Not So Large LGD?

[FarmKat]

I am looking into getting an LGD for my flock and goats - but they're all HUGE! Are there any that aren't so big??? Also, they all seem so hairy - can they survive in climates with hot summers? We are in the Ohio River Valley and have HOT summers and COLD winters. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[centrarchid]

Make certain your perimeter fencing is your first concern so it can keep out all bad guys except for wildlife. It will also make so your dogs can get most of job done simply by bluffing. Your dogs will have to engage foes physically once in a while but they do not need to do it every time.

Large size helps when large dogs / wolves are your foe. Look into Akbash, especially those that are relatively gracile. Where I work we have about 10 LGD's representing 3 breeds. The Akbash are handily the most athletic and able to operate even when is gets hot although they need shade to retreat to like all larger dogs. They can handle temperatures down into the -10's F with proper wind protected locations to retreat to. Always use more than one dog for a variety of reasons. Depending where you are the coyotes may be a wee bit bigger than I currently repel with bird dogs. I grew up in southern Indiana where the first coyotes coming in from northeast during 1970's were approaching 65 lbs and had some seemed wolf mixed in so they operated in packs. They are no longer a large but still harass dogs when hunting at night during winter.

Look carefully into process of preparing them for their job, expect 2 years before maturing fully into job and stagger acquisition by about 2 years.

"Experts" you will encounter will be coming from small backyard, larger rancher, breeder wanting to sell you dog backgrounds or some combination of the preceding. Talk to multiple parties before investing. Dogs are the most expensive predator control tool you can get for small acreage.

Also consider using English Shepherds. They used to be used frequently back in the day when folks had smaller integrated operations involving many species and needed dogs that would stick with barnyard but where mentally adaptable enough to be used for herding and a limited amount of hunting.

 

[aoxa]

I am looking into getting an LGD for my flock and goats - but they're all HUGE! Are there any that aren't so big??? Also, they all seem so hairy - can they survive in climates with hot summers? We are in the Ohio River Valley and have HOT summers and COLD winters. Thanks in advance for your help!

Celtic Oaks on here lives in Florida with Great Pyrs, so yes they can survive HOT summers. They definitely can handle cold winters too.

Do not get a breed that needs to roam if you have small acreage. It is very hard.. they need to patrol a wide area. It's in their instincts.

I use a Bernese Mountain Dog as an all purpose farm dog. He wouldn't kill a predator, but he frightens them off. God help us if a human tried to steal our stock though. He may lick them to death, but that's it.

He is mothering two abandoned baby goats all day right now.




He's terrifying.

Sorry.. Had to..

He has had one run in with a porcupine - but that's about the extent of other animals on our property except wild ducks and wild Pheasants.

There was a fox on my neighbour's property and it never ventured even close to ours. Maybe it's just all prevention.

He has a mean bark. Deep and fierce. He does get going if anything is at the edge of our property. There was a raccoon there last weekend.

if these predators decided to fight back, I have no idea what he'd do. I like to think he'd take action.

We lost our last real guard to the road who was chasing after a skunk.. Got hit by a car.

 

[4 the Birds]

I am looking into getting an LGD for my flock and goats - but they're all HUGE! Are there any that aren't so big??? Also, they all seem so hairy - can they survive in climates with hot summers? We are in the Ohio River Valley and have HOT summers and COLD winters. Thanks in advance for your help!

Livestock Guardian Dogs are big dogs and always work BEST in pairs. Anatolian Shepherds and Great Pyranees are the quintessential LGD's. Mutts and other dogs can work very well as guard dogs but it varies highly from dog to dog and with training. Long hair on dogs actually helps keep them cool in the Summer as well as warm in the Winter.

Our goats are in with the chickens and our dog pack (7 dogs) live near their area and deter predators.