Protection with Poultry/Livestock Guardian Dogs

[cackleberrycoop]

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Well, now, if that doesn't just melt your heart. What a little darling. I take it you breed Maremmas?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I take it you breed Maremmas?

Yes, I've had a few litters.

That pup was sold to someone who specifically asked about guarding chickens, so I started exposing her to them at about 5 weeks

This is her with her owner at about 7 months old.

(Can you tell they have Red Clay where they live?)

They are very happy with her​

 

[startingover]

Anatolians are NOT content to stay home. If they can see it they think they have to protect it. We are very close with our neighbor acrossed the street and every time my dogs get out they go straight to their house and check on verything. Their dogs, cats, goats, etc. One time the dogs were very uspet and barking towards their house nonstop for like 10 minutes. I called over there to see if there was a problem and it turns out her alarm clock had been going off and she was downstairs and didn't hear it.

 

[MamaChic21]

All your dogs are so adorable and reliable I would imagine. I was thinking of rescuing an Akbash in the spring but some people say their great with younger children, some don't agree. I have to do my homework and search for more info. My Anatolian Shepards are great with kids, no problem there.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/73058_zuhdu.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/73058_pashajr.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/73058_pasha3.jpg

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Actually, my wife said it is a PetSafe In-Ground Radio System Fence.


See it at http://www.petco.com/product/5884/PetSafe-In-Ground-Radio-System-Fence.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

Works great. It took my wife about a half hour to train Buddy to the collar,

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

me and my corgi agree the ground fence works for me to may work for a future LGD to
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[Bear Foot Farm]

I was thinking of rescuing an Akbash in the spring but some people say their great with younger children, some don't agree

Most LGD breeds are friendly towards humans they know.

The problem is when you have a small child and a 130 lb PUPPY who wants to jump on you or run into you PLAYFULLY.​

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

It depends on how a dog is raised as to how they are with children. Buddy was raised with a small child, so he took to ours immediately. Sheba also had small children around her. I know some LGDs that are aggressive even with their own masters. One friend in Texas does not even see her LGD puppies until they come out from under the barn. When she sells a "trained" dog, she must drug the dog with a meatball to catch it. Granted, she has NO predator issue with her flock of goats, sheep and cattle in the wilds of east central Texas.

Our upcoming litter will be raised by all five of my kids and handled by me daily. We plan on moving Sheba into the geese/Buckeye pasture to welp so the pups are raised with the birds. The geese should keep them in line until they find their new homes. Kids and I will finish building a new coop barn with 3 stalls. One for the Buckeyes/geese, one for the goats and one for Sheba.

Today Buddy was so playful, almost puppy like. Running and chasing my boys. He would run in front of me and stop so i would have to pet him. Then suddenly he turned aggressive, ran to the northwest corner and, with much authority, told the two abandoned neighbor dogs to stay clear of his flock! Buddy then ran back over to enjoy our company! Just heard Buddy and Sheba "howling" at the distant coyotes and barking at something that only they can hear. Buddy's bark is loud, deep and long. Sheba's is short, loud and almost shrill. Both sound larger than they are. Nothing wants to find out if they really are large or giant size!

 

[cackleberrycoop]

When we first brought our dogs home, the boy, Casper, bonded immediately, hard and fast, to our daughter (1 year at the time). So much so that it was a bit of a problem. Whenever she was outside, he attached his shoulder to hers and stuck like glue to her where ever she went. The chickens meant nothing in comparison and if I had to scold my daughter for something, Casper would sort of wrap himself around her in between the two of us. It was odd because the farm where the dogs came from did not have any children and the dogs had been bonded to chickens. He was (is) watchful of my son as well, but nothing like he was with my daughter. It took some real concentrated effort to turn his focus back to the animals. I've read about Anatolians being so protective of their family's children that they are aggressive towards any other children trying to play with them. Our guys have shown no aggression towards other children but I did have a LOT of children come over those first months and watched everything with eagle eyes.

Here's Casper when we first got him at five months old. These two are still awfully sweet together.

ETA: I have always been impressed with Casper around my children, more so than with his sister; he can be at full blown wild puppy play and if one of the kids arrives, he settles down immediately and watches himself so as not to bump into them. Callie, on the other hand, has more than once knocked over one of the children in her delight to see them or simply out of ignorance that they were close.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Well, we have added a new P/LGD pup today. He is a vicous looking male with a dark head and white blaze. Lots of spots on his body. His head is huge! See for yourself:

its loading.....

here it is:

A female pup was still born. Sheba looks to still be in labor, so more pups may arrive. We have her in a stall of our new shed. It is cold this morning so we added a heat lamp. Sheba was licking the male pup and being a good first time mom.