LGD

LGD, if you didn't know, is the abbreviation for Livestock Guardian Dog.  They come in many different breeds bred specifically to guard livestock, mainly sheep.  Though many people use them to guard goats, chickens and even themselves.  I wanted them for my sheep.  But since I lock my sheep up at night, I never really had a purpose for them.  With the number of ewes increasing in my barn and the number of lambs I'll be keeping over summer, I figured the barn will be mighty crowded and hot over summer so sleeping outside under the cool evening air would probably be best for my sheep's health.  But not if they were attacked by a coyote.

So I began my search for a LGD, and preferably not a puppy as I wanted them to be able to go to work asap.  But short of funds, my budget did not include paying big bucks for an older well trained LGD.  Then yesterday I noticed an online ad for two Great Pyrenees being given away for free.  I immediately contacted the owner and learned they were born in a born, raised among sheep and were already working dogs.  So why free?  It turns out they are both still fairly young.  One is not even a year old and the other is almost a year and a half.  They are virtually still puppies.  And like most puppies, like to play with their playmates.  And like most BIG puppies, they don't realize their own strength.  The result was an injuried lamb.  The shepherd wouldn't have any of that and put them up on kijiji.

I think there was more to it as I'm not sure that is uncommon in young LGD's.  When we went to meet them, they were filthy and covered in yellow urine stains, had mats all over their body, and were severely underweight.  The female has a leg or hip issue and the male is beyond timid.  However, neither has an ounce of aggression in them.  I suppose with the combination of their appearance, their super sweet personalities and our budget, we took a chance on them and brought them home.

The female, Delilah, is your typical long haired Great Pyrenees with badger markings.

She is friendly as can be, however since they were honest enough to inform us of the lamb hurting, I decided it would be best to keep them caged over night.

The male, Samson, is a short-haired Great Pyrenees crossed with Maremma, or at least that is what is written on his health record.

They were both bought from the same breeder and from the same parents but not the same litters.  I don't question Samson's mother was a Great Pyr, however have my doubts that Samson's dad was a Great Pyr or a Maremma.  Though I realize that badger markings are common with the breed, I don't know if having them over their body is common.  And besides, he's much smaller than his sister who is apparently the youngest of the two.

Not that it matters to me whether he's a purebred or not, just as long as he's mixed with another guardian breed.  And according to the owner, the male was the better guardian.  They both naturally joined with my flock when they arrived at the farm.  Actually, it was Samson's safety zone.  He felt more secure blended in amongst the sheep.

The my sheep had a much different reaction.  Most of them feared the dogs who thought nothing of walking amongst them as if they belonged.  The sheep, however, saw them as predators.

I really have my fingers crossed for these two and hope they work out.  Their personalities have so won me over, I just hope their working skills will also.