What is a livestock guardian dog?

Travis Johnson wrote:I would have to agree; I am not sure there could be a better dog for a farm then a Great Pyrenees.

My dog not only guards, but herds the sheep, loves the kids, plays well with us, never asks for anything but food and water. Yet with (2) Fox, and (2) coyote kills to her name, what more could I ask for?

Josephine Howland wrote:My neighbors have four dogs, a great Pyrenees, a huge I don't know what and two Bassett hounds. They bark for hours on end. to the point that we've contacted the animal control officer and the sheriff The sheriff had to explain to them that after 1/2 hour they are breaking the law. They claim that they are guardian livestock dogs so the law does not apply. They have chickens, 3 fainting goats, and a horse. I say that if the dogs do not live with the flock then they don't qualify as LGD. They sleep in the house, not the barn. The one deputy agrees with me. What say you?

Erica Colmenares wrote:

Josephine Howland wrote:My neighbors have four dogs, a great Pyrenees, a huge I don't know what and two Bassett hounds. They bark for hours on end. to the point that we've contacted the animal control officer and the sheriff The sheriff had to explain to them that after 1/2 hour they are breaking the law. They claim that they are guardian livestock dogs so the law does not apply. They have chickens, 3 fainting goats, and a horse. I say that if the dogs do not live with the flock then they don't qualify as LGD. They sleep in the house, not the barn. The one deputy agrees with me. What say you?

The barking is what I'm most worried about with LGDs. We'd really love to get one, but our nearest neighbor is 500 ft from our house. That's too close if we have a dog that barks all night. Supposedly the Colorado Mountain Dog, a new breed, is being selected for less of a bark instinct. Of course, maybe if the bark is gone, so is the protection?

teri morgan wrote:...
noah came after moses, elijah, and eli (ALL pyrenees...our years on that farm were many...where i raised my boys...the pyrenees kept safe, so that i could rest a little easier--3 BOYS)...they were all wonderful and they all did their job...all were able to live out our life on the farm...from 8 weeks to the end of their lives...except noah, he was the last...God saved the best to last... and although he lived out our life on the farm...he has yet to live out his. he was the light of the farm...taking care of our goats, chickens, pigs, us and believe it or not my mother...who became his number one when she walked out of the front door...mom came to my home when she was diagnosed with alzheimers in 2009...we bought noah in 2013 , and during the time we were on that farm, as her condition deteriorated...noah proved himself in a way i had never heard...he became her service dog...all on his on...no training...no urging...really, mother never did anything to or for him that i know...it was just....well...it was just that it seemed that he knew...and he stayed by her side...if she wandered...he would jump up...walk RIGHT BESIDE HER...and head her back when she got to the light pole...no crap...100% of the time...would just move right to the front of her and gently turn...around her...and bring her right back to the front door...it was the most INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLE thing i have ever witnessed...1 year gone and momma still asks about him!!!

Teri Morgan: Are Noah's offspring available? Where was Noah from?

Brian
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Cindy Haskin wrote:So, I love the look of Pyranese, and Anatolians. As the " farm" will be hill country in West Virginia, and I will have enough work just with the animals (planned are meat and fiber goats, alpaca, chickens, and perhaps eventually mini cows) and food plants, I'm not sure I will want to brush a dog. As I've never done LGD training, that will have to be a skill to learn out on my list of skills to acquire. So I'd like to find a shorter-haired LGD, or a different animal entirely to perform most of the herd protection duties.

I've read all 3 parts of the initial poster's article in Mother Earth News. I find myself discouraged by the references to things like "needs an experienced handler", "requires grooming", "not a good choice for hot and/or humid areas". So I am asking you readers for recommendations on which breed(s) would be most suitable for the region and critters we will be working with. Please include some of your reasoning.    Thanks in advance.

Mike Barkley wrote:Eureka!!! Livestock guardians dogs. We have a very serious problem here that I don't want to go into on permies. Too complicated & too ugly. I hadn't considered LGDs yet. Need to research & ponder this but it seems like an excellent solution!!!

Carla Burke wrote:Matthew, what a great dog!! You said, "Unless they're electric vehicles. She really hates electric vehicles (maybe they're too quiet and she thinks they're sneaking around?)"
I can't help thinking the opposite may be the reality. Electric vehicles put off an incredibly high-pitched, often undetectable-to-humans sound that may actually be painful to her ears, especially if her senses are so finely tuned in, for her job.

Definitely a breed we will be looking into, considering our predator pressure now includes not only coyotes, wildcats, raptors, and foxes, but also bears!

Mathew Trotter wrote:That makes way too much sense... and I don't even know what I could do to address that...

If I'm never able to get males, our neighbor has a gorgeous Pyrenees that I've thought about breeding her with. Best of both breeds.

Nathan Watson wrote:From what I've read, an Anatolian Sheppard is the biggest toughest livestock guardian dog there is. In its traditional farm uses, it would stand up to bears and cheetahs. It stands 2 1/2 feet tall and weighs well over 100 lbs, yet is still nimble and quick. It won't just stand by and guard a herd, it will roam and hunt down the predators before they attack the herd. In North America it would stand up to a cougar. This breed is fearless and most any predator would rather just avoid a fight with a dog this big, even if it's a fight the predator would win. Thing is, for a wild animal an injury is often fatal, it doesn't matter if the cougar would win the fight and then die from an infection a week later it still doesn't want that fight it would rather just go hunt deer instead. Just be aware that an Anatolian Sheppard is an independent minded dog and requires an owner and trainer who does their due diligence in training it properly... They may even be afraid of humans if not properly raised. Its not like raising a black lab to try to own one of these dogs.

elle sagenev wrote:
The problem with him is his ferociousness. The other dogs will attack unless we are present. Then they're fine and just want pets. Not Brewster, Brewster hates strangers, all strangers. He will bite. Adult, kid, he doesn't care. Strange is strange. He's great with our kids, probably mostly because I've always told our kids that you should always treat the dogs like they can kill you, because they can. So they're gentle with the dogs. We did have to keep him away from the baby for about a year. He snapped at her, which shocked us. I wanted to put him down, to be honest. I can't have a massive dog trying to bite the baby. Husband prevailed though. For some dumb reason he really likes this stupid dog. Anyway, we kept them apart and now that she's older he seems to have no problem with her. Still wouldn't trust them alone, because the last thing I need is a dead baby. Anyway, yeah. I don't know what we'll do when the kids have more friends over. We already have to lock him up when family visits. He makes me nervous. He's a liability. He's also an asset because let's face it, we have meth heads robbing the neighbors but no one bothers us at all.

Kim Huse wrote:I would also be interested in  a pup if you ever get her bred. My Brother in law and his family are moving out into a very rural area here in Texas. and  its known for  having foxes, coyotes and cougars, feral pigs, etc;  My sister in law is going bland and having a dog like this would  make my mind rest easier for their sake.

Trace Oswald wrote:

elle sagenev wrote:
The problem with him is his ferociousness. The other dogs will attack unless we are present. Then they're fine and just want pets. Not Brewster, Brewster hates strangers, all strangers. He will bite. Adult, kid, he doesn't care. Strange is strange. He's great with our kids, probably mostly because I've always told our kids that you should always treat the dogs like they can kill you, because they can. So they're gentle with the dogs. We did have to keep him away from the baby for about a year. He snapped at her, which shocked us. I wanted to put him down, to be honest. I can't have a massive dog trying to bite the baby. Husband prevailed though. For some dumb reason he really likes this stupid dog. Anyway, we kept them apart and now that she's older he seems to have no problem with her. Still wouldn't trust them alone, because the last thing I need is a dead baby. Anyway, yeah. I don't know what we'll do when the kids have more friends over. We already have to lock him up when family visits. He makes me nervous. He's a liability. He's also an asset because let's face it, we have meth heads robbing the neighbors but no one bothers us at all.

This is exactly why people that want livestock guard dogs need to do their due diligence.  Lots of people think they want one, and for some people, like me, they are perfect.  We don't have children, we rarely have visitors, and we live in a very rural area with most every North American predator you can imagine, as well as two-legged vermin.  Your dog is exactly what I want from a dog.  I have one like that myself.  I'm fine with locking him up when we have people over, which is extremely rare anyway, and I want my dog to bite intruders without question.  We have three very large dogs.  One won't bite you, one will probably bite you, and the third will most surely kill you if you come onto our land uninvited.  I have fences and signs.  A person ignoring those things is doing it at their peril, and that's just how I want it.  If our living situation was different, my dogs could be a huge liability as you said.  For us, they are perfect.

elle sagenev wrote:I didn't see the Akbash on any of those pictures. Perhaps because both akbash we have SUCK at guarding anything. lol

Fantastic kid dogs though. lol

Mk Neal wrote:

elle sagenev wrote:I didn't see the Akbash on any of those pictures. Perhaps because both akbash we have SUCK at guarding anything. lol

Fantastic kid dogs though. lol

Elle, I had not heard of Akbash before, but your dog looks just like our mystery shelter pup! Do you think this dog (pics below) might be an akbash?

Trace Oswald wrote:

Mk Neal wrote:

elle sagenev wrote:I didn't see the Akbash on any of those pictures. Perhaps because both akbash we have SUCK at guarding anything. lol

Fantastic kid dogs though. lol

Elle, I had not heard of Akbash before, but your dog looks just like our mystery shelter pup! Do you think this dog (pics below) might be an akbash?

I don't think so, for a couple reasons.  Akbash are rare, have thicker coats, and the head shape is different.  They are usually more white, though can have a bit of yellowish.  I would bet yours has lab in it.  DNA tests are pretty cheap now, and interesting even if you don't really care what breed your dog is.

Mk Neal wrote:

Trace Oswald wrote:

Mk Neal wrote:

elle sagenev wrote:I didn't see the Akbash on any of those pictures. Perhaps because both akbash we have SUCK at guarding anything. lol

Fantastic kid dogs though. lol

Elle, I had not heard of Akbash before, but your dog looks just like our mystery shelter pup! Do you think this dog (pics below) might be an akbash?

I don't think so, for a couple reasons.  Akbash are rare, have thicker coats, and the head shape is different.  They are usually more white, though can have a bit of yellowish.  I would bet yours has lab in it.  DNA tests are pretty cheap now, and interesting even if you don't really care what breed your dog is.

We had been guessing lab/Anatolian Sheperd. Like a super tall curly tailed lab who acts like an LGD.