Rescue LGD persnickety...

AllenK

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OMG you are so lucky to have an Anatolian. I wish I had one. I would trade almost anything I own for one.
 

AllenK

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There are too many dogs to rescue down here. I could never buy one.
 

Bruce

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But if you have a specific need for an LGD, getting one from a reputable breeder is best. If you feel badly about doing that, adopt a pet dog as well.
 

Ridgetop

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Absolutely true. Remember you are getting a working ranch animal, with a job of its own to do. An LGD is not a "pet", it is a co-worker and companion. As livestock raisers and animal producers we depend on our LGDs to do a specific job. I rely on them to do it properly and they rely on me to do my part. I recognize the change in my dogs' barks if there is a real problem and I go outside to see what is happening.

Of any livestock, the most important investment is your LGD. If you get one that you cannot depend on or trust, you will lose money, time, tears, and end up replacing the dog. If you get one who is a cross breed that is unreliable, or has behavior problems that cannot be retrained, you will lose a lot of animals and have to get rid of the dog anyway. So now your kind impulse has come to nothing and maybe the dog has learned some death penalty behaviors if it has learned to kill stock.

You wouldn't buy a goat if you wanted to produce eggs. If you need to pull a plow or a brush cutter, you are not going to tow it with a Volkswagen some stranger offers you. If you need a working cow horse, you are not going to buy a lame pony because it needs a home. Buy the best you can afford in any species since choosing something just because it is cute or the runt will only leave you with heartache, and bills.

Now, if you want to adopt a pet dog for the family too, that is fine. One of our favorite dogs was a mini dachshund that was an abandoned adult female rescue from a puppy mill.
 

Beekissed

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I agree 100%. Specific dog breeds were bred for a purpose and that purpose is usually a good one. Those dogs are work partners, not pets, and a valuable asset to anyone doing the purpose for which they were intended. If you hunt, you get hunting dogs...not a rescue hound of unknown parentage and/or traits. If you need to herd something, you don't adopt a pitbull mix from the pound...you get a herding breed from working parents that are proven in that job.

Same with LGD breeds. Go to where they have the pups and see if the parents are on the premises, if they are working, how well they do their job, their temperament, etc. You can pick up LGD breeds from rescue and you may just luck out...many do...but it's a roll of the dice each time you do that. You could just end up with a very large, hairy dog that you have to keep indoors so it won't cause too much noise or trouble outside in your neighborhood.

One thing I've found about all these LGD breeds...it takes a strong willed owner to work with them. They don't respect anything less and if they don't respect you, you won't get the most out of your time together. I think that's why so, so many LGD breeds are rehomed, due to having the wrong direction given as pups and growing confused about their job.

Pets are one thing and you can pick up a fine pet from unwanted sources...I've had three such dogs and they were the best dogs I've ever had, but if you want to guard livestock, you'll want to get the best dog for that purpose. I doubt if you'll find it at the pound. It's possible, but not probable.
 
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