Post by elia on Sept 21, 2018 17:42:35 GMT -5
Now that our English Shepherd has settled in well (he is a year old), I am starting to think about the replacement of our two Great Pyrenees, the one who died last year and the one who is eleven years old and retired but still with us. The idea is to get two, eventually, to make a team. I prefer to start with a puppy, so I can train her to my liking, although my two GPs came to us at age two and were wonderful. (I don't think that adding two more adult dogs to my old GP and my young ES would work, though.) I am thinking towards next spring for this, unless something exceptional should surface this autumn, and probably one pup at a time. I am open to thoughts on timing and whatnot.
Anyway, I have re-read many of the threads on different breeds, and am wondering if anyone might have thoughts on what breed has worked well for them or not so well. The GPs have been good with people, sometimes too good, but great with children, which is important; they have always "barked the night" whether there was any threat or not. The one time a coyote got into the goat pen with does and kids, they did not kill it, but they did pin it against a fence and keep it there, and prevent it getting to any prey. They have killed smaller predators.
Our ES is a good watch dog - a little too wary of strangers if anything - and good at keeping foxes away. He is my house watch dog at night. The coyotes pretty well stay away, even now, because our old GP is still out there letting them know she is there, but when she is gone, there will be quiet at night.
The one time a stranger (a driver from the feed mill) stepped into my barn this year, the ES did keep him from coming very far into the barn, but did not approach or try to bite him. I thought he handled himself pretty well. But I would still like to have something more to harden the defenses against two-legged intruders.
So I have been reviewing breed characteristics of the Anatolian, the Maremma and the Akbash, and will have to make some decisions about them versus another GP... or a cross, or... I wonder about the Anatolian's temperament with visitors and children, whether they might be too much dog. They do have a nice coat, maybe don't bark as much, and wander less? I have seen mixed reports on their wanderlust. The only ones I have met were unapproachable, but had been raised with the "hands off" method, which I don't do. The Maremma isn't that big, it seems, and both she and the Akbash are a little harder to find. The Kuvasz is beautiful but haven't looked into their availability.
Anyway, just looking for some thoughts on pros and cons of various breeds, and any input is welcome.
Anyway, I have re-read many of the threads on different breeds, and am wondering if anyone might have thoughts on what breed has worked well for them or not so well. The GPs have been good with people, sometimes too good, but great with children, which is important; they have always "barked the night" whether there was any threat or not. The one time a coyote got into the goat pen with does and kids, they did not kill it, but they did pin it against a fence and keep it there, and prevent it getting to any prey. They have killed smaller predators.
Our ES is a good watch dog - a little too wary of strangers if anything - and good at keeping foxes away. He is my house watch dog at night. The coyotes pretty well stay away, even now, because our old GP is still out there letting them know she is there, but when she is gone, there will be quiet at night.
The one time a stranger (a driver from the feed mill) stepped into my barn this year, the ES did keep him from coming very far into the barn, but did not approach or try to bite him. I thought he handled himself pretty well. But I would still like to have something more to harden the defenses against two-legged intruders.
So I have been reviewing breed characteristics of the Anatolian, the Maremma and the Akbash, and will have to make some decisions about them versus another GP... or a cross, or... I wonder about the Anatolian's temperament with visitors and children, whether they might be too much dog. They do have a nice coat, maybe don't bark as much, and wander less? I have seen mixed reports on their wanderlust. The only ones I have met were unapproachable, but had been raised with the "hands off" method, which I don't do. The Maremma isn't that big, it seems, and both she and the Akbash are a little harder to find. The Kuvasz is beautiful but haven't looked into their availability.
Anyway, just looking for some thoughts on pros and cons of various breeds, and any input is welcome.