Post by justin on Jan 29, 2021 11:55:21 GMT -5
We are considering a Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepherd mix for a Livestock Guardian Dog.
Up to recently predators have not been much of an issue, though we have lots on and around the property. A few weeks ago, coyotes or wild dogs, tore through the wire mesh on the chicken coop and killed 15 of our chickens-they would have got them all but I herd the noise and ran out.
In response I built a more solid structure our of metal which should be impervious but have returned to my off and on again consideration of a dog.
A dog could bring many benefits, would have saved the chickens, a calf the coyotes got two years ago and most importantly be a protector for my wife and girls when they are outside-a few years ago some wild dogs came after them but they were close enough to get inside before the dogs got to them. We are always armed when outside but wild dogs can close a gap fast and may be able to get to one of kids if we are not right by them. They only showed up once in 2 1/2 years so maybe it never happens again but you never know. Especially with it looking like the economy may tank, people are known to cut costs by dropping dogs off out in the country and they tend to go wild quick.
The main consideration in not getting a dog is the barking, from what I read they can bark all night long. We moved out in the country for peace and quiet and have found it, in many ways we have a quiet monastic family life going on and I am hesitant to disrupt it with the prospect of excessive barking. Before moving out here we had been kept up all night by neighbors dogs barking and would rather not put ourselves through that again especially with our own dog.
We are on 35 acres, have chickens and cows, the chickens are about 300 feet from the house.
Dors anyone have exp with this breed? Barking can be spoken of in many ways and duration. What are your all experiences with barking?
Up to recently predators have not been much of an issue, though we have lots on and around the property. A few weeks ago, coyotes or wild dogs, tore through the wire mesh on the chicken coop and killed 15 of our chickens-they would have got them all but I herd the noise and ran out.
In response I built a more solid structure our of metal which should be impervious but have returned to my off and on again consideration of a dog.
A dog could bring many benefits, would have saved the chickens, a calf the coyotes got two years ago and most importantly be a protector for my wife and girls when they are outside-a few years ago some wild dogs came after them but they were close enough to get inside before the dogs got to them. We are always armed when outside but wild dogs can close a gap fast and may be able to get to one of kids if we are not right by them. They only showed up once in 2 1/2 years so maybe it never happens again but you never know. Especially with it looking like the economy may tank, people are known to cut costs by dropping dogs off out in the country and they tend to go wild quick.
The main consideration in not getting a dog is the barking, from what I read they can bark all night long. We moved out in the country for peace and quiet and have found it, in many ways we have a quiet monastic family life going on and I am hesitant to disrupt it with the prospect of excessive barking. Before moving out here we had been kept up all night by neighbors dogs barking and would rather not put ourselves through that again especially with our own dog.
We are on 35 acres, have chickens and cows, the chickens are about 300 feet from the house.
Dors anyone have exp with this breed? Barking can be spoken of in many ways and duration. What are your all experiences with barking?