Post by mollymoo on Jan 16, 2014 13:38:41 GMT -5
As I have mentioned in other threads - we just had to move our farm. We moved from a place with ~ 5 acres/barn/our house on the property to a place where we live in a house 1/4 mile down the road from a 12 acre pasture (with hoop-house shelters) that we rent to keep our chickens sheep goats donkey pony and horse in. We have a wonderful Great Pyrenees LGD - thanks to her we have never lost any livestock and very few birds. When we moved, we put her in the pasture area with her animals. It's fenced with a good electric fence - but she's a Pyrenees, so of course, she can get out! The first time we tried leaving her in the electric fence, she actually beat me home (she went across the pasture while I drove the truck up the road). Now she hangs out on our front porch most of the time - she accompanies us to the pasture when we go to feed, but refuses to stay out there with her charges.
Now I know we can work on the fence and TRY to make it pyr-proof (we have managed in the past, so no doubt we can again) - but I wondered if you think she is providing any kind of protection to the animals at 1/4 mile distance. I know that pyrs are supposed to be able to work over large ranges (although usually in at least pairs) - and no doubt she would hear coyotes at that distance...but I am wondering if she has just decided she would prefer to retire on our porch!! She is seven years old and I was already considering getting her a young companion/helper knowing she may not have many working years left - but I hate for her to train a pup to do what she's doing now (i.e. sit on our porch!!). Any thoughts? She's a wonderful dog and we love her dearly...but she has a job to do!
Now I know we can work on the fence and TRY to make it pyr-proof (we have managed in the past, so no doubt we can again) - but I wondered if you think she is providing any kind of protection to the animals at 1/4 mile distance. I know that pyrs are supposed to be able to work over large ranges (although usually in at least pairs) - and no doubt she would hear coyotes at that distance...but I am wondering if she has just decided she would prefer to retire on our porch!! She is seven years old and I was already considering getting her a young companion/helper knowing she may not have many working years left - but I hate for her to train a pup to do what she's doing now (i.e. sit on our porch!!). Any thoughts? She's a wonderful dog and we love her dearly...but she has a job to do!