What is it? God only knows!! UPDATE on PG 10

[kryptoniteqhs]

Quote:
looks like a harmless teddy bear lol

 

[cariboujaguar]

He is with our kids and friends, but at 5 months old he killed 2 coyotes and at 8 months he killed a pit bull that kept trying to get our goats. I suspect he's killed a few more coyotes by now but haven't found deffinative proof, he eats them and cleans up before we get out there LOL He's a good boy for sure! If it were legal I'd just assume leave our daughter in the pasture with him for baby sitting Vs a person LOL He once got her by her onesie because she was toddling toward the pond and another time stopped her from going towards the road by biting her jacket. (I was on my way to stop her of course, I WAS paying attention, but you know how fast those kids take off, he's quicker then me thank God!) He will also let us know if a goat is off or has something wrong, he's very intelligent!

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

WOW!!!!!! thanks for making me get another dog...lol...now im on a hunt haha....how does he let you know if someone is hurt?

 

[CTChickenMom]

Banties are easy prey for hawks or owls. Racoons like them too (at least their heads anyway) and if they are ranging where you can't see them, especially early in the morning, they were likely taken by coyotes or coy dogs. To my knowledge, hunters don't like to eat their prey where they can be seen by others (they don't have to share that way or risk having it stolen from them).

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Hawks will also carry off a pretty large chicken. So banties are easy prey.

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

Quote:
i had another banty whos smaller....but he could whoop up on a coyote anyday haha.....i sure hope they just got "lost" which i know is not a reality.
Also, in reference to another post, they were 2 roos and a hen, so i doubt the roos went with the pullet to "watch" her lay lol

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

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do they get along well with other dogs? are they a one person dog?

 

[cariboujaguar]

This is a VERY close friend of mine, she is the one I buy my Pyrs from. They are NOT cheap but OMG they are worth their weight in GOLD! and that's alot of weight http://bar6diamondranch.com/lgds.html LOL It's about $300 to fly an 80 lb dog, our female from her was 6 months when we got her. if you get a puppy it's cheaper. She is very knowlegable and is super helpful even if you don't buy a dog from her.

They get along with any family dogs you already have, they learn you are master and will tollerate anything you allow around the animals.

They are also the only LGD who protects against air predators.
They are very different to raise though, I would totally suggest investing in a grown and prooven dog to ensure it was raised by a good breeder. Our male got too much attention from us as a young dog and is now a nightmare to keep IN with the goats- he wants to get out and go visit everyone (humans) but people get scared of him due to his size and call on him all the time. Humane society fee's add up quickly. If you get a good dog or a pup and raise it PROPARLY (which is SUPER hard because you have to ignore them and leave them to bond with the animals you want them to guard) they will be the best asset to your opperation ever.

As to how they let you know if an animal is sick, close to kidding etc- they will do any number of things:

hang close to it and make conatant eye contact with you (Like trying to send you a mental message)

Moses will pace and whine at you then walk to the animal then back to you or will lay with it and refuse to move- my friends dog did that, laid out in the back 40 with a doe in labor and wouldn't come in to eat, so out they go to see why and found a doe struggling to kid...

Our female, Pebbles BARKS at you insessantly, refuses to stop, until you figure out what she's demanding or what's wrong. This took us a LONG time at first, but now we fgure out how close we are to what the animals need based on how loud she barks. If we're close to it she'll quiet down or stop completely if we're doing what she wants, if we're way off she jumps and barks really loud. I'm not joking, she plays 'hot and cold' very smart dogs LOL she'll do this over something as small as them needing fresh water (which they get 2 times daily anyways)

Moses herds the does to safety if he's concerned about something, he'll make them stay in the barn etc. He even goes out, gathers momma's when new babies wake for a meal in the barn, bring momma's in to nurse then escort them back out to graze and come back to watch the babies nap while the moms are out and about.

And Pebbles checks all the goats hay, while we feed she will sample the hay and sniff through it and if it has a dead mouse in it, rat poo, mold anything dangerous she won't let the goats near it until we clean out the feeder and re-feed. Probably saved us thousands in dead animals who didn't get listeriosis etc... you just can't put a price on these dogs, the stories are endless!

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

omg...thats better than my dream dog....i didnt know that they even existed except in the movies lol.....this would be amazing.....where could i find a grown dog like this, i cant afford to pay thousands of dollars for one unless i was able to sell a horse, but i cant in this market...also if its already grown and not used to me or my livestock, couldnt that become a problem?

 

[cariboujaguar]

No, they are smart; if it's a proparly handled and bred dog it'll take to any herd/flock available to it. The way it'll regard you will differ by age, how it was raised etc... BUT you won't be in danger of them harming you, they might just avoid or ignore you. The first thing they will do to guard their herd is look for the 'maid' who serves the horses/goats/sheep/chickens. They will determine this by how your animals act and how you act-dogs are the best judge of character, they will know you're legit. Pebbles regards us as goat matride's, she bosses us around 'my goats need this or that' and will ocassionally sniff/lik our hand really quick- but she's all business and has little time for affection, whereas Moses who we coddled and treated as a pet too much will play w/ us, prefers to be with us and only watches the goats as a secondary intrest, not his lifes ambition... you can get dogs thru rescues- they can be a big risk, might have another breed in them, might have emotional issue, might be too human bonded. BUT have known people who had great sucess with them... can find a breeder on CL.. where do you live, I can help you look...