LGDs

[Deleted]

just wondering if all livestock guard dogs bark a lot? Are they worse at night? Is one breed a little quieter? If we end up getting one when I get my goats, I'm worried about the barking bothering the neighbors. We are in a small community of 1 - 3 acre lots so the neighbors are close.

[Deleted]

It's also very individual to the animal. I have two full blood pyrs and two pyr mixes. I think the younger ones tend to bark more as well as they get to learning what is worthy of a bark and what isn't. You might try going with a proven, working adult for your first dog. I can't recommend that strongly enough. There are many reasons this is a good idea for a first time owner. Just make sure you see the dog with the stock before you close the deal and that you feel super comfortable with the seller. The previous owners will be able to tell you about the dogs barking habits. Barking is definitely used as a deterrent to the predators but mine don't bark all night for no reason. A good conversation with the neighbors before you bring the dog home might help, especially if they have livestock that would benefit from the proximity of your dog. They may be a little more tolerant if they feel they are deriving some benefit from the barking .

[Otter]

If you are in an area of 1-3 acre lots, skip the LGD. I know they're very trendy and everyone insists you need one. But unless you live way out in bear country, your main predator is going to be other people's dogs. A good stout fence and any territorial dog who will bark at strangers so that YOU can run out and chase them off will work as well as 100lbs of official LGD.
Who, btw, aren't really great at fending off other dogs, unless they either hate that individual dog or have really strong reason to. And if they are not neutered and at least 3-4 years old it's not going to happen. There are lots of PyrX puppies to back up that fact.

I'd take the money and invest in a seriously good electric fence. You want a solid fence as well, and then a strand of electric at the top and another close to the bottom, where a dog's nose will find it.

[Deleted]

Thanks for all the great information! IF I get one, it will be an old neutered one!

[motdaugrnds]

If your place will be no larger than 3 acres, you do not need an LGD. A good guard dog that is socialized to your other animals and/or pets will work very well...just choose a large breed that you can train.

My favorite "farm" dog is a German Shepherd because they not only will protect the goats you said you were going to get, but will also protect the humans on your place. Also, they can be quite "territorial", which will keep other dogs off your place. I've also had a "mixed breed" dog (was my favorite for human and animal guardian) that protected my 6 acres very well.

LGDs are for larger areas where predators range from wolves to bears and everything in between.

[Deleted]

If I got a German Shepard, the age wouldn't matter, right?

[motdaugrnds]

Well, I cannot say the age wouldn't matter. It would actually depend on how much you understand the dog. Getting a puppy is what I prefer because I don't want to train OUT bad habits. Getting an "adolescent" can be tricky because that stage requires VERY FIRM BOUNDARIES/RULES that do not cause that particular dog to lose self-confidence. Getting an older dog...well, I've never started with an older dog; so I really cannot speak to that.

A GS is a powerful breed and needs firm/clear rules that are inforced/maintained with a VERY FIRM AND YET VERY POSITIVE energy. If the owner does not understand how that particular dog conveys messages, the owner could misinterpret a growl for aggression and, by so doing, actually promote aggression. (Having a large dog...or any dog...being aggressive toward its owner is not a good thing.)

Guess what I'm tring to say is that age in and of itself is not a problem. It is the actual character of the dog you get that you need to be concerned about. Get one you can handle whose energy level matches yours.

[Otter]

Here's the main question - do you want a dog?
Or do you just feel that you are going to need one? And if so, for what?

if you want a dog, get any kind of dog you want, and trust me that it is the rare individual of any breed that cannot be trained to know the difference between your animals and the rest of the world. I had a Golden Retriever who was beginning hunting training who still understood that Quackers the duck was off limits and an extremely accomplished Beagle who would ignore any rabbit so long as it was in a cage or in the house. Let Bunny FooFoo set one paw on grass and it was game on - but where farm rabbits go, they were sacred. I've seen Malamutes wash and mother baby goats. So if you want a dog, get a dog. Any kind of dog you like. 

If you feel like maybe you might need one, or a farm should have one, you don't and it doesn't.
Seriously, 3 acres does not need a dog. It needs a rat trap, an electric fence and a motion sensor light and there, everything you "need" a dog for, no training, feeding or housebreaking required.

Getting a dog is a very individual thing. There is no best breed, unless you have something insanely specific that you 1,000% need a dog to do. You want to win herding trials = a Border Collie is the best breed. You want to run the Iditarod = an Alaskan Husky is the best, well, type of mutt.
But if you want a dog to putter around the farm, get what you like.

And if all you want is to know when a neighbor's dog is sniffing around your goats, a motion sensor light, an electric fence, a dog-hating Nubian or anything that barks will tell you.

[Deleted]

Thanks Otter, what a funny post! But you are right, I think I SHOULD have one to protect my babies! I won't be there 24/7!!! Truthfully , it's the youngsters (human) in the neighborhood I worry about. Goats will be a new thing in my 'hood and I work during the week. Whaddya think?

[Otter]

Oh, hon, I think you lost me.

How do you see a dog protecting your goats from human kids? Because I see a lawsuit there.

Let's do it like this - have you ever owned a dog before? Do you like dogs in all their furry, sloppy dogness?

As far as the human kids thing, there are 2 ways to go about that. A padlocked barn and good, stout fence reinforced with electric ~or~ making friends with all the neighborhood kids. Me, I usually end up with every kid for a half-mile around hanging around here, but the stout fence method works great too.

[Deleted]

Sorry for the delay in responding, didn't have Internet access. Yes, I've had dogs before but as family pets, not "watch dogs". I do try to make friends with the kids in the area but I don't really have much of an opportunity, no kids and work full time. Guess I'll have to see what happens. But I really would like to get a puppy when I get the goats so they grow up together, not really looking for an attack dog, just one that will make the kids a little more hesitant, like any dog in a fenced yard.

[Otter]

Then any dog that barks and isn't insanely small, cute and fluffy will do what you want, so get what you like!

What do you like in a dog? Not looks so much, what traits do you find easy to live with?

[aoconnor]

I will tell you the fastest way to get to know the neighborhood kids is to get a cute puppy! Take it for a walk down the lane, kids are drawn like flies to puppies:-) That way, you will be able to tell the kids what the dog is going to be used for, and they in turn can come brush it, feed it and play with it once in a while with/for you:-) I love that idea:-)

[motdaugrnds]

JudyM did you get that puppy? (I'm thinking your neighboring children may not be a problem for you, even with your getting goats. Thus, you might actually do best by putting up a sign letting ALL know (by words and pics on that sign) NOT TO ENTER YOUR acreage unless you are home.

If you're NEEDING to make sure everyone stays off your acreage, then getting a large breed dog that will be intimidating via looks and/or bark would probably suffice and putting up a sturdy field fence that will keep your goats in may be all you need.

I'm curious as to what you did...

[Deleted]

Motdaugrnds, no I haven't gotten a puppy - think I'm gonna wait and see what transpires with the neighborhood kids. Thanks for thinking of me and helping me along!