WindyIndy
Loving the herd life
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2016
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I was talking to my dog friend about a problem I'm having with me new LGD. Her is our conversation. I'm hoping someone on here can help me. I can also go into more detail if needed. I do know some stuff but am no expert, this was just a quick back story
So I got a male to replace Maggie since she is getting older and I wanted the new one to know its job and maybe Maggie could help teach before she retired. My mama showed me this male in Farmington. A year old, born in a barn, the lady had him with goats, pigs, alpacas, and horses.. i guess she didn't have him 24/7 with them yet one reason being the alpaca boss didnt like him near the herd. I got him as he seemed like a very friendly boy, hyper, but hes a pup.
Well, I didnt put him with the sheep until day to but he was on a pen right by them so he could see and observe. Once he did go in he was scared silly of them, and then the barking started, non stop at the sheep. The barking has gotten better, but then he chewd up my stock tank heater, and now hes jumping out of pens, ive tried 3 different ones. I think turbo (my house puppy) was part of the problem, but Maggie never jumps! The impression from observing sammy is thay he would rather play all day and be away from the sheep then do his job. My question is though, is this just a faze since hes young, or does this mean i should get rid of him because hes too old now and wont be a good lgd? Or maybe I'm just biased because Maggie is so good. i dont want to give up on him, but I also didn't spend all that money just for another "house dog".
This was my dog friends response
If he is a year old he should know his job by now. My opinion. Doesn’t sound like she actually had him in there as much as she said. He needs to stay with his flock. So either he stays in on his own or a hot wire has to be put on top. If you wanted to try to keep him and make it work that is.
My reply
I was thinking that too, he was in a kennel in the barn and it seemed like she let him out and then he went back in. I could try a wire but do you think he would even be worth it? Or do you think with his age hes pretty much "ruined" for lack of a better word
And I tried to keep them separate but he ended up getting to Maggie and they tied. So I may be having pups. In that case I could keep one of them if you feel Maggie could better teach. I have an appointment for her on the 8th for a swab test in centeria
Her
I really can’t say. I’m not an expert on LGDs. I paid $650 for mine and made sure I got them from an actual shepherdess that’s been doing it her whole life.
Me
Right, I do understand that they need to be with them at all times. I know you dont have to listen to the old wives tail of no touching, no vet, etc. But you definitely cant play with them like a usual house dog
So I got a male to replace Maggie since she is getting older and I wanted the new one to know its job and maybe Maggie could help teach before she retired. My mama showed me this male in Farmington. A year old, born in a barn, the lady had him with goats, pigs, alpacas, and horses.. i guess she didn't have him 24/7 with them yet one reason being the alpaca boss didnt like him near the herd. I got him as he seemed like a very friendly boy, hyper, but hes a pup.
Well, I didnt put him with the sheep until day to but he was on a pen right by them so he could see and observe. Once he did go in he was scared silly of them, and then the barking started, non stop at the sheep. The barking has gotten better, but then he chewd up my stock tank heater, and now hes jumping out of pens, ive tried 3 different ones. I think turbo (my house puppy) was part of the problem, but Maggie never jumps! The impression from observing sammy is thay he would rather play all day and be away from the sheep then do his job. My question is though, is this just a faze since hes young, or does this mean i should get rid of him because hes too old now and wont be a good lgd? Or maybe I'm just biased because Maggie is so good. i dont want to give up on him, but I also didn't spend all that money just for another "house dog".
This was my dog friends response
If he is a year old he should know his job by now. My opinion. Doesn’t sound like she actually had him in there as much as she said. He needs to stay with his flock. So either he stays in on his own or a hot wire has to be put on top. If you wanted to try to keep him and make it work that is.
My reply
I was thinking that too, he was in a kennel in the barn and it seemed like she let him out and then he went back in. I could try a wire but do you think he would even be worth it? Or do you think with his age hes pretty much "ruined" for lack of a better word
And I tried to keep them separate but he ended up getting to Maggie and they tied. So I may be having pups. In that case I could keep one of them if you feel Maggie could better teach. I have an appointment for her on the 8th for a swab test in centeria
Her
I really can’t say. I’m not an expert on LGDs. I paid $650 for mine and made sure I got them from an actual shepherdess that’s been doing it her whole life.
Me
Right, I do understand that they need to be with them at all times. I know you dont have to listen to the old wives tail of no touching, no vet, etc. But you definitely cant play with them like a usual house dog