Livestock guardian dogs

[SunnySkies]

It was pretty cool watching the dogs at 4 this morning. Something was out there, and my girl had parked herself between the woods and the coops and was watching very intently and barking very aggressively. I wandered around out there for 15-20 minutes with a huge bright flashlight trying to find whatever it was or scare it away, and saw and heard nothing. But she was sure something was there. She followed me around as I checked the coops and pens, but always turned back to look at the woods. It was in the woods to the rear of the house along the side of the rear pasture, where it is state owned woods and no houses. I finally gave up and left her to it, and when I went back into the house, she was sitting in the field staring at the woods and barking very loudly.

Meanwhile, my boy was hanging out in the backyard at the ready, but relaxed. She is the watcher, he comes in for the heavy lifting apparently.

They did get in huge trouble this morning for trying to play with a very offended duck. He was definitely not interested, and I do not tolerate that sort of play anyway.

They love the cold air that came in overnight. Very playful. The rest of us are just cold, lol.

 

[zazouse]

How old are they now?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: One of my males would sleep on bare dirt in freezing rain, then get up and shake off the ice

 

[SunnySkies]

How old are they now?

They are a hair over 6 months.

Male is 72 lbs, female is 61. They are not from huge dog lines, which is A-OK with me.

I really haven't worried too much about building a dog house. All the LGD people I know have said they won't use it, but I guess I should give them the option. It was pretty wet here a few weeks ago, and I popped the garage door opener off and left the garage open a bit so the dogs could come and go as they wished. I could just do the same if we get some severe cold. But they prefer to lay outside, no matter the weather. One is sleeping on the hill in the sun next to one of the coops, the other in the kids' sandbox out near the field, today.

 

[zazouse]

I set out round bales for my dogs in the winter. of course the birds love them also but it is a way to have something between the cold ground and their bodies cause they sleep out in the open like the LGD unless it is raining then they move to the barn with the birds.

 

[animals1981]

zaz how big was the snake ur dog ate? It looked so big. Was it an indigo?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: That's pretty much correct. Give them any semi- sheltered place with a roof and mostly out of direct wind, maybe with some straw to lay on and they will be happy. Mine always slept wherever the sheep did.

 

[zazouse]

What kind of sheep are those, i never seen so many different colors.

 

[zazouse]

Are they raised for meat or wool ? they sure are cute, do they smell like goats? i never had sheep but have had goat off and on when i need some clearing done, i don't much care for the billy's smell when it is breeding season, kinda lingers with ya

 

[SunnySkies]

A friend of mine raises Katadhins, never really asked her what she does with them. She likes them a lot though. She doesn't like sheep as a rule and started with goats on her homestead, but somehow she got hooked on those ones They come in beautiful colors.

I learned today I am not the only one with LGDs in my area. A farm about 7 miles away has what looks like Akbash out with their sheep.