Re: [blackbelly] livestock guardian dogs

[RBMuller]

Most of the Livestock Guard Dog breeds will guard if raised correctly.  It is difficult for most everyone to leave a pup out all the time but it has to be done.  If your stock has never been around guardians then a puppy pen next to the sheep will be sufficient.  It must be escape proof! The sheep need to get used to the dog as well as the dog to the sheep.  I kept some young kids in with my first pup and when I turned the pup out into the herd (with the bonded goats) at around 5 months old the rest of the herd got used to him real fast because he was always with his goats.  Since then, because of the strong herding instinct of sheep, I have had no problem getting the new stock to accept the dogs These pups need disipline just like children.  If they become unruly usually a couple of days in a pen away from the stock should be enough because they have usually become a sheep by that time.  Raising guard dog pups is not an exact science and each breeder has their own opinion.  Usually that opinion is based on experience. Thank you for the info on the polled blackbellies.  Yes it makes since.  You know that there are people here in Texas that believe the barbado is a creation of some Texan.  Maybe the horns came form the crossing of the purebred with a wool sheep.  Maybe the blackbelly barbado not only got its horns from Texas but also its wooly back (which we find a lot of here).  I know we are are always trying to "improve" some breed or another!!!! Rhonda ----- Original Message ----- From: James Harper To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 6:02 PM Subject: RE: [blackbelly] livestock guardian dogs Rhonda,   Welcome to the list.  I know I am interested and I am assuming others on the list are also interested in knowing (briefly) what is the best way to bond a puppy guard dog with your sheep.  Also when would the owner know that a puppy is not suitable for guarding.   Also just for your information Barbado are sheep that have horns or horn genetics.  The Barbado ewe is polled but genetically have horn genetics.  Both sexes of a true Barbados Blackbelly sheep are polled and their genetics do not have any horns.  I hope this makes sense.       James Harper Virginia Regional Director and BBSAI Newsletter Editor Blackbelly Barbados Sheep Association International (804) 732-2626 [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of RBMuller Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 10:46 AM To: Blackbelly barbado Subject: [blackbelly] livestock guardian dogs   Hi!  This is my first post on this site.  Thank you for allowing me in. I have some blackbelly barbado ewes and a scurred red ram.  I was completely unaware that the real blackbelly rams have no horns.  The ranch is located in Central Texas just west of Austin in the great Hill Country!  We also raise cattle, spanish goats, and hair sheep.  We protect all these critters with Livestock Guardian Dogs.  And just so happens we have some pups for sale. The pups were born May 19, 2004 are Sarplaninac / Maremma crosses.  There are 7 black puppies available.  I haven't seen any posts about Livestock Guardian Dogs on the site and was wondering if anyone has any predator or stray dog problems.  If it wasn't for the guard dogs we would have only cattle as mostly stray dogs, and a few coyotes, like eating lamb and kid. I have found your blackbelly barb site quite informative. Thank you, Rhonda