A Livestock Guard Dog

I am about to embark on a new adventure. First, let’s start at the beginning.

On the morning of May 12, 2020, I discovered the gruesome sight no chicken owner wants to see.  An unknown predator killed 2 of my grow out roosters that spent that night in a wire dog kennel with 3 others.  I immediately took inventory and thankfully both pullets were present and unharmed. 

NOTE: This page or post contains affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase I earn a portion of the money you spend at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

I dreaded the task of sitting up late waiting for the creature to return so I could make sure no further attacks happened.  Now I know why the faithful heeler barked incessantly last night. He is getting on in age and I do not allow him to run at night.  I fear for his life in a fight with a coyote.

Earlier this week, I had all but decided I am too busy to undertake training a puppy in the coming months. I know the kind of time, commitment and patience it takes to train a faithful loyal dog.  Seeing the feathers, a single chicken foot and the other with its head eaten off still laying in the cage changed my mind. 

I cautioned myself though, because I have exhibited a tendency in the past to make a decision when an emotional event prompted allowing it to override the big picture.  I would ask my spouse to gain a different perspective. 

He said something to the effect of how we had been talking about it. He affirmed and reaffirmed when I raised my objections. He believed a livestock guard dog was a good next step. 

I readily agree a pup had been on my radar this year.  I feel apprehensive of the undertaking. Is it the time involved or that I have refused to become friends with another dog since needing to lay Ringo to rest in 2015? 

At 15 and a half years old, he had proved his love and loyalty. A new puppy seems to me a bit of disloyalty to him.  Of course, we generally out live our dogs or when truth be told we hope to.  He was the first dog I raised from a pup, trained and shared all those years full of change and struggle with.  I still miss him.

I also bemoaned the money it would cost for a new puppy and that I was not sure I wanted to spend it that way.  An investment, he said, “You are protecting your investment in the chickens. How much money do you lose when something kills a chick?”

I guess… I will figure how to carve out the time to learn about training Great Pyrenees and implement what I learn.  I connected with a local farm who has pups available Tuesday night to set up a time to see her pups.

For the first time this morning, I felt excited about the coming plans to visit and potentially pick out a female puppy.  Let the research begin.

I spent around an hour or more reading online about the Great Pyrenees breed. I wanted to learn the traits in a puppy who will develop into a working livestock guard dog. I never came across a specific guide to help me decide.

I arrived to meet the pups armed with an abundance of questions about the parents, the breed in general, and my unanswered question of the day, ‘What puppy traits indicate a quality working livestock guard dog’?

I ask questions. I listened. I learned about the parent’s background, how the owner kept her dogs and her experience with the breed.

At last, I met 2 puppies.  I set to choosing and asking questions. One female demanded attention the other hoovered in the background.  In the recesses of my mind, I recalled Rhingo, too being a shy puppy. Side note: He became a wonderful protector to me, but he was a Blue Heeler with different genetics.  I feel keenly aware of my need to learn before I teach.

I found myself attracted to the shy puppy. I voiced my concerns about her not wanting me to touch her back. I looked at the poop in the pen. I watched her urinate. I tried forcing her to allow me to pet her. I went into the large dog house with her only.  She seemed curious about Brian.

Over an hour later, I stood to leave. She made eye contact with me ever so briefly and wagged her tail. In that instant, I said, ‘I will take her’. I did not even think before I spoke the words. I simply knew. She would go home with me. In that instant she stole my heart.

As a breed the Great Pyrenees like to wonder and in all I read no one shares a way to train them to the yard.  A fence or shock collar, or wondering dogs sum up the only info I am able to find.  Yet I struggle to believe no one has figured out how to teach them to stay home.  To me, the desire to wonder compares to a Heeler’s desire to herd (i.e. chase livestock), yet, they are trainable.  Be forewarned, I am on a mission.

She has a name as of today. Follow her on Instagram as I document her story. Click on the following link:

https://www.instagram.com/aneta.pyr

Do you have any advice or experience to share with me? Please leave a comment below.