Anatolians as LGDs and training problems

peteyfoozer

Herd Master
Joined
Dec 15, 2011
Messages
955
Reaction score
3,673
Points
353
Location
SEOregon
@Baymule I’m not convinced it’s aggression on Boone’s part. Although he has always been pushy, even @ 3 mo, I am inclined to think it may be related to Randy’s pain issues. But I am monitoring the dogs closely just in case. Fen has been on a hunger strike again, like he was when Randy was admitted to hospital for 3 days. Having Boone’s wire crate moved back into house makes everything easier, as Boone isn’t constantly trying to initiate play and there is zero opportunity for him to get in the way while I am training with Fen.
I appreciate your input though. It’s always helps to know what others have experienced
 

SageHill

Herd Master
Joined
Aug 27, 2022
Messages
3,518
Reaction score
13,169
Points
473
Location
Southern CA
@Baymule I’m not convinced it’s aggression on Boone’s part. Although he has always been pushy, even @ 3 mo, I am inclined to think it may be related to Randy’s pain issues. But I am monitoring the dogs closely just in case. Fen has been on a hunger strike again, like he was when Randy was admitted to hospital for 3 days. Having Boone’s wire crate moved back into house makes everything easier, as Boone isn’t constantly trying to initiate play and there is zero opportunity for him to get in the way while I am training with Fen.
I appreciate your input though. It’s always helps to know what others have experienced
First I don't know Anatolians, but I agree with @Baymule. You say it is not aggression - right now it isn't, it's posturing ever so slightly to change the pack order. In my dogs - it's a changing of the guard since they are one pack / one breed. Many many years ago we had 4 Tervuren (another type of Belgian). Jedi was the pack leader. Whenever Jedi would enter a room Daisy (her daughter) would quietly leave the room and Jedi would lay down where Daisy had been. One day, Jedi was laying under the drafting table I was working at, Daisy walked in, Jedi got up and walked out, Daisy then layed down where Jedi had been. THAT WAS IT. A changing of the guard, of pack order. Daisy ruled with a velvet paw. From then on that was the order. No stiff legged posturing, no growl, no snap, no showing of teeth.
So - with what you've got - LGD and a herder they aren't going to speak the same language more than likely. I've seen a lot of breed specific communication through all the years I've trained. Guessing 80% herding breeds and 20% other groups. Things won't be as easy as I had it - and I was blest to be able to see it and realize what happened. You've got two different breeds and also from two different groups.
 

Baymule

Herd Master
Joined
Aug 22, 2010
Messages
34,081
Reaction score
103,231
Points
873
Location
East Texas
@Baymule I’m not convinced it’s aggression on Boone’s part. Although he has always been pushy, even @ 3 mo, I am inclined to think it may be related to Randy’s pain issues. But I am monitoring the dogs closely just in case. Fen has been on a hunger strike again, like he was when Randy was admitted to hospital for 3 days. Having Boone’s wire crate moved back into house makes everything easier, as Boone isn’t constantly trying to initiate play and there is zero opportunity for him to get in the way while I am training with Fen.
I appreciate your input though. It’s always helps to know what others have experienced

I missed all the signs because I just didn’t know. But I have since learned, and have studied the Anatolian breed intensely. It’s very subtle, just a look, posture, and I missed it. We almost had Carson euthanized because of his pure terror and he had no way to tell us and was turning his fear on us.

I wanted to make you aware so you can watch and keep Fen safe. I’m in no way criticizing you. I’m in awe at how you are training Boone for a service dog, utterly amazing. I hope Fen returns to his happy self and Randy feels better.
 

peteyfoozer

Herd Master
Joined
Dec 15, 2011
Messages
955
Reaction score
3,673
Points
353
Location
SEOregon
So far, so good. Fen spent the first part of the night asleep by front door, as that is where he wants to be all the time, is out front with the ranch dogs. When I got up to go pee at midnight, they were cuddled together on Boone’s platform bed.
Boone woke me this morning to go out. Fen broke his hunger strike and ate breakfast for the first time in a week, then climbed into Boone’s crate to nap.
Boone’s food was on top of his crate, waiting for him to come back in. Both dogs are fed in their crates. Boone climbed in his crate, said good morning to Fen then turned around and waited for breakfast, which cracked me up. He got to eat by their toy basket instead.
I had a really bad fall the other night and was in quite a lot of pain. I landed on my left arm which hurts from wrist to shoulder, which had not yet fully healed. My bicep is especially sore. Its improved today but still pretty sore and I can’t stretch my arm out yet. And of course, my back 😬. Boone was following me at the time. We had just gathered eggs. When I went down, one broke, another rolled and the other two remained unbroken in my r hand. I’m sure it was out of great concern for me that he promptly sucked up the broken egg then chomped down the other.
 

Weldman

True BYH Addict
Joined
Jan 15, 2024
Messages
736
Reaction score
3,487
Points
243
Location
SE Montana
"Pooch" my Anatolian/Pyrenees cross has learned something I never expected. Since he was a little pup up to now I let him out and he follows me in to tend to the birds and collect eggs every morning, he takes walks around the property lines with me still and when I look for guinea fowl eggs. So he has taken those experiences and combined it with he knows when I am looking for eggs and will seek them out for me now, problem is he is too strong and breaks them. Also noticed if a duck breaks off from the group, he will bark at it, not anything is wrong with that I just have to see what is the fuss. On the bright side when I introduce new ducks to the flock it isn't always 5 or more ducks so any less and they don't integrate right off, so Pooch herds them back to the flock.
Next week or so he is going to start getting more room to watch them as they circle all over the place, not ready to put both together, but getting there.
 

peteyfoozer

Herd Master
Joined
Dec 15, 2011
Messages
955
Reaction score
3,673
Points
353
Location
SEOregon
"Pooch" my Anatolian/Pyrenees cross has learned something I never expected. Since he was a little pup up to now I let him out and he follows me in to tend to the birds and collect eggs every morning, he takes walks around the property lines with me still and when I look for guinea fowl eggs. So he has taken those experiences and combined it with he knows when I am looking for eggs and will seek them out for me now, problem is he is too strong and breaks them.
I can see the thought bubble over his head…”oh darn! Another egg broke. Guess I’ll just have to swallow it!” 😂
 

Ridgetop

Herd Master
Joined
Mar 13, 2015
Messages
6,924
Reaction score
23,826
Points
693
Location
Shadow Hills, CA
Also noticed if a duck breaks off from the group, he will bark at it, not anything is wrong with that I just have to see what is the fuss. On the bright side when I introduce new ducks to the flock it isn't always 5 or more ducks so any less and they don't integrate right off, so Pooch herds them back to the flock.
These dogs now that their flock (sheep, goats, or poultry) are supposed to be in a certain place. A lot of people get upset when their otherwise well trained dogs "chase" an animal. f they watch carefully, they will see that the dog is actually trying to put it back where it belongs. LOL Also when the dog chases after the animals when they are all let out in the morning, often the dog is racing to get ahead of them to make sure that everything is safe out there.

Good dog, Pooch. Sorry about the eggs, but they are good for his coat. I bet his fur is beeyooteeful. LOL
 
Top