Should I get a livestock guardian dog?

[vicki2x2]

My husband said that too, we already have 4 dogs! I said, but those are four pets. This is a livestock guardian, it is not a pet. It is a tax write off for the farm!! That is what won him over!!

Hey, whatever it takes!

 

[dianneS]

I have one photo of my new pup before the battery went dead on my camera. I'll get more pics soon!

He's a rare red Karakachan. I'm already impressed with this dog.

He is laying with his goats already, occasionally patrolling the pasture and then returning to the goats. Hasn't paid one bit of attention to the chickens.

My little house dog approached the fence, he didn't get aggressive, but backed up next to his goats and barked and howled until the little dog went away! He's so cool!

http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/vv282/dshoenfelt/goats078.jpg

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

Quote:
Sounds like a winner. Wonder what would have happened if the little dog continued forward?

 

[dianneS]

I don't think he would have gotten aggressive with the little dog just yet, he's still too much of a puppy. However, my husband went out to check on everyone and the pup sent the goats to their pen and wouldn't let them come out!

I'm starting to catch on to his different barks already. I know his "alarm bark", and so do the goats!

 

[Grillo]

Beautiful, I find it interesting how ALL LGD breeds look and behave so much alike, even when they have been bred in their own land for thousands of years. I mean, they obviously have a common ancestor but its interesting how they seem unchanged after probably thousands of years. I had not heard of karakachans before this thread but just looking at that pup and reading your descriptions of how he behaves, I feel I already know it. Dye that pup white, gray ears and badger marks on back and tail and you're seeing my dog. Please do take more pictures. You have 100% LGD, the biggest problem as already mentioned will be getting through puppyhood. Give it things to chew on and supervise he doesn't play with the goats. IF he does, put a drag or a dangling stick on his collar and remove it when he calms down. Try not to give it too much protein, my dog seems to thrive more on medium protein (20 %) and high fat feed. They eat little for their size they need I think more fat than most breeds to sustain adequate weight. I couldn't make kiromi put on weight with dog food alone; she was skinny. I had to supplement the feed by adding cheap ground beef (the kind they sell at butcher shop for two pounds a dollar, it's very fatty) I cook it with some rice and then mix it with dog feed, and add two table spoons of cooking oil. I also buy powder milk and give it a quarter gallon everyday to pump up the calorie intake. I guess the thing is to put on as many calories in as little feed as possible and still remain a balanced feed. They have tiny stomachs for such a big dog. Good luck.

 

[babalubird]

I never heard of this particular breed of livestock guardian dogs either. I like what you said about their not having wanderlust. I have heard several people complain about that here, the most common type in our area seem to be Anatolian-pyr crosses as well as a few purebred pyrs.

Thanks. I've already written one of the breeders for more info.

Connie

 

[dianneS]

Thanks Grillo, I was told that 16% protein is fine for this breed. I would like to put some weight on him.

He's doing a great job already. He only acts like a puppy when I am present. Otherwise, when he is alone with the goats, he's very serious. He picked the perfect spot to position himself most of the time. He's right between the goats and the chickens, with the barn to his back the goats to his left, chickens to his right, horses and open pasture and woods straight ahead. He just lays there and keeps an eye on everything.

He alerted us of an escaped goat last night already! He got very upset when we closed the chicken house door last night. He was worried because he couldn't see the chickens anymore, but he'll get used to the routine.

He is still learning what is not a real threat, but that will come with time. I didn't think I'd be this impressed quite so soon!

I'll get more pics very soon!

 

[walkswithdog]

Generalizations fit nothing. Glad your baby is coming along!

I do only rescue pyrs. Right now I'm about to get in a fourth, making three of these fosters.

I got the one that is ours as a 12 wk old rescue, only been with goats and other dogs, unsocialized. She's social, she leads, she grooms, she rides in cars, she is housebroken, she is good with goats, turkeys, chickens and patrols at night, from the house through a dog door.

Gnocchi and Penne are flock dogs, they live right now with the goats chickens and turkeys. They lead, they groom, they're social. They were nearly starved to death so sometimes they eat grain, I don't mind. I got them a few weeks ago, Gnocchi is about a year, Penne - probably her mother, around three. They are standoffish to the house pack and would protect the goats from the house dogs but they do not aggress and they do not fence fight.

I have four foot perimeter fences - that they do not jump.

I'm getting a third foster Monday - she has demodex mine is the only place she has to go. She'll be evaluated.

I've known six other pyrs. None had ever bitten anyone. Most were distantly social or aloof and uncaring about things outside their circle of responsibility. I've known social pet pyrs and dogs that have never been brushed.

Most of the time a dog is what an owner makes of it. And people fail to train dogs properly, most of the time, especially when dogs have particularly strong drives and instincts.

If you abandon a strong willed breed to a field, leave it untrained and unaltered, you get fairly random and poor results.

Take the same strong willed breed, try to make it a pet, without the right set of rules and training and the dog takes charge.

Neither is the dog's fault. Dog smarter than owner does lead to problems.

People fail dogs far more often than the dogs are bad or wrong or evil.

 

[babalubird]

Well, how disappointing. The breeder I contacted has not bothered to email me back with contact or any other type of info.

 

[dianneS]

You are so right walkswithdog. I figured that the dog will be what I make of him. I'm not planning on following any set of "rules" to the letter when it comes to raising this dog. I'll take advice, but for the most part, I'm going to follow my instincts and treat this dog as an individual and do what works best for both of us.

He's really amazing me so far. He sticks with his goats all the time. Positions himself between visitors and the goats. He's even chased the goats back from the fence when the house dogs approached. He has not been aggressive at all. He gets anxious when I handle the goats. He stays out of the way and allows me to handle them, but I can tell he is very concerned about what I'm doing with them. He has stopped nonsense barking and only barks when he should.

I will try and leash train him, I do have to get him to the vet very soon. But for right now, I'm just leaving him alone to bond with his new herd.

http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/vv282/dshoenfelt/goats087.jpg
http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/vv282/dshoenfelt/goats090.jpg
http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/vv282/dshoenfelt/goats094.jpg

Sorry babalburd that the breeder never got back in touch with you. Try someone else on the list. There are some breeders that are crossing Karakchans with Great Pyrs right now. I was told that a Karakachan and Maremma do not make a good mix. I'm not sure why, but I was told never to breed my dog to a Maremma or buy one that is the two breeds mixed. I'll be getting my dog neutered anyway. Good luck finding a breeder, if I find anyone else, I'll let you know!