RBMuller
Mon, 08 Aug 2005 16:19:45 -0700
Hi Stephanie, My name is Rhonda Muller and I have raised Maremma Sheepdogs 6 years and I am still learning!!!! Maremmas look a lot like the Great Pyrennes. I also did a lot of research on the breed of Livestock Guardian Dogs and decided for the Maremmas. With any LGD you have to do a certain amount of training. You can pet your dog. I do when they are being fed at the same time as the sheep. You also need to leash train her and give her a couple of commands (sit, stay). She may or may not do them because LGDs are free thinkers and problem solvers.You need some control of her so you can check her for injuries or just a trip to the vet. Try penning your Pyr in a pen that is escape proof (electric or net wire on the ground under the fence). The pup just needs to be near the stock until around 12 to 18 months old. If you just have to put her with stock use something that will teach her respect, some rams or older ewes. NEVER put a pup with youngsters as you have learned, the pup will play with them until death! She will be too immature to be a good guard dog until around 12 months old. So you will still have to protect your flock until her mind catches up to her size! Give the pup a place to go to eat in peace. Lean a portable panel up under a shed or build a temporary pen with a small entrance for the pup but not the sheep. I have found it is best to prevent problems rather than solve them later. My pups never get a chance to chase livestock or dig under the fence (unless you want her going from pasture to pasture). A real good book to purchase is by the Maremma Sheepdog Club of America. It is true for all breeds. Do a search on the club name and go from there. If you have more questions please feel free to contact me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] The problem I have found with Barbado Blackbellies or American Blackbellies is thier udder fear of dogs. The Blackbellies should be nic-named Non- Domesticated. Their wild instincts are very much intact. It might take more work on your part to help the sheep really to accept the pup. And for the chickens - LGDs can be taught to guard them also. Thank you all for putting up with this long message about guard dogs. I believe the LGD earns its keep. They certainly have here. Rhonda in TX ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stephanie Jones" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 2:15 AM Subject: [blackbelly] Guard Dogs > > Hello all: > > There have been lively discussions about the rams lately, and several > times I have seen folks reply about making sure you have a sheep dog or > guard dog. Now, we have a herd of about 100 AB's and have finished > fencing the back field in and were told we needed a good guard dog. So, > we done are research and bought a Great Perenese (sp?) that was 2.5 > months old and had been with sheep. My question is.........What do we > do with her now? She escapes from the fence. She kills my chickens. > She worried one of the rams (4 months old) literally to death, as in he > died! Now, we've read the books, and know not to pet her, feed her when > you feed the sheep, etc. She is now 6 months old and I know that she is > still a puppy and wants to play, but I'm scared to death that she'll > kill my little lambs if I put her in the back. I lnow that many of you > have experience in this field, and I value your insight. Point me in > the right direction :) > > Thanks, > Stephanie > _______________________________________________ > > This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list > > Visit the list's homepage at > Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info > > > http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info > > > _______________________________________________ > This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info > http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.1/64 - Release Date: 8/4/2005 > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.1/64 - Release Date: 8/4/2005 _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info