Hi farmchick897, How would you compare your mtn dog to your pyr as far as trainability & watch dog for your farm? The livestock guards I have had experience have been very bullheaded about retaining training . Is your mtn dog territorial & a good watch dog ? I have been looking for an outdoor farm dog breed with thick haircoat for this harsh climate, but a bit more territorial & protective than Pyrs. I haven't ever had any experience with mtn dogs, but were on my list to research. The several Pyrs I have had could not be considered as watch dogs for the 2 legged species,just concerned about the 4 legged intruders.....
My dog isn't on my good list right now. He's sick...for some reason? Probably from sneaking something from the trash...he's been looking in there lately.
He squirted poop ALL over the bedroom floor, hardwood floor. Two puddles. I stepped in one because the light is burned out and the other lamp is across the floor. It was gross. He was banished to the basement for the rest of his night in the kennel. Where he pooped ALL over his pillow. GROSS.
Sign of intelligence in my dogs, both GSDs? It's not what I can train them to do, that's easy. It's what they figure out on their own. That's both amazing and sometimes makes me wonder who's running the circus around here.
I'm so excited, had a calf born this morning. My second Belted Galloway and it's so cute!
To Answer the question about my Bernese she is NOT a watch dog at all. She actually reminds me of a Golden Retreiver in personality. Now, that's not to say most people that drive on my property aren't scared of her because she is big, but if you know anything about dogs you would see her big tail is wagging.
She is more sensitive and my disapproving voice is enough for her and I've really never had to tell her something more than once for her to get it. She is really great with all the animals, kids and around the farm equipment.
My GP is much more the guard dog. I just rescued her about 6 months ago where she was strickly a "livestock guardian" 24/7 so she really has not been socialized the way my Bernese was, she is much more independent thinker and is not as trusting. But she has figured things out quickly and wants to please me and has fit in perfectly here. One thing I have noticed about her is she seems to be a good judge of character, there have been certain people that come here she just doesn't "like". I can tell by her body posture and the way she won't get near them and just watches them. I should have noticed and listened to that instinct the first time I noticed it but I do now.
I would have to say intelligence can be measured by how quickly they learn something and if they can retain that information (long term memory). Wouldn't you agree?
Take my emus for example, every morning I go out and feed them. After they eat I open the gate to let the mini donkeys into their pasture to eat all the good grass and the emus like to come into the donkeys pasture to hang out by the spring and trees. Every evening they must go back into their pastures. My mini donkeys are always in the right pasture waiting for me, the emus are always in the wrong pasture and I have to encourage them to go back thru the gate. Herding emus is like herding cats, so not very fun. But they are rewarded with food once back in their pasture and they are only fed in their pasture. So, it took about 6-7 days for the emus to get it.. and although they are never in their own pasture they start running to the gate when I walk out, so that's progress. BUT just when you think they have learned it, you go out and have to start the process all over again. Heck sometimes you just can't get them back so they don't get fed. So, my conclusion is emus are the stupidest animal on my whole farm.
Thanks farmchick 897 for your explanation. Any chance of posting pics of your Galloways ????
As far as intelligence in the LGD's-I would say they are very intelligent,probably near the top of the scale,but even if trained-they will do their own thinking to react to a situation.I remember taking my Maremma to K9 good citizenship test-but she flunked as refused to do the down-stay as needed to "watch" on her feet so she had a good view when left unattended in a stall. I could not call that dog not intelligent for wanting to do what she was bred to do.I took her thru obedience training for bonding purposes & she did great.Only glitch was another handler brought in a coydog & she didnot like it so always had to keep our distance. .... My LGD's have all been rescues, and young adults upon adoption. So most likely they have had more socialization than I prefer prior to coming to my ranch. Only once did my last pair of pyrs show aggression toward a human & that was when they were upset about some controlled burning on neighbors property And a Border Patrol stopped on the road & walked in to where I was feeding my cattle. And I think they were protecting the cattle,not me. I am in search of a large or giant dog breed with outdoor haircoat that will bark & raise a fuss if a human or predators come around. Maybe I just need to get a LGD breed of puppy. My stock dogs are good watch dogs but cannot be allowed to roam unsupervised as they will find something to do that always isn't good.And they do not have outdoor coats for my winter climate. German Sheps are great but so many breed problems that I would hesitate to leave one outdoors in harsh winter climate,even in a heated dog house.....Mutts are great also,just hard to find something like I am in want of around here. Anybody out there ever had any experience with an Akita for a ranch dog ? I read a good book years ago about dog intelligence with the breeds ranked. All the breeds went thru the same series of testing. But I did not agree with it as the Aussie was ranked near the bottom of the scale and they are one of the most intellligent breeds in my experiece ! I will search & post the title if I still have it.
Thanks for everyone's input !
Thanks for posting wonderful pics ! I love the chrome on your cattle breed ! Mine are mostly solid colored range beef. Do you have a breeding herd or just some pets ? Nice dogs also !
