LGD question?

colemangirly · #1 11/07/10, 08:20 AM

Okay, I am thinking that I might want to get a lgd for when I get my goats. Okay the question part. I know someone who is willing to GIVE me a goat dog, has been raised with goats and is with them now, they just have too many. They have some 6 month olds and some 1yr olds. I figure that really I need the 1yr old due to the fact that I do not have another dog to train a pup and I will be having young kids. I will only have two goats but I will have the babies until I butcher.

Okay the hard part. I don't get my goats until Spring (March) so I don't want to get the dog until I have goats for them to be with. Problem, the dogs are a little wild for everyone except the guy who takes care of their goats. However, I want to be able to work with the dog too, like for worming and vaccinations or I just want the dog to know I am the boss and can handle the goats.

If I got the do early without goats so that I could work with it without the distraction of the goats it will feel it will need to protect would that work? Also, will it bond with a new small herd of goats, and will it loose the desire to guard if it is away too long?

We live in the middle of the Ozarks and there are lots of coyotes and such here as we are practacly in forest, do I really need a dog with only two goats, or should I just lock them up at night?

Trying to justify another dog to hubby, but also need one that I can work with.

Thanks;

Natural Beauty Farm · #2 11/07/10, 09:00 AM

A dog that young will become a pet instead of a LGD if it does not have a job right off. Better to have the goats and then do some training with the dog.

Can you borrow some weithers until your goats come?

colemangirly · #3 11/07/10, 09:22 AM

No, I can't get weithers as the reason I am waiting for spring for the goats is I am getting my space ready for them. Putting up fence, and building barn. I wouldn't have any space to put the weithers.

Thanks tho

Our Little Farm · #4 11/07/10, 09:34 AM

I agree with NBC, if you can, get some wethers and then the dog. An LGD needs to work and know it's place from day one it arrives on your farm. A bored LGD is a bad thing. If you don't have the fencing in place for the wethers, do you have a contained farm for the LGD? IF not, I would not get him.

colemangirly · #5 11/07/10, 02:45 PM

I don't have the fence for the weithers right now because I am building them for my goats, hence why I am not getting my goats until spring. I do have a dog kennel where I could keep the lgd until the goats arrive (and fence will then be ready) however, you have awnsered my question that I need to have the goats in place before I get the lgd as even a couple months will be enough time that the bonding with livestock will be destroyed.

I was hoping that two or three months without goats would be time that I could get the dog to trust me, as right now they only let their current goat owner mess with goats. I hate to get a dog that wont let me mess with my own goats. I don't want the dog to transfer bonding from goats to me, I just want to be able to handle it when needed and for it to let me handle my new goats.

My goats will be two doe second freshners and will be kidding about one month after I get them. I thought a lgd would be a good idea, but everyone says not to get a puppy unless I have an older lgd to take it under its wing for training since I will be having young babies that I don't want mauled. Problem is with getting an older lgd, I need to get it to let me near the goats. How is that accomplished?

Thank you for all input;

Bearfootfarm · #6 11/07/10, 07:18 PM

Quote:

I thought a lgd would be a good idea, but everyone says not to get a puppy unless I have an older lgd to take it under its wing for training

A pup from a GOOD bloodline will usually have all the instincts it needs.
The problem is it takes a couple of years for them to mature.

Earning an older dogs trust will just take time, and it may or may not turn out well.
A lot will depend on how it was raised in regards to human contact.

I highly doubt it would try to keep you away from the animals.
It's more likely it just wouldn't want to be handled
That is something only time and patience can overcome

HappyFarmer · #7 11/08/10, 06:04 PM

A pup would bond to you and your family & may or may not take the transition to the livestock. An older dog would adjust better provided you have electric to keep them in when transition time comes, you need a good fence layout.

We have (had) 2 multipurpose LGD's. The remaining male is wonderfully acclimated to both lives. He was switched duties daily since he was 5 months when we bought him. Our deceased female we lucked out on, she was dual from the start however electric fencing was in order to keep her in the pasture, it took her about 2 years to accept her fate.

It can be done, but it is not for everyone, and not for everydog. New LGD owners often get frustrated and this could be an additional headache for you.

Having said that, I'm thinking your best bet would be to wait for your goats, then get the/a dog. I know our first lgd pup was difficult until we bought an adult.

HF