The only potential predator problem I have is my neighbor's Pit Bull. She is at least five or six years old by now (maybe older; I cannot really remember when they got her). Luckily, we do not have problems with foxes, birds of prey, etc. I do keep my sheep at my other neighbor's farm, who is a 1/4 mile away from my neighbor with the Pit Bull. She doesn't venture down to the barn, but she does occassionally come to my front yard when the barn cats are running to my porch to be fed. She has chased the cats, but usually it's when my neighbor is outside and she is usually eventually able to call her back (even if at first she didn't listen).
I have asked about having a bull calf from my friend's dairy...but most people shot that down saying cattle do not make good guardians. So I was thinking about getting a livestock guardian dog.
I am not interested in getting a LGD immediately, however, within a year or two (when my sheep come to my house) I will probably get one. I have had dogs all my life, though they have mainly been little dogs (miniature poodles, cocker spaniels, and cockapoos), though I have also owned two Bull Mastiffs, so this won't be the first time I've owned a large dog.
So, here are my questions:
1 - What breed or cross would you recommend for me?
2 - How much do breeders sell LGDs for?
3 - Is it better to start with a puppy or an adult?
4 - About how many pounds of dog food does an LDG consume a year? (I have two cockapoos and they are pretty cheap to feed because they don't eat much.)
5 - Do you think a llama or a donkey would be a better fit for me than a LGD?
These are all of the questions I can think up of now...I will add more as I think of them
I have asked about having a bull calf from my friend's dairy...but most people shot that down saying cattle do not make good guardians. So I was thinking about getting a livestock guardian dog.
I am not interested in getting a LGD immediately, however, within a year or two (when my sheep come to my house) I will probably get one. I have had dogs all my life, though they have mainly been little dogs (miniature poodles, cocker spaniels, and cockapoos), though I have also owned two Bull Mastiffs, so this won't be the first time I've owned a large dog.
So, here are my questions:
1 - What breed or cross would you recommend for me?
2 - How much do breeders sell LGDs for?
3 - Is it better to start with a puppy or an adult?
4 - About how many pounds of dog food does an LDG consume a year? (I have two cockapoos and they are pretty cheap to feed because they don't eat much.)
5 - Do you think a llama or a donkey would be a better fit for me than a LGD?
These are all of the questions I can think up of now...I will add more as I think of them