Post by Lannie on Oct 3, 2012 12:45:10 GMT -5
Brenda, the Pyrs as a breed are known as "wanderers," but some of the other breeds aren't that way. Ours stay home unless something spooks them (and it doesn't take much, as remote as we are) or they're going after a "bad guy," like the resident coyote pack. However, I noticed yesterday that Kiara's hair on her neck was badly matted and the shock prongs weren't even making contact with her. It's probably been like that for some time (I should brush and clip her more often!) so she was staying home because this is where she lives. When she went over the fence after Jasper spooked the other night, she probably felt nothing from the transmitter fence. NOW, she's freshly brushed and the hair clipped short, so if she gets near the fence, she's gonna get zapped. I just have to remember to stay on top of my "grooming" duties, I guess.
I also belong to an LGD forum where there are members who are breeders from all around the world, some breeds I'd never heard of before. These people have been doing this for most of their lives, and know the LGD personalities inside and out, breed to breed, and can answer most ANY question one might have about any protection breed. NONE of them agree with leaving dogs out and never interacting with them. Leaving them out, yes, that's their job, but they all have names, they come when you call them, and they can be handled for things like injuries, vet trips, etc. What I learned on that forum was that it was ONE GUY, just one single guy, who wrote a book sometime back with HIS OPINION on how LGDs should be raised and handled, and somehow, God knows, it ended up being the "gospel truth" of LGD handling. Unfortunately, a lot of people read this book written by a supposed "expert," and have been passing the information on down through the years as "The Truth." And it's not. Dogs NEED to have interaction with their humans. Their humans are the pack leaders, and the dogs are the thugs that enforce the rules (to put it very simply).
We only have 15 acres, so it's not very big, but our dogs (now - Cowboy was an exception) never spend time time up at the house. They're out with the critters all the time. But when we go outside, they see us and wag their tails, they come when we call, and we ALWAYS spend time out in their area loving on them and giving treats. If we did that in the house, they'd be "spoiled couch potatoes," but we do it out where they can take off if need be. And they will. If one of them hears or smells something, it doesn't matter if they're in the middle of a good ear scratching session or just about to nosh on a cookie, they take off and handle the threat. That's what I love about them - they can be sweet and affectionate, but their job comes first, and when they need to act, they never hesitate. And being friendly with US doesn't mean they're friendly with everybody. Even *I* get a good barking-at if I go outside when I'm not normally out there, or if I'm wearing a different coat or something. They think it's a stranger that doesn't belong here, and they try to scare me off. Of course, once they realize it's me, they're very embarrassed, but they still don't like "strangers" coming on our property. Jasper is becoming very bold, and although I'm sure he would never actually BITE anyone, he makes out to be so big and bad, he scares people, so I always go outside if someone comes over, just so I can back him off before my guests pee their pants in fright!
I know, I'm preaching to the choir with most of the people here, but I wanted to make clear that it was just this ONE BOOK that started the whole idea of "never bond with your LGD." It's perfectly OK, and even DESIRABLE to bond with your LGD. They'll still protect their critters, because that's what they've been doing for several thousand years, and it's instinct. (Even Cowboy, who was a pet before we got him and wanted nothing more than to lie on the floor in the house at our feet, would jump up and RUN toward any perceived threat. He couldn't help it - it was in his blood.)
And on a completely different note, to those of you who would so willingly conspire with me in dognapping... who could ask for better friends?
~Lannie
I also belong to an LGD forum where there are members who are breeders from all around the world, some breeds I'd never heard of before. These people have been doing this for most of their lives, and know the LGD personalities inside and out, breed to breed, and can answer most ANY question one might have about any protection breed. NONE of them agree with leaving dogs out and never interacting with them. Leaving them out, yes, that's their job, but they all have names, they come when you call them, and they can be handled for things like injuries, vet trips, etc. What I learned on that forum was that it was ONE GUY, just one single guy, who wrote a book sometime back with HIS OPINION on how LGDs should be raised and handled, and somehow, God knows, it ended up being the "gospel truth" of LGD handling. Unfortunately, a lot of people read this book written by a supposed "expert," and have been passing the information on down through the years as "The Truth." And it's not. Dogs NEED to have interaction with their humans. Their humans are the pack leaders, and the dogs are the thugs that enforce the rules (to put it very simply).
We only have 15 acres, so it's not very big, but our dogs (now - Cowboy was an exception) never spend time time up at the house. They're out with the critters all the time. But when we go outside, they see us and wag their tails, they come when we call, and we ALWAYS spend time out in their area loving on them and giving treats. If we did that in the house, they'd be "spoiled couch potatoes," but we do it out where they can take off if need be. And they will. If one of them hears or smells something, it doesn't matter if they're in the middle of a good ear scratching session or just about to nosh on a cookie, they take off and handle the threat. That's what I love about them - they can be sweet and affectionate, but their job comes first, and when they need to act, they never hesitate. And being friendly with US doesn't mean they're friendly with everybody. Even *I* get a good barking-at if I go outside when I'm not normally out there, or if I'm wearing a different coat or something. They think it's a stranger that doesn't belong here, and they try to scare me off. Of course, once they realize it's me, they're very embarrassed, but they still don't like "strangers" coming on our property. Jasper is becoming very bold, and although I'm sure he would never actually BITE anyone, he makes out to be so big and bad, he scares people, so I always go outside if someone comes over, just so I can back him off before my guests pee their pants in fright!
I know, I'm preaching to the choir with most of the people here, but I wanted to make clear that it was just this ONE BOOK that started the whole idea of "never bond with your LGD." It's perfectly OK, and even DESIRABLE to bond with your LGD. They'll still protect their critters, because that's what they've been doing for several thousand years, and it's instinct. (Even Cowboy, who was a pet before we got him and wanted nothing more than to lie on the floor in the house at our feet, would jump up and RUN toward any perceived threat. He couldn't help it - it was in his blood.)
And on a completely different note, to those of you who would so willingly conspire with me in dognapping... who could ask for better friends?
~Lannie