Managing costs of LGD's

[Bear Foot Farm]

Do you think we can overwinter 12 dogs in common / same enclosure during winter?

I'd be amazed if you could find 12 dogs that coudl get along together, especially at feeding time

Even mine, who have all been raised together from pups, and ADORE each other most of the time, will literally try to kill each other over a bowl of food​

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
That is true, but doesn't apply to the LGD breeds, just herding breeds

Yeah, sorry about the randomness of it, but it was just something to mention when suggesting that ivomec can be used on dogs without adding any qualifiers.

Separate from that and directed back at the original post:

Why do there need to be 3 back up dogs?

**edited for spelling/idiot errors.

Dogs will be in use to 3 years and loosing a dog must not cause loss of a mobile henhouse. Random bad luck may cause loss of a dog and getting another that is safe with all our livestock may not be easy. More than one loss os possible. Backups may also be used to guard buck / ram / billie herd with a few roosters thrown in to keep their mind in the game.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
I'd be amazed if you could find 12 dogs that coudl get along together, especially at feeding time

Even mine, who have all been raised together from pups, and ADORE each other most of the time, will literally try to kill each other over a bowl of food

This means we will have to split dogs up more than I desired. We will use separate bowls and break line of sight for feeding.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

We will use separate bowls and break line of sight for feeding.

That will help..

Also, LGD's LOVE routine.

The more you do things the SAME every time, the easier it is to manage them.

The dogs will all need to be handled a lot if you expect to be able to medicate or leash them, and if there will be a lot of different people around, you will need to get them used to that at an early age.

Some of my dogs won't let anyone touch them other than myself or my wife, since they haven't been exposed to a lot of strangers.

Dogs will be in use to 3 years

They won't be mature adults until they are 2 years old, even though they will be near full sized in less than a year

Their training needs to start the day they are born, and they will require a lot of supervision until they are 9-10 months old IF things go well​

 

[remuda1]

How much acreage will each dog be confined to with the birds?

 

[centrarchid]

Pups will be reared with full adult roosters, games if need be to thump sassy pups. I have used hounds, dalmations, and presently a German Short-haired pointer using game roosters as the chicken to be imprinted on with consistent results. Hope same techinique will be appropriate with standard LGD's. We also intend to use high ranking doe goats and sheep to suppress overly playful pups. A couple of dog breeders have recommended keeping littermates together until 10 weeks of age. There does not appear to be a consensus on particulars on how to insure imprinting of pups, even when highly experienced dog folks are asked.


Dogs and birds will be confined to 1.25 acre paddocks defined by woven electric fencing. I can see to it dogs are exposed to handling regimen involving multiple persons with very consistent methods and timing. Paddocks will vary, some will be moved at 28 day intervals, others will be in same location for duration of production season.

 

[remuda1]

This is just my opinion, but I think the best way to teach LGD puppies how to do their jobs is to allow the pups mother and father (who are ***CURRENTLY*** successfully working with the livestock that the pups will be expected to protect) to teach them. Puppies are going to be puppies and in my experience, the worst puppy is a BORED puppy. At that point, anything becomes a chew toy. Mom and Dad are the best at disciplining and best of all, they are there all day. Large LGDs mature (mentally) very late. I wouldn't trust an UNPROVEN dog or puppy with my flock ever.....

I tried a single pup with my sheep. She was so bored that the sheep started looking like squeaky toys. I went and got a litter mate and now they chew on eachother instead of the sheep. That's just my experience though.

ETA: Oh, and this is on eight acres for (at the time) one pup and eleven sheep.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Training by adults in this case will not be an option. Pups will almost certainly come from multiple sources and some may not have poultry. Many of the potential suppliers keep only sheep and / or goats. Littermates can be kept together during imprinting and training phases. Pups can be kept with non-production animals for the first 6 months so if problems arise, they can be addressed without putting hens at risk.


Process will be documented, possibly with video generated. Part of logic behind extra dogs is some will be slow to settle into role. Late bloomers can be kept underwatch until chewing of livestock stops.

 

[remuda1]

I've subscribed to this thread and look forward hearing of your progress, please keep us posted.

 

[ronniewayne]

I have 2 great pyreenes a male and female...he is large 120# she is 80#....as someone said they eat 1/2 in summer as winter.....mine hate to be penned without the goats and chickens...it is like tourture to them...they like a lot of room to roam and the pen you are talking about is small for them...also they will dig holes in summer that are big....i love the dogs and the imprint you mention sounds very good with the roosters...not sure how far apart these pens are but a pair of dogs can easily cover 10 acres ...i am thinking outside the pen with the hens if they are on the perimeter it would be hard for something to get in...just a thought...good luck