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WOW! You think that you have fenced your property with the ultimate
fence. Nothing could possibly ever get in to your animals. Right?
WRONG! You can NOT build a fence a that good!
A livestock guardian dog is a MUST if you have livestock.
We always felt that our livestock was secure and had no real concerns
at all for their safety. After all, our entire pasture is fenced with
field fence and any low areas were filled. In September 2007, our
thoughts of security changed drastically.
We had 4 pigs housed in the shed area in our back pasture with hog
panels surrounding the outside pen area. One evening we arrived home
to find two of the pigs half eaten. These were about 80-100 pound
pigs. Not only were the pigs half eaten, but they were also outside
of their pen area. The gate had been forced open (probably from them
being chased). This was not the dinner which had been planned for
these little piggies, but with two survivors we decided to move them
up to the goat barn by the house. We had heard the coyotes running
the previous night and assumed that that is what had gotten the pigs.
One week later, we were awakened out of a dead sleep by a commotion
in the barn. Something was in with the goats. My husband and I ran
down to the barn and 4-5 dogs (obviously someone's "pets"
that they let run the area) were in full attack mode on one of my
favorite does. Another young doe was laying at the other end of the
pen bleeding profusely. We thought she was already dead. My husband
was able to finally get the dogs off of the other doe and scared them
off. Unfortunately, we did not think fast enough to grab a gun as we
were out of the house.
Wild animals are something that we all must deal with at one time or
another. Other people's "pets" however can cause just as
much damage if not more to your herd. Domestic "pets" are
not scared away by humans or lights or anything else. Our goats were
in their barn. In their "safe" place. They were still attacked!
After the attack we went to remove the "dead" doe and
discovered that she was still alive (barely). We promptly got both
does and washed all of the many many wounds with an iodine wash and
started injections of Pen-G. Both of the does had had their tetanus
shots but we gave them another one just in case. It took many many
days and hours of care, but both of the does finally began to show
improvement. I am finally able to say that they have both survived
and both are doing very well. Both still carry scars from the attack,
and may always, but NOW they have a guardian.
After the dog attack on the goats, we put the word out that we were
looking for a Livestock Guardian Dog. We just couldn't take a chance
of something like this happening again.
A wonderful lady by the name of Sharon located about a 100 or so
miles from us offered us one of her dogs. This wonderful couple
brought their dog all the way to our farm and then spent a couple of
hours showing her around and introducing her to the livestock and
other farm dogs, showing her her knew territory and letting her get
comfortable with her new surroundings.
Let me tell you, Sadie is the an excellent dog. She is very observant
and is always on guard. There are times that she stays right with the
goats, and times that she just watches from a distance. We love Sadie
so much and it seems that she has always been a part of our farm and
family. We will never be without a Livestock Guardian Dog.
In the spring of 2008, Sadie was in a brawl with ??. She received
multiple injuries followed by a late night run to the vet's office
resulting in an overnight stay and many many staples to repair the injuries.
Following this, it was obvious to us that Sadie needed helpers. At
that time we contacted Greg and Barbara and were able to get two of
their LGDs. These girls, Shasta and Gypsy, came to us and it feels
that they to have always been a part of our farm.
Now, since Sadie's injuries and the arrival of Shasta and Gypsy,
Sadie is more of the overseer. :) It is very interesting to watch
these girls. Sadie stays pretty close to the house and barn area. She
listens to everything and all of sudden you will see her perk up,
then give a low growl, then a bark. At the sound of her bark, the
other two girls take off in what ever direction she has sent them.
Sadie will continue to listen and will usually go to the fence and
observe what is taking place. Now if she doesn't think that the girls
are taking care of the situation properly she will go to where they
are and direct from close up or even handle it if need be. There are
times as well, that you can tell it is an urgent situation and Sadie
will then give her command bark and take off in the lead with the
other 2 girls close behind. Boy! These wonderful creatures can really
move "FAST" when they need to.
All three of our girls have been spayed so we do not breed these
wonderful dogs. We are, however, on the lookout for another
"perfect fit" to our Livestock Guardian Dogs.
Cammi
Cammi is not a livestock guardian dog but being
a Shetland Sheepdog she is "suppose" to be a herding dog.
We got Cammi in January of 2011 as a birthday gift to me from my
wonderful husband. The dog much prefers my husband and my
daughter.....maybe because I am the only one who will make her
mind..... Regardless of who she likes, she is a pretty neat little
dog. You can find stories about her periodically on our farm blog.
This picture was taken at 7 weeks just before
we got her.
Taken at 8 weeks after we got her home.
Taken February 2011
Taken March 2011
Taken April 2011
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