Post by alohaparenting on Jan 20, 2013 4:53:19 GMT -5
walk me through introducing a new working LGD to my farm. We are not sure yet if it will all work out, but I have my fingers crossed. He is about a year old. He is already working and seems like a super dog. If it all works out and he comes here- I have two family dogs I need him to be cool with, and of corse my goats, cows, pigs, poultry. I can keep my dogs apart and transition slowly, or since he will be the new boy, it will be neutral when they do meet? My one dog is 13 years old and does not care about other dogs, she wont be a problem, she does not go down around the barn anyway, but I want him to meet her just so he knows who she is when he sees her up by the house. The other dog is a female puppy who is a indoor outdoor farm dog, they will spend time together. He is with a female puppy right now- about the same age.
I am thinking when he arrives, I will have my stock out doing what they do, and my dogs put away. The stock is down the hill by the barn, the dogs would be up at the house, away, inside. When I bring my dogs out, I will do so one at a time, I am not expecting my girls to be too upset by him, but I want him to be cool about them. Then after they get to say hi and meet and spend a while till they all relax ( I am sure my 13 year old will just see him and then go back inside- she is so over worrying about anything) Our puppy has very good dog respect behavior- our 13 year old dog made sure of that since they share the house.
After the dogs relax, then I thought we would start doing property walks with him, and he could see all his new livestock. He has been around cows, and goats and poultry before, not pigs though. And my pigs are pasture pigs, so they will be together.
Pigs squeal an scream and are food hogs, so they are not afraid of dogs at all- I am wondering what I can do here to make sure this goes well
How long before I allow him to just be off his leash figuring out his new herd on his own? What should I be watching for as a good sign he is chilled and ready, and what should I be watching for as a red flag that he might not be cool with his new herd
My property is fully fenced, and I do daily property walks now- mostly just to scent the property with people so those darned coyotes know we are about( not that they care) and once he arrives, I would invite him to join me on permeter walks, right? He is a Pyrenees maramma mix
Our puppy will not be unsupervised down by the barn anyway- since she is still so young and still learning her stock manners
our old dog only goes down there every once in a blue moon if we are all going together as a family and bribe her along
we have barn cats too- but so did he at his current home
and children, he has four children now, and I have four children. His current kids are boys, mine are girls. They have met him a couple times now - he does not seem to really worry - he just watches his herd and sniffs the kids every now and again, watches them all run and play, but does not often engage them ( nice slow tail wag when he looks their way though )
I guess I think I know what expect once he is here and settled, but I am worried about DAY ONE - when he very first arrives and then what transition will look like
okay - thank you for sticking with this post as long as you have if you are still reading and I appreciate any suggestions or pointers you would share
I am thinking when he arrives, I will have my stock out doing what they do, and my dogs put away. The stock is down the hill by the barn, the dogs would be up at the house, away, inside. When I bring my dogs out, I will do so one at a time, I am not expecting my girls to be too upset by him, but I want him to be cool about them. Then after they get to say hi and meet and spend a while till they all relax ( I am sure my 13 year old will just see him and then go back inside- she is so over worrying about anything) Our puppy has very good dog respect behavior- our 13 year old dog made sure of that since they share the house.
After the dogs relax, then I thought we would start doing property walks with him, and he could see all his new livestock. He has been around cows, and goats and poultry before, not pigs though. And my pigs are pasture pigs, so they will be together.
Pigs squeal an scream and are food hogs, so they are not afraid of dogs at all- I am wondering what I can do here to make sure this goes well
How long before I allow him to just be off his leash figuring out his new herd on his own? What should I be watching for as a good sign he is chilled and ready, and what should I be watching for as a red flag that he might not be cool with his new herd
My property is fully fenced, and I do daily property walks now- mostly just to scent the property with people so those darned coyotes know we are about( not that they care) and once he arrives, I would invite him to join me on permeter walks, right? He is a Pyrenees maramma mix
Our puppy will not be unsupervised down by the barn anyway- since she is still so young and still learning her stock manners
our old dog only goes down there every once in a blue moon if we are all going together as a family and bribe her along
we have barn cats too- but so did he at his current home
and children, he has four children now, and I have four children. His current kids are boys, mine are girls. They have met him a couple times now - he does not seem to really worry - he just watches his herd and sniffs the kids every now and again, watches them all run and play, but does not often engage them ( nice slow tail wag when he looks their way though )
I guess I think I know what expect once he is here and settled, but I am worried about DAY ONE - when he very first arrives and then what transition will look like
okay - thank you for sticking with this post as long as you have if you are still reading and I appreciate any suggestions or pointers you would share