Natural Livestock Protectors: Guard Llamas, Dogs and Donkeys

We purchased a Gt. Pyr. as a yearling from a family...never having been w/animals. She immediately was good w/the goats and chickens...but...really wanted to be with US.
Her wandering brought about a broken leg, having collided with a truck, but now that we have secured fences all around the farm, she guards the home. Only the home.
We adore her, and wish we'd had the good fortune to have known her at birth, so we could have trained her for the job she was born for. She even housebroke herself, while being confined w/cast on leg for weeks. What an angel is Angel!!!

Hi All,

I have had Pyrenean Mountain Dogs since the 1970's, a great stock guarding breed! They work a treat!

I am Welsh, but lived in Norway for many years.
About ten years ago I returned to West Wales and discovered our indigenous native Sheepdog, "The Welsh Sheepdog" if you don't know this ancient Welsh breed then see
www.welsh-sheepdogs.co.uk

There exist in Wales written records of this breed that go back to 14th century.

I am now the proud owner of a red and white male, "Cochyn" and a tri-colour with a dash of merle female, "Brith"
Welsh Sheepdogs, are probably, the hardest working Sheepdogs in the World!! they also work a treat!

with all this in mind, I really thought that I had found my DREAM TEAM, CO-WORKER'S

But, My large, friendly, and wonderful Pyrenean "Iorwerth" want's to dominate my "medium sized, very very brave, "I will not back down, If I am not frightened of bulls, do you really think that a large fluffy pyrenean frightens me!!" Welsh Sheepdog "Cochyn"

In the past, and because "Cochyn" will not back down! Iori (Iorwerth) has given him a serious bite (and Cochyn, would still would not back down) if I had not managed to intervene I don't know if Cochyn would still be around today.

Individually, both these dog's are well trained obedient dogs who love to please and are good around people and animals!

(Iori has been known to have a problem with other strange dog's, having once been bitten on the nose in public, while minding his own business, by a squirrel sized, sausage type dog,

Of course, Iori let's "Brith" the female Welsh Sheepdog jump up and lick his face even snap at him if he gets too fresh and does not bat an eyelid, no danger there, as far as I can see!

I suppose its a case of us males being suckers for women?

So what's the secret? how do you get your Herder's to work in

We purchased a withered Llama to protect our goats and Louie did great. He played with our buck, but was non aggressive with them. When eating, if our goats can to eat out of his bucket he walked away. We have just sold our goats, but Louie is still here. He is love to much to go! We have since added to other Llamas Ben and Jeri and they had a baby girl Dolly. We also have a gelded Jack that we use for cart pulling. elvis is a great carter, but horible with the goats. Make sure the donkey you get is good with them. Ours is not.

Amy,
As for your G/Pyrenees 5 month old pup - My husband and I have 2 GP's that are now 7 months old as as big as our full grown sheep. We received the pups at 8 weeks old and they were still pretty small - too small to put in with the sheep so we put them in with our 2 goats. Eventually ( well, sooner than you would think) they grew bigger and we would take them over to visit with the sheep at feeding time so we could watch them interact. On the way back, they would "interact" with out chickens, chasing them in a round-up type of fashion. Try putting your pup in with the sheep while observing them. The sheep will naturally try to control the situation by head butting the little one showing who is boss - nothing dangerous - but just setting things right. Once the dominance is established the pup should be OK. We were told not to pet our dogs too much or give them too much attention but we have, and they are fine. They protect the sheep and appreciate the praising we give them. The key is watching them as they get established and not being afraid to get them started with the animals. The sooner you do that, the better. Our GP's now prance and play with the sheep and each other but are serious about getting down to business whenever they think something is going on that they need to deal with. Good luck!

Amy,
If this is your first pyr, you can get tips, help, and advice through the Livestock Guardian Group. They have an online library of information and a list serv with many knowledgeable and very helpful members who own and work with LGD on a regular basis.
http://www.lgd.org/
Shelby

When we moved to the Colorado foothills, we realized the llamas needed extra security. We were lucky to find NASRN--National Anatolian Shepherd Rescue Network, of Queen Creek, AZ. It's been a wonderful experience--all four rescues have been quick to learn their jobs, and have defended their llama charges from predators, with the added bonus of guarding us when need be.

A word of caution-do your homework before adopting any livestock guard dog
-the training and personality are different from that of your household pet! The same goes for llamas--check out rmla.com for great information there!

I have had Anatolians since 1987 and have had the pleasure to watch these magnificent animals perform their duties on an ongoing basis. I have puppies that are guarding alpaca, goats, sheep, horses, chickens, cats and other breeds of dogs, along with several different exotics. As a breed, I feel they are more adaptable to the weather than most of the other livestock guardian dogs since, in Turkey, they have to put up with weather from 60 below to 140 above. The ones I have been priviledged to place in working homes have been some of the most effective LGDs around. Not all Anatolians are meant to be LGDs, so it is important to make sure you check out the breeder, but you really cannot get a better guardian for your stock and property.

This is for Amy concerning her adopted 5 month Pyr. I hesitate to tell you your dog could NOT be trained to guard the pastures, and I'm sure there are success stories out there, but at 5 months, I would be disinclined to use her with animals. Pyr puppies are trained very young....they guard whatever they have bonded with. We put our puppies in with the sheep at 8 weeks so that they would form their attachments in the barn rather than with humans. If she is attached to you, she will make a fine guard dog for your home even if she never learns to stay in the pastures and barns.

We just rescued a Great Pyrenes at 5 months old. She has not been with livestock. Can she be trained to be with our sheep, and trusted with our chickens? Right now she wants to chase both( but not with ill intent, just being a puppy!)

She is very sweet and smart.

Thank you,

Amy

I adopted a starving Great Pyrenees in 2000; she weighed about 75 lbs. (She is now 133!). She has saved my chickens and goats several times. She has put the chickens away in the coop before a storm—somehow she communicated with them, because they were in a perfect line, marching into the chicken house, with her standing over them in a commanding pose! She saved a kid goat—it got out in the winter at night, I figured at daylight, surely the coyotes would have gotten it by then. I kept hearing what sounded like the cry of a predator bird, but every time I heard that, she would bark with her “something’s wrong!’ tone of voice. As she never did that with a bird cry, because of her response, I got out the binoculars, and found the goat way out in a farmer’s field next door, stuck in the snow. She knew! Bless her heart, she’s about 12-13 years old now, and still on the job, however, I know she’s getting quite elderly. I hate to not have a Pyr with my livestock, so I am certainly keeping my eyes open for another one or two Great Pyrenees.

I am not advocating the purchase of a German Shepherd as a LGD, BUT, I do have to say... my boys have done a wonderful job on many occassions. If you get a good working line GSD, you have a wonderful protector.. for home, family & farm animals. I would have to stress the need for a true working line and from Euro. lines, not American. The working Euro lines are smaller, must be SchH titled (which would assure you excellent/good hips and a sound mental status!) to be allowed to breed and I would most definately start with a pup. If they get bored, they will wander, so give them a job and you won't regret it. Currently, we have an American GSD from show-lines, (a rescue I could not pass up) and even he does a nice job. He's as sweet as can be until a wandering dog walks past, then it's all business even when the odds are against him.

Donkeys are also endangered on National Park Service land, as the NPS considers them 'alien' and shoots them on sight. So adopting one from one of the rescues that takes them off the NPS land or from the BLM is saving a life as well as gaining a farm guardian and helper.

I have a Maremma which guards my alpacas, and couldn't be more pleased. She is protective without being aggressive -she will put another dog on the ground rather than killing it.
* If you get a dog, be sure the parents are 'hip certified'.
* A dog WILL bark at night -that's part of the deterrent.
* I know an alpaca breeder who lost animals guarded by a llama to coyotes -when there's multiple predators, a llama may not be enough.

I would love to hear anyone's experience with the Akbash or Anatolian Shepherd. I've heard they are also really good livestock guardian dogs. I am going to be getting one to guard my animals.
Heidi

I too have a Great Pyrenes. She tends to work 3rd shift. She has taken the whole farm under her protection. SO, be prepared for some mid night barking sessions.....

I am currently boarding goats with a friend, while looking into land purchase. I know that once I place my Angora goats on my land, I will want either a Great Pyranese, or a donkey. Frankly, my interest is higher for purchase of a donkey, but I have heard they will kick the goats they are guarding. I don't think I believe this, but thought I would take the opportunity to inquire...those of you who have donkeys, would you be so kind as to share your experience of them as guardians? What is required for their safety and comfort, what are their idiosyncracies, how are they with goats/chickens/cats/dogs? Any input will be greatly appreciated.

My husband and I operated a small sheep farm in central Tennessee in the 1990's and coyotes immediately designated our place a smorgasbord. After a bit of research we found a breeder of Great Pyrs for guardian stock and got both a puppy and an older female. The female suddenly bolted past me one day and flew across the pasture to the barn...before I knew what had happened, she'd thrown herself in front of the sheep who'd been backed against the side of the barn by a small pack of feral dogs. She'd gone from lazy and sweet to ferocious as a tiger in a split second and she saved the day. As the puppy grew up, he began a nightly ritual of walking to the center of the nighttime enclosure where turning to each of the four directions, he loudly announced to the night that he was on duty. We had no more trouble with coyotes. Great Pyrenees dogs are otherworldly in their abilities as guardians however they do climb and they wander so traffic is a major risk to them. They are genetically disposed to think for themselves and if they think they know better than you what needs to happen they will simply stand and grin at you and go about their business. HIGHLY recommended. I love these dogs.

Having raised goats near the Capitan Mts. of New Mexico and observed a Great Pyranees in action as a guard dog for the herd I must endorse that breed. We were on a hill top with the homestead and overlooked a number of valleys. One instance was 'PEEKABOO' chasing a Momma Lion with 2 cubs. He ran them out of the country and we never heard from them again. One other instance of merit was with a Mexican Eagle overhead. I had heard tales of 'kids' running to the guard dog for protection but had not, until then, witnessed it myself. 'Boo' was watching the shadow of the eagle on the ground and the kids ran to him and he stood over them until the eagle left. We are starting a new edventure in W. Texas soon and plan to get another Great Pyranees.