JOYFUL HEARTS FARM

Annie (2008) Our Anatolian Shepherd Dog ~ R.I.P.

Currently, we have two Great Pyrenees Livestock Guardian Dogs ~ also known as LGD's. They are truly worth their weight in gold! Peace of mind is priceless, and they certainly give us that and more!! They are gorgeous dogs, loving, and extremely protective. They work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in any weather. Even when they *appear* to be napping during the day, they are always aware of what is going on around them. They are extremely quick to respond to any possible threats, and alert us to strangers or unusual activities that we need to know about, such as when a doe goes into labor. LGD's treat the goats they have been raised with as siblings, and form a life long bond with those they watch over. They will even try to eat what the goats eat, which is pretty funny! They can't figure out what is so tasty about hay! And the goats don't appreciate sharing the feeder space ~ but what can you do? Siblings!! *haha*

Our female Pyr, Maya in her usual spot behind the chicken coop

Livestock guardian dogs deter by patrolling their territory and marking their territory to warn off predators. If that doesn't work, they will bark a warning, becoming progressively more strident and threatening if the predator(s) still present a threat. As a last resort, the livestock guardian will actively engage the predator to chase or kill in order to protect his or her charges. Although Great Pyrenees are bred to work on bears and wolves, they are equally effective on wild and feral dogs which are an increasing problem to those of us who raise livestock, as well as the ever present coyote packs, bobcats, and cougar (mountain lion). By nature, the Great Pyrenees is nocturnal. It has no tolerance for other dogs except the herding dogs that it works with, and very small dogs. It can be trusted with small, young and helpless animals of any kind.

Our male Pyr kicking back with a 'bone'

Because our property is small by Pyranees standards, both of our dogs live in close proximity to our home and our animals. Our male takes care of the stock, our entire property, and the family. Our female is extremely protective of her stock and will only leave them in rare instances, such as helping our male deal with a large coyote pack, or if there is an immediate threat that requires both dogs to investigate. Even then, as soon as she feels it is safe, she will immediately get back to her charges, so as not to leave them vulnerable.

We consider both guardian dogs to be an invaluable asset to our farm ~ each knowing their positions and overlapping roles that they perform. I would definately recommend having a working pair of LGD's, as they truly do work as a team.

Our female, Maya, keeping a close eye on 'her' baby, Stormy

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