Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD) Great Pyrenees: Homestead Protectors That Really Work!

 I have lived out in the country for about 14 years now, and have had just about every form of livestock in those years. In just about every case a good LGD makes keeping them safe a little bit easier!

 We started our homestead livestock journey with goats, dairy goats mainly with a few meat breeds here and there. We got a handful of goats from a lady who was moving on to other things and with the goats came a great LGD named Willie, a Great Pyrenees. Willie as a messy old ball of white fluff with the sweetest disposition, but like any good LGD he could handle himself in a tussle. Willie once jumped into a mobile cage with a couple of rabbits and I knew there was about to be some gore, I was amazed to watch Willie lay down right next to the rabbits and just watch over them like a protective father. 

 Yep, that's Willie right there.

Willie was a great dog, and great protector, sadly he disappeared one day never to be seen again. Not sure what happened to him, but I hope he found another great family to hang around with, and I hope they had rabbits for him to play with.

 Without Willie around we had a few close calls with stray dogs that run loose around our area, so we needed to bring back the protection!

Along Comes Tanner

 Shortly after Willie left I was at a local Livestock swap meet, where local folks come to trade goats, chickens, pigs and so forth. I ran across a guy selling turkeys and chickens, but he also had a little of Great Pyrenees pups. He told me that he had been using LGDs to protect his chickens for years and breeds them every so often to replace his dogs and sells the rest. Now we had recently gotten our laying flock up and running so I thought I might use this same technique. So I took a look at his litter and picked out the most active male I could find and we made a deal. That's how Tanner came to be the head honcho at our place!

 

  We started Tanner off early with his training, we would take him into the goat pen to bond with the goats. The goats weren't to fond of Tanner early but they soon learned to accept him. They did push him around quite a bit! 

 It didn't take long for Tanner to start growing large, he put on a long, lanky set of legs that was almost comical to look at. 

Soon enough he grew into those stilts and took on a look befitting his majestic status!

Ok enough bragging, let's talk about LGDs in general and if these great dogs are a fit for you.

Working Dogs

 The Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Known here in North America as Great Pyrenees are classified as working dogs. They have been bred for guarding flocks of sheep and goats but will guard just about any type of livestock. Like I said I have used them with our chickens and hardly ever lose one to predation. They have a very low prey drive which allows them to work around small animals, goats, rabbits and chickens. They will chase animals when young but only in a playful manner, although they can injure or kill them , it's usually due to rough play and not a hunting type attack.  It is amazing to watch chickens crawl over Tanner as he sleeps out in the yard, he pays them no mind. the downside to this behavior is that if your looking for a dog to play fetch with, this breed is not what you wan't.

 The LGD breeds in general have been bred to be left with livestock on their own for extended periods of time. They are thinkers and hard headed in general, Tanner will obey simple commands like sit and lay down, but he usually thinks he knows best. He will do as we ask most of the time, but his mannerisms tell us what he really thinks about being bossed around.  He is sure that he is in charge of security around this place and he let's us know it.  Don't get me wrong, he is as loyal and obedient as he can be, but his first concern is the safety of his family.

 Great Pyrenees are docile among family members but aloof around strangers and anyone new, but as soon as he sees that they are not a threat he warms up to just about anyone.   They also need room to roam and check their perimeter. 

Tanner will walk the fence line every night before he lays up out on the front porch, and he barks at every single noise and perceived threat he notices, real or not. These two reasons alone would make me warn you about owning an LGD, especially if you live in a more urban area where the neighbors wouldn't enjoy a deep low constant bark most of the night.  While they are a great breed, they have drawbacks for just being a pet, they are working dogs after all!

Oh yea, and They are diggers!!

But they love their job!

It is amazing to see Tanner walk thru a herd of goats or the cows in the pasture, he will lower his head and keep his eyes on the ground as not to appear like a predator, he will attend the birth of a goat and stay well back away from the mama until the kid is born and the walk up quietly to baby and mama to make sure all is well, then be off about his business.A truly remarkable breed.

Should you Own A LGD

As I stated, you won't find a more loyal dog, to both the human family and it's charges, A dog that can be calm and quiet one minute then spring into protection mode in a heart beat when it perceives a threat or a more noisy dog at night. If you do own animals that need protection from other dogs, coyotes, racoons, possoms or just about any threat, LGDs can't be beat. 

 If you live downtown in a 900 sq ft apartment, I probably wouldn't go with one of these big boogers, the need for them to check the land at night is strong and the barking is loud, but if you can live with that you won't find a sweeter, more faithful dog in my opinion!

Anyway, that's my take, and that's how we utilize LGDs here, hope this has been helpful and if you have any questions leave them in the comments, I'll help any way I can!

Thanks for looking and Keep on Steeming

Name in peppers by @papa-pepper