm going to ask to see him with his current goats.

I just skimmed this thread but I can add this. See how he is with you, a stranger, you want him to be wary of you but he shouldn't be aggressive or scared of you. Fear isn't a good thing in a lgd obviously. Definitely see him with his goats. He seems like a good dog for what you need especially since he's been raised with goats already. Good luck!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I taught basic obedience at a community college in Farmington, NM and will be happy to help you with the leash training via pm if you're interested. I worked with dogs of all ages and sizes. I had a different name at the time, will give you that name via pm if you want to check my credentials.