Rescue LGD persnickety...

[Baymule]

What other animals do you have besides the chickens? When we bought this place, there was no fence at all, so I opted for the non climb horse wire with the 2"x4" holes in it. I figured it would keep everything we had, down to the chickens IN and it has. There is one pesky armadillo that has a permanent hole dug under the fence on the outside parameter on the south side, that comes and goes. The sheep and dogs are blocked out of that pasture at night, so Mr Armadillo gets to come and go in peace. LOL

Our entire place is fenced. It gets to be a pain at times, always having to get out to open/close the gate, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Coyotes are bad here and it helps keep them from coming up to the house. They could jump the fence, but with the two Great Pyrenees barking a warning, they don't. When I was coming up here working on the house before we moved, coyotes came right up to the house at night.

 

[TMChickensLGD]

@Baymule
What other animals do you have besides the chickens?
We have 2 Llama’s (very docile), 2 mini Donkey’s, 3 goats, 4 barn cats and 11 guineas (free range day-cooped at night, they were missing in the am, we think from coons).

We do run a recreational cabin “resort” on our property. People & kids coming day and night especially for the pets, so any electric fencing is out. Also, one more caveat is that all of our cabins are dog friendly which means people walk around with dogs on leashes all the time!
I included a pic of the property that have the “pasture” circled. We have 4 in x 4 in goat pasture that we could re-fenced in 2 x 4; buts it the most highly visible of all the property. We also have a pen in the back that is 4 x 4 that we could refence to 2 x 4 but it backs up to the forest and at any given time in the evening there are 15-20 deer in it. Also I think it is more predator ridden due to the forest. Small predators like coons, opossums, skunks and fox. Coyotes don’t get to close. All cabins have fire pits and they are going all the time.No worries for any of the pets except the Poultry.
We spent time today with him just hanging out while we did some landscaping and he was great. Still struggling to get him to come to us. One of our house dogs helped with that, she came up to us when we called and when we heaped praise on her he wanted some of that action so he came to us too.
We are just going to be patient and let him come to trust us and build our fence and let him be himself. We have the rest of our lives. The chickens are alive and safe so ther is no hurry. We are pretty determined for us all to be successful, whatever that looks like. There is no one size or rule that fits every situation.
I love all of your stories, examples and helpful suggestions! I can’t imagine finding a better group of folks to discuss this situation. All of your encouragement is so appreciated as well!

 

[Bruce]

I picture him shaking his head after we leave him for the night...saying to himself “tomorrow they might get it”...

I think you figured him out! Eventually you will get over your "stoopid" and he will be able to work with you on his terms

No leash either as he hates it.

I think you'll just have to work on that slowly. At some point you will need to take him to the vet or something and you sure don't want to have to pick him up and stuff him in the car.

I am a bit concerned about a bunch of random unknown people and their dogs wandering around, even on leash. If he is guarding his animals he won't likely be happy to have all those potential threats too close to them without you being present as well. Perhaps the more knowledgeable folks will have an opinion.

And yes, I think we do all appreciate how much you are willing to learn and work with him. He will be worth it I'm sure!!

 

[TMChickensLGD]

@Bruce

Thank you for the kind words. We are worried about the people and their pups too. We share information with everyone before they arrive and we will include an except about Scout. It is also the reason I would prefer the more “hidden” pasture but worry about the predators in the forest and the deer that hop that fence. I’m not sure how would he react but that is the deer highway through the property. We have a lot of bonding and thinking to do about where is the best location.

 

[Bruce]

If Scout is out in that pasture, you won't have deer in it any more. And if the hidden pasture is "off limits" to the guests, you can hot wire it to help keep predators out.

 

[TMChickensLGD]

It does sound pretty ideal except that the wildlife is a big pull to our visitors and keeps many coming back. At night you can walk the gravel road and shine your flashlights out in a field and see 30 glowing eyes of the deer resting out here. Nothing off limits to the guests as we have a 2 mi perimeter trail around the property but the pasture is off the beaten path.

Kinda sounds like I want to have my cake and eat it too .

If we did 5 ft high 2 in x 4 in fence would we still need electric?

 

[Bruce]

Kinda sounds like I want to have my cake and eat it too .

That isn't unreasonable

Regarding the fence, I don't know. "No climb" for a horse isn't necessarily "no climb" for a dog. Good running start, paws make it to the top, he might be able to scale it.

 

[Latestarter]

Perhaps instead of a leash/collar, a harness might prove a better tool... My toli/pyr mix has a very big head but a correspondingly large neck... I can't keep a collar on him. He'll slide it right off unless I make it so tight it defeats the purpose of the neck padding/hair (damage prevention from biting animals) or would choke him. He doesn't mind the harness and the leash attaches at the top back so not pulling on his neck at all. I only put it on him when I need to take him off property so when he sees it, he knows he's going for a ride. Introduce slowly and with lavish praise and get him used to the harness first, leash later.

 

[Baymule]

My male GP, Trip and female GP, Paris are two different dogs. Paris would be a raving lunatic at the people and pets walking around on HER property! Trip might bark at particular dogs if they came too close, but he is pretty laid back. He jumps the fence when people come over, to greet them. They open the gate, he stays in, they drive in, close the gate, and he follows them to the house. Then he pees on their tires and poops somewhere near their car/truck. He marked it as "his" and the poop is a warning to varmits to stay away. So their vehicle is safe.

One of our neighbors has a French bulldog that comes to the fence to bark at Trip. They run up and down the fence barking at each other, it is a game they both love to play until they almost drop. Paris will play too, but she really means it. LOL

To train your pup to a leash, clip it to his collar and let him drag it. Maybe link several together for a long leash. Take it off when you are not with him, for obvious reasons. Maybe gently apply steady pressure on it from time to time. When he starts to resist, slack up. Follow him around, holding the end of the leash. Brilliant move to have your house dog help to train him!

If he starts barking inappropriately at guests or their pets, go acknowledge him. Talk to him, tell him that it is ok. When mine are just barking stupid, I tap on the window, that is their signal to shut up and most of the time, they do. If they don't, it because there is SOMETHING. To train them, I tapped the window, then went outside and talked to them. If they started stupid barking again, I tapped the window, then went out and scolded them. I didn't yell or threaten them, just gave them that "I'm so disappointed in you" voice and they were crushed. It is very east to hurt their feelings.

 

[Baymule]

We have chickens, Muscovy ducks, 3 horses and 10 hair sheep. From time to time we have feeder pigs.