Post by scfarmchick on Sept 26, 2018 11:00:44 GMT -5
DH did an early morning flash light check on Ruby this morning, along with our little sheep flock AND a Fox! I'm pretty sure that all three ewes are pregnant and will deliver sometime in the next few months. So, is a LGD a good idea for us?
Cons:
1. I'm a huge, big softy with dogs and let them get away with more bad behavior than I should (not dangerous, just aggravating)
2. Our property has a lot of road frontage. In 12 years we've had 3 dogs hit by cars and I've sworn not to ever have outside dogs again.
3. Grandchildren (potently a problem)
4. We have two other dogs - 8 YO boarder collie who is mostly a couch potato, but likes to lay outside the fence and stalk the sheep and an almost 10 YO toy puddle, who will slip under gates to follow me out into the field. At some point I intend to get another ruff coat jack Russell. I had to put my rescue one down about 1 1/2 years ago and I miss him very much.
Pros:
1. No dead lambs/sheep (hopefully) note: we pasture (most of the time) our milk cows and sheep together.
2. The areas we would (try) to keep them in would be all woven wire, they would be separated, from the house, yard and milk barn (or not if we wished) (if they stay in and don't dig out or climb over.)
3. The way the pastures are set up, they would also we a barrier, at least for the chicken and ducks.
I like the idea of having guard dogs around here. It would be nice when I'm out milking or whatever at dark, when DH is traveling. I don't mind them being standoffish with visitors as long as they aren't aggressive and can understand the difference between friends and enemies.
The ones I'm looking at in particular are Anatolian/GP (2 1/2 months old), they are not that far away and priced that we could get a pair. Which I'm thinking may keep them more content at home?? I know one thing that DH, would hate about the GP, is the barking for no reason.
Thoughts? Advice?
ETA: We don't have time to do a bunch of training, other than the basics. Would putting them out with the flock/herd and let instincts do the rest even work? We would have daily contact with them...
Cons:
1. I'm a huge, big softy with dogs and let them get away with more bad behavior than I should (not dangerous, just aggravating)
2. Our property has a lot of road frontage. In 12 years we've had 3 dogs hit by cars and I've sworn not to ever have outside dogs again.
3. Grandchildren (potently a problem)
4. We have two other dogs - 8 YO boarder collie who is mostly a couch potato, but likes to lay outside the fence and stalk the sheep and an almost 10 YO toy puddle, who will slip under gates to follow me out into the field. At some point I intend to get another ruff coat jack Russell. I had to put my rescue one down about 1 1/2 years ago and I miss him very much.
Pros:
1. No dead lambs/sheep (hopefully) note: we pasture (most of the time) our milk cows and sheep together.
2. The areas we would (try) to keep them in would be all woven wire, they would be separated, from the house, yard and milk barn (or not if we wished) (if they stay in and don't dig out or climb over.)
3. The way the pastures are set up, they would also we a barrier, at least for the chicken and ducks.
I like the idea of having guard dogs around here. It would be nice when I'm out milking or whatever at dark, when DH is traveling. I don't mind them being standoffish with visitors as long as they aren't aggressive and can understand the difference between friends and enemies.
The ones I'm looking at in particular are Anatolian/GP (2 1/2 months old), they are not that far away and priced that we could get a pair. Which I'm thinking may keep them more content at home?? I know one thing that DH, would hate about the GP, is the barking for no reason.
Thoughts? Advice?
ETA: We don't have time to do a bunch of training, other than the basics. Would putting them out with the flock/herd and let instincts do the rest even work? We would have daily contact with them...