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.

 

[WingItRanch]

Thank you all! I'll let you know how it goes and take pics.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[Squawkers]

Thank you all! I'll let you know how it goes and take pics.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes I demand pictures

Happy thanksgiving to you too!

 

[WingItRanch]

Ok so we met Beau. I made sure to bring my partner because I wanted him to help make the decision. I usually make all the animal decisions and take care of them but I needed someone who wasn't going to adopt due to guilt.

It went really well. He didn't bark at us. He kind of got between us and the goats but when I said hi to him, he came over wagging his tail. There were about 12 goats ranging in a large buck to a tiny baby. I pet him and he was very sweet and gentle. The current owner answered all my questions and decided to let him out of the goat pen so we could socialize. At that point we both pretty much agreed that we'd take him because she said that if it didn't work out for any reason, she'd take him back.

He's definitely still a puppy. Was running around and play bowing to us. It was a huge mistake letting him out, though. We tried to get a collar on him but he's never worn one before and backed out of it. Then it became a game of chase. He'd run into the cow enclosure then into the horse enclosure. He couldn't get back in with the goats but he didn't stray very far. He ignored all the animals (including cats) but I did see him chase one of the neighbor's chickens. He could have caught it but he just booped it with his nose. Still, that will need to be trained out.

The run away game lasted an hour. They tried treats and bringing out their pet dogs to lure him but he was too smart. We finally decided that it just wasn't going to work. He knew something was up and was having none of it. We left so he'd calm down. The owners said they'd get a collar on him so he gets used to it and we'll try again at a later date. I can't even imagine how he'll be on a leash or in the car...but overall I do think he's good with the goats and what we're looking for. He's just young.

 

[Squawkers]

That’s great they’ll take him back!! I do find it slightly concerning though that he didn’t bark at you. He should be more leery of strangers I would think. But he is still a puppy so that might explain it.

 

[NotabitaiI]

Ok so we met Beau. I made sure to bring my partner because I wanted him to help make the decision. I usually make all the animal decisions and take care of them but I needed someone who wasn't going to adopt due to guilt.

It went really well. He didn't bark at us. He kind of got between us and the goats but when I said hi to him, he came over wagging his tail. There were about 12 goats ranging in a large buck to a tiny baby. I pet him and he was very sweet and gentle. The current owner answered all my questions and decided to let him out of the goat pen so we could socialize. At that point we both pretty much agreed that we'd take him because she said that if it didn't work out for any reason, she'd take him back.

He's definitely still a puppy. Was running around and play bowing to us. It was a huge mistake letting him out, though. We tried to get a collar on him but he's never worn one before and backed out of it. Then it became a game of chase. He'd run into the cow enclosure then into the horse enclosure. He couldn't get back in with the goats but he didn't stray very far. He ignored all the animals (including cats) but I did see him chase one of the neighbor's chickens. He could have caught it but he just booped it with his nose. Still, that will need to be trained out.

The run away game lasted an hour. They tried treats and bringing out their pet dogs to lure him but he was too smart. We finally decided that it just wasn't going to work. He knew something was up and was having none of it. We left so he'd calm down. The owners said they'd get a collar on him so he gets used to it and we'll try again at a later date. I can't even imagine how he'll be on a leash or in the car...but overall I do think he's good with the goats and what we're looking for. He's just young.
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Yup, they'll size you up and be like "nah my dude" when you're calling them
Independent dogs may never have a bulletproof recall, they were bred to think on their own. He sounds typical for an LGD puppy, a little too playful but not in a problematic way, he might benefit from tethering for a while if you put him in with chickens, mine all had a bit of a problem being playful until they had been tethered for a minute and learned to be calm with the animals, but if he's chill with goats and that's his only job then I wouldn't bother.

 

[WingItRanch]

That’s great they’ll take him back!! I do find it slightly concerning though that he didn’t bark at you. He should be more leery of strangers I would think. But he is still a puppy so that might explain it.

I was surprised too but the owner says he barks a lot. Maybe he just doesn't bark at people?