PLANNED POULTRY GUARDING DOG

[Contrary]

Contrary, Scoob's behavior actually makes perfect sense if you think about it. He is a bird dog - therefore a breed that is meant to work in close relationship with humans. A traditional LGD breed is selected to have zero (or next to zero) reliance on humans. So, they have worked out a method that uses Scoob's natural instincts to their advantage. Really a great job of training if you ask me.

Yes, the behavior reminds me of one of my neighbor's Vizlas.

 

[centrarchid]

I'm sorry, but I can't keep myself from laughing. I don't know what good a livestock guardian dog is if it is in the house about half the time at night. Furthermore, I never heard of a livestock guardian dog abandoning its charges and looking for help when a predator has been sighted. Does the dog go to the neighbor's house if you aren't around?

Scoob's charges do not repressent at single flock or location which contrasts with how a flock of sheep, goats or chickens roosting in a single building / paddock is distributed. It would be impossible to guard all flocks at once. System in place has dog centrally located when threat not evident making so surveliance of ALL possible.

If Scoob would commit to guarding a non-central location, then other other flocks would be exposed. At work we have standard LGD's (roughly 10) and donkeys (n = 4) for comparison. Their strategy is ideal for guarding a flock that may or may not be confined to a small area but is always moving about as a tight unit. The tight unit makes it so LGD / donkey can be a larger more battle ready presence at the expense of reduced mobility. With respect to raccoons, oppossums, foxes and owls the more battle ready presence is not an advantage since little bird is more than adequate.

Scoob's acitivities even when moving back and forth between house and trouble site still keeps predators in question from harvesting birds. That is goal. Concerns about variation in method are simply that.

 

[centrarchid]

Contrary, Scoob's behavior actually makes perfect sense if you think about it. He is a bird dog - therefore a breed that is meant to work in close relationship with humans. A traditional LGD breed is selected to have zero (or next to zero) reliance on humans. So, they have worked out a method that uses Scoob's natural instincts to their advantage. Really a great job of training if you ask me.

I have been digging into the development of the German Short-haired pointer. In the US it has been used principally as a bird dog. In Germany it was more varied in its use where it was used to hunt small game including the European wildcat which is requires attributes of a hound. The breed was / is also used as a general farm dog like the English Shepard is used in the US. General farm dog to me means having the following jobs; guarding of premises which includes being an alarm, herding, occasional hunting and accompanying farmer on rounds. The general farm dog use is enhanced by intelligence and flexibility which are traits needed for my application since Scoob will be expected to guard a small number of sheep and goats intended to manage pasture for poultry, my primary concern. My brother has also related to me the breed is pretty proficient as a coon dog although voice does not carry as well as our black and tans.

 

[centrarchid]

Dave,

Does Contrary = Next Level = 12321 = True LGD = RR the TWIT = Advice = moron = TDM?

 

[centrarchid]

Today after work I was out adjusting waterers for grapes when Scoob went into sneak mode and began to run at something over by pond. He has done this before chasing a fox but grass is up enough that I can not see as well now. Whatever it was, Scoob was hot on its heals as it went into woods down hill. Scoob seemed to be stalking by sight. Shortly therafter I heard Scoob open up barking and growling in the draw where the raccoons normally loose Scoob as they go down into tunnels. I was thinking Scoob got lucky and treed a raccoon kitten so I ran into house and got rifle and ran down to knock coon out for Scoob. When I got down there Scoob was fighting something in the bushes. I was thinking "Oh, boy" Scoob is gonna bugger himself up fighting a coon in tight quarters. When I got within 30 feet it was evident that a red fox was fighting for its life as Scoob was going in with impunity delivering killing bites to the fox's back and abdomen. Scoob seemed to be egged on by my approach but let it run a peace, apparently playing with victim. Fox ran maybe 20 feet before Scoob ran it down again and delivered killing bite and shake.


Red fox male adult. In good weight but hide looks like hell.



I never though Scoob would actually catch a free-ranging fox. I suspect it was in poor health. Scoob will be bathed and inspected to prevent developement of mange.

 

[Contrary]

Wow, the last four posts are yours.,

 

[tadkerson]

Contrary,

That is an unusual handle you have. Posts number 59 and 66 fit your name. I can see you are new to this forum- you only have 36 posts. I have found most people on this forum to be polite and professional. Usually people are interested in what others have to post and attempt to add to the body of knowledge concerning a subject. If I disagree with an individual, I simple add my point in a professional manner. Adding additional comments that are not germane to the subject has a tendency to make others question your validity when you answer posts. In the future, I would suggest you moderate your responses; you want people to consider your posts as genuine and adding to the body of knowledge; don't you.

Post number 61 is very good and adds to the body of knowledge. More like that would be much appreciated. I will now go on line and do some research on the vizla.

Tim

 

[speckledhen]

Stay tuned for clean up, please. Thanks.

 

[Judy]

Let's keep it on topic and play nice, please.

 

[centrarchid]

Oppossums Playing "Oppossum" May Avoid Proper Culling

A few minutes ago Scoob came up to house again requesting assistance. I got up and followed him to group of pens closest to woods (same with last two coons) where he had treed an oppossum in one of the breeder pens. Scoob was unable to get at the varmint so I tipped pen and Scoob brushed past chickens, grabbed oppossum, and brought it out so I could let pen back down. Oppossum was only about 1/3 grown and likely only after eggs which was in process of consuming one when detected by Scoob. The oppossum promptly played "oppossum" resulting in Scoob not being immediately thorough in dispatching it. When oppossums fight, Scoob does the chomp and shake routine very thoroughly but with the limp versions he delivers only a good chomp before hiding them in his varmint stash that I constantly try to keep cleaned up in effort to control smell and appearance of juicey chew toys on front porch. Scoob has killed more than a dozen oppossums to my knowledge since the end of winter but I am suspecting that at least a couple of the juvenile oppossums are "repeat kills". After tonight, if I can look at critters, then my stomp will be added to Scoob's chomp to ensure no subsequent rematches. The playing "oppossum" appears to have some survival value for juvenile oppossums.