the BEST guard dog breed!

[hennible]

Stick to mutts!

 

[Howlet]

mk ppl PRETEND DIS POST NEVER EXISTED YOUR ALL BRAINWASHED!

 

[centrarchid]

Actually, GPs are bred to establish and protect a territory and will often patrol said territory and protect anything in it, not just large mobile herds. Hence the constant barking, which is their first line of defense. And I'm sorry, but you clearly have not seen an LGD in action if you don't think they can't catch a fox, or if the "get lucky once in a while" and catch a fox. They are perfectly capable of catching raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and raptors. If they weren't, they wouldn't be used. Ultimately, the best LGDs establish a territory and predators stay away and any that stray too close are either chased away or killed. And I am keeping the discussion where chickens are involved. There are several people on this site, and elsewhere, who use GPs to protect chickens and swear by them. I am not in the minority. Again (and again, and again) I think its great that apparently everyones small dogs do such a great job protecting their flocks, but little dogs ARE NOT going to stop a determined predator, especially if you live outside the city. In the average city backyard, sure, just the presence of a dog will probably keep away predators (except probably raccoons, which I guarantee are not afraid of your min pin or corgi), but if they have to go up against anything in a fight? Yeah, they're going to be a yummy appetizer before the chickens. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE TO ADVOCATE SMALL DOGS AS REAL, LEGITIMATE FLOCK GUARDIANS. They just don't have the capabilities to fight off predators. Watch dogs? Sure. Guard dogs? No. 

We have only about 10 LGD's in service protecting herds of sheep and goats. I have been around such for about 10 years. In most situations dogs kept singly with herd confined on a paddock ranging from one to ten acres. Smallest herd is buck only numbering about 20 individuals with larger herds pushing 100 females and young, females only, or juveniles being finished out. Grazing system is intensive / rotational. Perimeters defined by some combination of woven wire fencing, electrified netting, or high tensile electric with out perimeter being the woven wire. Zero losses realized due to predators for quite some time. Fencing keeps out domestic dogs. Red foxes and even coyotes still hunt small rodents in same paddocks with dogs present but avoid herds.

Protecting chickens is much more difficult than protecting sheep and goats. Your typical LGD's can do it if flock confined within line of sight for dogs and distance cover while reacting is short which is not practical for everyone. Big LGD's with possible exception of Akbash (likely not pure) lack speed I need to control chicken losses to red fox. Raccoon's are easy to beat as they only fight in self defense. Dog just needs to be able to get at them to put them on the run.

Drop the LEGITIMATE talk as it does not apply to poultry, especially with dogs not developed for poultry. The LEGITIMATE talk is often and indication a dog peddler is about and positions taken are a result of vested interest.


@savagedestiny the Maned Wolf (fox) could possibly whip a Corgi but red fox I highly doubt. The dog is slower but heavier. The red fox will not take on a another predator near in size or larger than it is. That is the realm of top predators among canids/

 

[centrarchid]

The BEST part of this is a combination of silly and opinion.

 

[loftkeeper]

I have few a questions gps do they protect from human or just wild life always wondered about this had a friend had large goat herd over 300 head had several gps noticed young missing every once in awhile saw one of the male gps eating a baby got rid of him no more problems does this happen often we raised ducks geese turkeys and chickens and always penned them at night had loses but you have anjmals it is to be expected had American bulldogs never bothered birds but brought goat home one day killed it because she found it in her backyard had other goats kids projects never bothered them in there pen so animals are indiviuals

 

[Howlet]

idk all ik is dont listen to me O_O

 

[centrarchid]

I have few a questions gps do they protect from human or just wild life  always wondered about this  had a friend had large goat  herd  over 300 head had several gps  noticed young missing every once in awhile saw one of the male gps  eating a baby got rid of him no more  problems does this happen often we raised ducks geese turkeys and chickens and always penned them at night had loses but you have anjmals it is to be expected had American bulldogs never bothered birds but brought goat home one day  killed it because she found it in her backyard  had other goats kids projects never   bothered them in there pen so animals are indiviuals

Most GP's do only wildlife but some have tendency to be butt biters. Some other LGD breeds more prone to be human aggressive. Sometimes even an LGD will have improper interest in stock animals. Such usually associated with immature dog interacting with very young stock animals.

Yes, animals are individuals and they recognize each other as such. Even my dogs went through a phase where my birds left alone but neighbors flock was harassed. I had to invest further and even had to break dogs of going after stock I do not have which is mandatory since I do not have a dog tight perimeter fence I may dogs can get past the fences of others.


The dogs are work, especially if you are just starting up and do not have a continuous string of dogs you raise yourself.

 

[hennible]

Sorry ignorant here what's a LGP or GP... Great Pyrenees??
Also you all seem dog savvy. Anything to say about Australian Shepard's?

 

[Howlet]

Sorry ignorant here what's a LGP or GP... Great Pyrenees??
Also you all seem dog savvy. Anything to say about Australian Shepard's?

there pretty cx

 

[centrarchid]

Sorry ignorant here what's a LGP or GP... Great Pyrenees??
Also you all seem dog savvy. Anything to say about Australian Shepard's?

Neighbors Australian Sheperd dominates coyotes one on one. Two needed to do proper job. They have many of the characteristics I like in a multipurpose barnyard dog plus many have good cold tolerance. Do not ignore importance of fencing as makes dog's job easier.