I know an old timer who says “you can make good decisions for 23 hrs and 59 minutes a day and still get into a lot of trouble.” Good luck w your recovery Anne!
You are one of the most talented, amazing, accomplished, kind, compassionate, transparent, beautiful women that I have ever seen. That’s why it breaks my heart for you when things trigger any of your insecurities, however you share that snd it helps and blesses others. Everyone has some kind of issue or vulnerability, and you are gracious to share yours. I hope you know just how remarkable most of us think you are! Huge hug from NW Arkansas!
I have a friend with similar issues. She placed an email to friends, others interested in learning skills for their own land, and received an overwhelming response of volunteers who built fencing, corals, and stained horse shelters ~ FREE (minus the expense for drinking water and PBJs). This became an every other week volunteer meet-up, for nine hours each time.
Seems like the best ones have a mind of their own. A Pyr that I was privileged to have for 12+yrs also gave me fits. If you did things his way he could just about keep all my little pockets of sheep safe for about 3miles and be back in camp when I got up in the morning then follow my truck another mile and a half to breakfast and catch a ride home. If we did things my way, we lost sheep. He picked me up out of a field, I had a broken right wrist and had spranged the left knee 10days before, the temperatures were in the single digits, he got me back to my truck and phone(he had never been trained to do that, he was an independent thinker with a lot of instinct). Guardian Angel with a mind of his own.
As an appreciated of this special breed, I love this story! So often this is the truth. They are smarter than we give them credit for and are pretty amazing. They require large territories for which they can be responsible.
I had some people in my dog training class recently krinkle their noses when I said my dogs were trained to an electric fence. But honestly, living on a rural piece of property with all kinds of stuff that my dogs protect the property from; a regular fence would not only not work but be impossible for me to afford. I failed into it similarly because my coonhound was either going back to the pound or the e-collar was going to work. Once he figured out that the 5/6 acres were his to do whatever with his own initiative and goals, he turned into the most sweetest and loving dog with the rest of the family. His freedom saved our relationship and he was the funniest dog to have around for over a decade but if anything threatened a kid or animal on our property he became the most ferocious looking and sounding dog I ever had.
I have often said that in order to keep animals from becoming casualties of predators - or - dogs from becoming miscreants, you have to be smarter than your fencing. But yeah, in this case, the money issue trumps the solution. That's a lt of land to fence properly. Even though I don't trust digital assistants, I'm glad there has been a resolution here. This woman has a lot of herself invested in this endeavor and I hope the best going forward.
Wonderful video. I foster Golden Retriever rescue dogs, with an occasional foray into other breeds. One was an 80 pound Pyranees puppy whose throat had been permanently damaged by a goat. The hours I spent researching that breed, and the youtubes I watched trying to understand him! He's not aloof; he just prefers to be outside. He's not stubborn; he's an independent thinker. He's not a barker; he's a protector. In fact, he's adorable.
Just happened on to your channel. I’ve been a great fan and owner of GPs for more than 15 years. Maybe I’ve been lucky, but my first training routine has been to walk my dogs, every day for weeks along my fence line (yeah, that’s a big plus for me). My dogs learned to respect and stay within that boundary. The only two escapes I had were unintentional… one dog was chasing a squirrel that was running on top of a livestock fence and my girl wasn’t looking where she was going and went through a solid wood fence. Luckily she didn’t wander off. The other was on New Year’s Eve when someone drove by (100 yards away) and threw a bunch of big firecrackers which spooked my old boy and he broke down a wooden gate to get away. He went to his’safe’ place, a nearby wooded pond and waited for me. As for barking, if some predators are near, they will start. As long as everyone nearby is safe, I go out and take the lead dog role showing them that I am just as concerned as they are and look in the direction they are barking at (usually with a flashlight) until they settle. I have since only needed to shine the flashlight out there and they settle. Those are just my experiences in my situation and I know yours are different, just sharing what has worked for me. I wish you luck, health and prosperity. You certainly deserve it!
We’ve done the perimeter walks since the beginning, but the flashlight is a new one I haven’t heard before. That’s a really great tip and I’ll start working on it tonight! Thank you
Our great pyr was able to jump 6 feet over a fence. We did have an akbash that was angelic. Massive, docile, no desire to run. Kids weren't allowed out without that akbash. I feel you. Can be hard. His death still devastates us.
I apply a lot of engineering principles when designing better systems on the farm, in my woodshop, and with my business. Engineers are some of my favorite problem solvers!
As a homeschooling mama to two dyslexics, I had to smile when you said you were dyslexic...it makes so much sense. Dyslexia breeds tenacity in my opinion, I have observed this time and time again in my kiddos. You my friend, have tenacity thru tears capacity....a trait that few acquire.
Oh girl, I feel this so much!! I rescued mine at 1 week old and 7 weeks old. The heart of an LGD is like no other ❤ Angels with paws ❤️❤️ best dogs ever (even through the first 2 years of puppy/teenhood) So happy you didn’t give up on them. Most are rehomed around 16-18 months old- size doesn’t equal maturity. Much respect to you 🙏🏻
At last! You made a golden statement of fact about LGDs that isn't ever mentioned; "...bred to guard as Independent Thinkers..."..Without that fact being appreciated they are mistakenly used. They don't know boundaries. They guard Everything they see as their responsibility. They've gone from the Pyrenees mountains for their territory to much smaller acreage. We have to adjust our limiting space in regards to their Unlimited capabilities. The Pyrenees guard dogs are magnificent. We need to step up our understanding of them to do them justice. BTW....they are night guards....they bark mostly at night as warning to predators of their presence to mitigate intrusion. I first saw you in video on fruit tree pruning and I subscribed. This vid on LGDs problems locked me in! I too have dyslexia. Nothing keeps me on track and focused as my caring for (and love of) my animals. Best regards.
Well done for sticking with your dogs and so happy for you that you found a way to make it all come together. Hope the relationship with your neighbours/friends has improved as well. Warm greetings from the Netherlands 🙏🏻
Very Awesome Anne , I'm an old farm girl and your content keeps me glued to my seat . I'm soon to retire( from truck driving 🥴) and am looking for MY OWN LAND ! 🎉 I worked on a large dairy farm for most of the 80's, several horse establishments and a veterinary/boarding center. I've had a couple chickens here and there through the yrs and always dogs and cats . On my OWN FARM I am planning to have a large garden / orchard room for my horse plus goat , maybe donkey , dunno yet , leaning towards goat because they are so good at eating weeds that horses don't , and hopefully a hay field . 🤞 Oh and Chickens of course ! 😊 Glad i found your channel ! ps; i am also ADD , so i can relate very well with your timing/planning/organization stuff . 😬
Thank You for sharing both Successes and Challenges of rural farm living. Were pleased you stuck with your feelings and protected the four legged members of your family.
❤You reminded me of an incident from my childhood when my mother’s first goat and a cow decided to compete for dominance in a paddock on a dairy farm where my father worked. It was 72 years ago. Thanks for sharing with us ❤
No mistakes, only opportunities. Well done in figuring it out! There is a HUGE difference between a pet dog and a working dog. Great Pyrs are monumentally the best guard dogs on the planet and gosh are so smart. You are spot on in knowing that their ability to think critically and make decisions to protect their livestock family is unequalled. Can’t wait to see the next phase of dog guardianship!!
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
There isn't that much difference, depending on the dog. The biggest difference is that we tend to let our pets sleep inside with us at night. But many dogs can protect the livestock and the area. I personally don't think Great Pyrenees are that great, because their tendency to run off is not unusual, and not a trait you want. Yet I've had two dogs that are great livestock guardians, a german shepherd and a blue heeler. If I made them stay outside at night, they'd do just as good a job as any GP. Sure, they're not going to kill a pack of coyotes, but they don't need to. They just need to raise hell and wake me up so I can take care of the situation. And farmers have been doing this exact thing with mutts since forever. It just depends on the dog.
We have 2 Colorado mountain dogs as well. They are now coming 7 years old. THE BEST dogs I have ever had in my 62 years of life.. We use a under ground invisible fence... It works for us. In the beginning lots of work but well worth every penny for their 4 acre area..
Agreed, failures and mistakes create opportunities to learn. Glad you are so dedicated and have a “Never Quit” attitude. I’m happy that I came across your channel! I’m a newbie and I can’t wait to catch up and watch and learn more. Keep Farming!!! Things will happen, continue pushing through!
Interesting stuff. Good luck with your dogs! Regarding predators digging under your fence, one tip I found from someone who raised ducks and chickens, was how he built his fencing around the pen. He used electric fencing to keep them from going over the fence, but to prevent them from digging under the fence, he used (I think) welded wire fabric bent at a 90° angle so that the fence extended about 1-1/2’ to 2’ out into the field, covered with dirt and gravel and packed down well. While this takes a lot of work to do, it works! The predators will dig down to the welded wire fabric and not be able to dig through it. They’re not smart enough to dig further out and go under the welded wire fabric.
Anne now I'm very intrigued 👀 and hopefully you will take the time to let us know how your little pooch saved your life last year! As a dog lover especially of the ones that DONT fit inside something that you carry over your shoulder. I have rescued a Newfoundland and a very very big St Bernard to go along with my German shepherd I find the love and loyalty you receive from them is nothing short of amazing, so I was really glad and happy to see and hear that you persisted to try and find a way of moving forward with your dog's rather than giving up like many or most would have done. This Anne just goes to show the type of person that you are and honestly you shouldn't beat yourself up if anything you should be extremely proud of yourself and everything that you have achieved so far with your life and the farm and not forgetting about the school building etc. Most people won't achieve anything near to what you have done in a full lifetime. Hold your head up high and be proud as hell of yourself and what you have done and remember your only just starting!!!. As always Anne 💯% 👍 🇬🇧.
Those guardians are trained by experienced professionals since puppy days here in Germany. People in my area use turkish kangals, hungarian komondors and kuvacz and italian maremma as guardians against wolves. Personally I own icelandic and hungarian sheepdogs. The icelanders protect extremely well against birds and eat rodents. Good luck to you and wuff, wuff from my dogs.
Hier in Kanada habe Ich Islaendische Schafe und ein Kuvacz als Huetehund. Ich muss ehrlich sagen dass das altmodische training viel viel besser ist als den Quatsch den die hier in Nordamerika fuer Huetehunde benutzen... Wenns drauf ankommt wuerde mein hund durch ein Stromzaun kriechen, nur um den Fuchs zu fressen.. ein pieps vom Halsband bringt nichts...
Anne, you are amazingly inspirational, don’t get down on yourself. Your honesty is a breath of fresh air. My Great Uncle was a sheep rancher in the Oklahoma Panhandle. He had a very large flock and vast acreage. He had very bad predation problems with coyotes and wolves. His solution was a three dog system. He and his son would shepherd from horse back with his Border Collie allowing controlled free ranging during the day and bringing the flock into the pen (a really large pen) at night. The Border Collie and two shepherds (even with rifles and expert shooting) were not enough to keep such a large flock safe during the day and the pen couldn’t stop nighttime predators. Enter the two dog livestock protection dogs, massive Irish Wolfhounds who we’re literally treated as if they were sheep. No one could treat them like dogs or they would be of no use. They looked like the sheep in color and smelled like sheep too. When the smelled a predator they would crawl as far as they could to intercept it and then sprint into action. The system was successful, a no d they were credited with 12 coyote kills and 4 wolves in one year. After that the predators learned to stay clear of the flocks.
amazing Irish Wolfhounds are truly frightening to see in person & I'm not surprised they successfully downed that many predators especially wolves. Luckily for me the one I met in a park was friendly & well trained to humans. ;)
Nice one. Always tricky with working dogs. I’ve had Border Collies in Australia and thought they would fit my lifestyle because I was active. They didn’t, the puppies are just nuts with energy and brains, and we had similar problems with neighbours in an urban setting even on a large block. We now rescue older dogs that people don’t want, suits our situation better. It”s all about the learning.
You can only be a failure if you don't try. You are amazing! Just for trying in the first place and persevering over time. Usually things work themselves out. Sometimes a little more time. Keep at it, it won't get easy but it will get better. Like I say, just amazing.
I border train our great pyr. It took time and patience but it was worth it. No fence no e collar and he's rly good. Also recall training and while I was out doing things I kept him close so he got used to not wondering far from where I am
So glad it is working out now. I really admire you for your transparency with how hards things can be. It really makes me feel less alone in the goals I am trying to achieve. I have many days I feel like a failure.
I so appreciate the timeliness of this post! I am just beginning my journey with my great Pyrannese puppy. He is just 5 months old and every time I think I’m making progress, there he goes again leading me on a merry chase through the countryside. I’m going to look up those gps collars but am not holding my breath as we are in a cellular dead zone. Keep at it. I admire your tenacity!
If you can't use the collars, there is a no-tech solution that works for many dogs (nothing works for all dogs), though it is a bit gross. But it works with a dog's natural instincts. Basically, you pee in a bottle - then take a walk with your dog around the boundaries of your property and 'mark' your territory. Let the puppy sniff & add his own marks. All dogs understand territory marks (some just ignore them more), so it teaches them in their own 'language' where they should stay. It also has the benefit of marking the territory for any outside canines such as wolves of coyotes so they avoid your property.
You are amazing. I have been farming in a very similar manner for 17 years. I am still learning and learning from you young lady. I love your honesty and vulnerability. Got to go take care of the animals.
I feel your pain. I have had similar challenges with my Anatolian Shepherd’s on my 6 acre farm. It does get better! And it’s even more satisfying! LGD’s are amazing animals! Just discovered your channel. I’m a fan!
I feel for you! I have 3 dogs on a homestead in Costa Rica. Most Costa Ricans allow their dogs to run fee ... but I have chickens and the road outside of my property would kill them pretty quickly because the cars and. motorcycles fly by so quickly and my dogs are not used to avoiding that. I have electric fencing around the back of my house and it works well for my 3 dogs - thank God!
*Anne, well done on sticking with it, to get the dogs sorted.... your 'never give up' motto has proved true in this case. thank goodness for new technology in the dog collars, coming along to help and assist. I am sure your neighbours are now enjoying some peaceful sleeps again.*
You did it! No failures here. I have learned that farming is quite harder than i thought. Thanks for paving the way. My friend got a flock of sheep, a Great Pyrenees and 3 llamas. It was very interesting👏!
I'm so glad you were able to resolve your problems with your dogs. I used to train dogs for farmers in private people I'm used to the old ways so I still train that way when one of my neighbors nearby will ask if I can help them out I have two guard dogs they are trained rather fence or just a plain old boundary not to go past it does take time. I know today everyone believes their dogs need to be in with their animals consistently from day one it's just my opinion over the years I have believed training them to command and to know their boundaries and then introduce them to the animals in what you need them to do. It may not work for but I've had really good luck my first dog I had the experience that you did. Back then there wasn't all the electronics as there is today I really love your videos wine the truthfulness and your experiences and two others can learn so much from you I personally think you are doing a fantastic job
Thank you so much for the encouragement Pamela! It means more than you could know, especially coming from someone with so much experience with the breed.
Anne love your gardening vids but a dogs got to do what a dogs got to do, He knows no boundaries .JUST CHILL at the end of the day he probably wouldn't kill your neighbours dog but its highly likely your neighbours dog would kill your livestock ! But i know ! its nice to be nice. keep up the good work and God bless 0keep up the good work.
Glad that elusive "W" finally happened. TBH, over here at YT, I wasn't much aware- most of that must have been FB, IG and the rest- places I don't go. I realize why you do need to go and do there, but I decline; some of my earliest experiences with hackers and trolls- it got more sideways than I was ready to believe; to this day I keep no phone #, medical info or any such, like my bank info on my personal computer, period, STOP. the really good thing about this is that you probably will take more than a few "lessons learned" from it- you always do. There really is a place and a positive value in this world for stubborn girls! FR
Your tenacity to get answers is applaudable , your love for your animals is beautiful. You should Never consider yourself a failure , you are driven and most importantly let your enormous heart lead the way to the answer. Your videos are encouraging , informative and entertaining. Thankyou
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
That seems so tough. I came here after I saw your Instagram post. As long as you're learning and growing I wouldn't consider it a failure. I've been trying to teach my dog the difference between sit and lay down for like a year now and I still can't get her to figure it out 😅. I think you're doing great. Keep your head up about it.
It is amazing how our animals become our family. A tip of my hat to you and your dedication. You are awesome and a very determined person. My personal motto is, "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want." Keep up the great work.
Great Pyrenees are also large area guardian dogs. My cousin had one that after many years they finally mapped out her territory. She was guarding roughly 900 acres. Her neighbors had no issue being apart of her territory.
Thank goodness you got them under control - I often see guardian dogs in the ditches in my rural farm town, struck by logging trucks, and it breaks my heart every time.
You are phenomenally inspiring, Anne - you combine creativity, courage, and authenticity. Don't let the past define who or what you are or how you continue to realize your potential!
Thanks for being part of my community.. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
Not having finished the video - just up to you mentioning the apple tracker... so apologies if this is irrelevant. There is a great tracker made for dogs called the Fi tracker. Battery life is about 2 months, and it is full GPS + cell phone signal (of its own) + bluetooth + wifi. You get a notification as soon as they leave your customizable safe zone (you can have multiple safe zones as well), and you can pinpoint a lost dog in no time flat. I have a hound mix that is an escape artist who gets out pretty often. It's never taken more than 15 minutes to recover her since I started using it.
ah... I see you already found a similar solution that seems even better for your particular needs. leaving the comment up. I think Fi is a better solution for non-farm applications (residential pets), so for folks who are looking for a great dog tracking collar but might not want this solution, Fi is awesome. I've been using it for 3 years since a little while after we adopted our girl, and it's been fantastic.
Maybe another kind of dog? I'm not a farmer and have nothing to do with dogs or farm animals, but it is enjoyable listen to you. I wish you all the best. 🤞🙏
I had a 1.80 meter high electric fence to keep my Turkish kangal on my property. Didn't work. When he needed to check what was needed checking, he was off. A little iew when his tail tip took a electric spark. They have a mind of their own, and that is their strength and our frustration
That is so Awesome! and the strength that you show to over come those triggers for depression are so life saving to so many problems, Coming from a farming background... I had to get out. I was always depressed, so Way to go and thank you.
LGDs are difficult to train. I have two 9 month old Maremmas and they are taking a lot of my time. Other projects have been put on hold while I train. It’s easy to underestimate how much time it takes.
I can see that you've probably seen this reply before but I do not think you are a failure. Give yourself a little more credit than that. You have learned so much and shared that knowledge to so many over the years that has been invaluable. Keep your chin up and know you are loved!
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
You are amazing and very inspirational. We have moved and been starting our own homestead this past year. We have had so many problems , some with our great pyrenees! Glad you are sticking with it! This is my favorite youtube channel! Always glad when you put out a new video. How you have time to do RUclips I don't know! 😳You even answered me about what feed you use for your milk cow! You are and amazing woman and a great couple! Praying for you both!
That is incredibly kind of you to say. Even though I don’t always have all the answers, I hoped this video in particular would at the very least be an encouragement to other LGD owners who’ve faced similar frustrations in knowing they’re not alone ❤️❤️
Good for you on NOT giving up on your 2 lovely working dogs. As u clearly stated, once they UNDERSTOOD what the rules were with some tech collars, & mostly YOUR TRAINING, they obeyed & did their job. No failures. Barking dogs are part of life. What would your complaining neighbor have u do- not protect your goats, install $65k fence u cannot afford, or get rid of your protection K9s so predators can get easy meal? Be proud of yourself.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 way to persevere!!! I’ve seen some version of this technology used on the goats themselves. You can redefine the grazing area on your phone by drawing it in an app
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
When you started talking about the bigger fence being a two person job, I very nearly paused to comment about geo-fencing for the goats! Glad you've managed to get a handle on this and hopefully it'll just be the fine tuning that's needed from here.
Fences and pastures are the hardest thing we have had to deal with as well. We are constantly adding more permanent fence, temporary fence, taking the permanent fence down to move it and on and on and on. I think it's an unending issue for all farmers.
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
((((💗Hugs))) Way to go! I had 5 Great Py's. Lost 3, despite having a fully fenced homestead, with multiple types of fencing. They are crazy intelligent. Digging under, climbing over, even with barb wire, climbing through gate slats, they drive you nuts! You solve one problem, they invent another. I now have one extremely strong hotwire on top of the fencing and one on the inside, roughly 10" from the ground. Neighbors even complained about my dogs and "lack of trying to control them", as they said on FB! Broke my heart. But like you, I'm stubborn. Didn't give up and finally managed to create a plan that works. Unless you've had LGD's, you don't get it. People are ugly. But you should be so proud of yourself! Your pups are lucky to have you. 💗 Stay strong. It's all worth it.
Farming is really hard.... We also had to fence our home because our german shepherd killed a sheep! It is pretty hard! Good luck, greetings from Portugal!
You're amazing, Ma'am💌 I just came across your channel today, but it looks like 7 months too late!😉🤭 After hearing your concerns and watching a few of your videos, you have a new subscriber❣️ Your honesty and sincere devotion to your charges are commendable. I used to Field Trail, my dogs,🐕🐕🐎 but so much has changed since I did it years ago. Perhaps you could check with the clubs in your local area? They could give you some ideas💡of the new equipment out there, as its always changing and may be of benefit. But, more importantly! The manufacturers of the dog collars, etc. They are always looking for people like yourself, who have unique situations and experiences they can brainstorm with and utilize for their equipment. To help with handlers and livestock owners of all types. Some of them show up at the championships🏆 or at local shows, and they need and value handlers' input! Just a thought... 😉. God bless you, sweetheart, 🙏 from an old cowgirl🤠 in the High Desert 🏜 of So. CA.
I have a similar story with my guardian dog. I managed to keep him in the pastures, but his barking was too much and he thinks people are a threat to the livestock. Two of my pastures are on a road that neighbors walk on. I love him and getting rid of him wasn’t an option. Sadly he gets very little time protecting the animals. I’m so glad to hear you were able to find a solution!
I have an LGD. She is a 5 year old Anatolian & Great Pyrenees mix. She is a house dog and my companion. She is my best friend and is the most well trained dog i've ever had. I never took her to formal training. She knows I lead the house and she follows any command I give her. Do not underestimate them.
I had the same problem with mine. All I can say is if they don’t bond with the animals they are supposed to protect they don’t care to stay around. I’m sorry for your problems
I hate that you’ve struggled too, bonding with their charges hasn’t been the issue here, they love, care for, and count them all constantly, it’s just that they’ve got such a hot trigger when it comes to protecting them that any threat has to be pursued and/or eradicated. It’s been a really interesting thing to watch; the fierceness and gentleness side by side.
Try random really good smelling meat treats to keep them interested in sticking around. Of course it doesn’t help if there is something of interest to chase away, but it may help with casual wandering. I like to give a dog a good treat while the others are away. When the wanders come back, they smell what they missed out on. Random conditioning with sporadic rewards is psychologically more effective than routine rewards. Good luck.
Thank you for making this honest video! Ive had similar problems myself with my sled dogs escaping. For me the neighbours actually started threathening to both shoot me And the dogs 🙈 Now I live at a farm and would love a livestock guardian but have been afraid of something similar happening... Love your tips at the end of the video! ❤❤
A BIG thing is finding the right breeder, regardless of which breed you choose! Our first three kuvasz came from three different breeders, and all three dogs - papered and purebred - were/are VERY different! Specify exactly what your needs and desires are, that you're a first-time owner of an Lgd, and ask for references/testimonials before you commit to a puppy ;) Some are far more manageable than others, and again, even within the same breed. One of our girls absolutely SUCKS at guarding against people - heck, leave your car door open and she'll jump in hoping for an adventure - but she's the only one we've ever been able to trust 100% with poultry (one bunch of incubator-hatched chicks actually adopted her as 'mom' despite being placed with a cochin hen - they climbed through the gate to be with the dog!) and is still a stellar guardian against any predator who dares show up! Another of ours is discerning with human visitors: some are okay and welcomed, others she will avidly try to "eat" if they cross into her territory. Poultry-wise, she's generally good, but likes to carry a bird off once in awhile to 'mother' them which generally doesn't end well. Our males have both been beyond overprotective when it comes to human visitors other than those who are regular (family), and have too strong of hunting instincts (kuvasz were used for hunting at one point in their history, plus they had to fend for themselves while working in the fields with their stock) to be reliable with poultry, and are only somewhat trustworthy with the bigger stock, so they're strictly night patrol.
We just got a pure breed anatolian and she was just a bully to her owner- he used the excuse that they were moving but in reality she was too much for him to handle- she jumped on everyone, out weighing the family members and towering over them- with in three days she stopped being food aggressive- sits and waits for commands and is a calm sweet heart. Our other is a pyrenes anatolian mix and he took a lot longer to get the hang of me being the boss- either way, both are very smart and I wish I had the land for them to do what they do best- this is literally the dream and they are the ones for the job
My LGDs are my biggest challenge as well. Thankfully, they got shocked at a young age trying to go through the fence. So they don't challenge it. Luckily, we live far enough from neighbors that the barking doesn't bother anyone.
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
One trick with these electric net fences is you can disconnect the bottom few wires if your having low voltage wires. You can also use T post rebar with insulators for bulk electric wire.
If you're not making mistakes, and failures, then you're not farming. Don't be hard on yourself, it's part of the process of learning what best works for you, your animals, and your farm. Regenerative Agriculture is what you seem to be doing, good job, love your stuff. If you can afford it, fence larger pastures into smaller pastures, using star pickets and tensioned wire mesh. Then you only need a top hot wire, and an offset 200mm out, and 200 mm down. The mesh needs a top and bottom strained wire, with mesh strained until the 75% of kink is taken out (proper high-tensile wire mesh is kinked between each upright in the mesh). Then the mesh is tied off at the end posts, and clipped to the top and bottom strainer wire. This is the Australia DPI recommendations for sheep and goats (Department of Primary Industries). Check out Time Thompson on here for fencing techniques if you'd like to learn more. But I get that costs may be an issue. www.youtube.com/@FarmLearningTim
I'm so excited that this has worked out for you!! Now you can concentrate on your next plan, and things will continue to move forward...YIPEE! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
It shows the reason why you never give up, although it sounds like they pushed you pretty far, I pray that your troubles are behind you, and June and Johnny do there thing
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
Hi there, I hope the colors keep working for the dogs so you can relax and do the things you love ( like making furniture & filming it 😁😁😁 ). Glad to see that everything eventualy works out. Keep on the nice work you do. Greets Jeffrey.
I know an old timer who says “you can make good decisions for 23 hrs and 59 minutes a day and still get into a lot of trouble.” Good luck w your recovery Anne!
There no failures. Only lessons learned. You can and will get past this.
I was about to say the same thing, it's only a failure if you didn't learn anything.
You are one of the most talented, amazing, accomplished, kind, compassionate, transparent, beautiful women that I have ever seen. That’s why it breaks my heart for you when things trigger any of your insecurities, however you share that snd it helps and blesses others. Everyone has some kind of issue or vulnerability, and you are gracious to share yours. I hope you know just how remarkable most of us think you are! Huge hug from NW Arkansas!
Wow, thank you! That is an incredibly generous thing to say.
I have a friend with similar issues. She placed an email to friends, others interested in learning skills for their own land, and received an overwhelming response of volunteers who built fencing, corals, and stained horse shelters ~ FREE (minus the expense for drinking water and PBJs). This became an every other week volunteer meet-up, for nine hours each time.
Seems like the best ones have a mind of their own. A Pyr that I was privileged to have for 12+yrs also gave me fits. If you did things his way he could just about keep all my little pockets of sheep safe for about 3miles and be back in camp when I got up in the morning then follow my truck another mile and a half to breakfast and catch a ride home. If we did things my way, we lost sheep. He picked me up out of a field, I had a broken right wrist and had spranged the left knee 10days before, the temperatures were in the single digits, he got me back to my truck and phone(he had never been trained to do that, he was an independent thinker with a lot of instinct). Guardian Angel with a mind of his own.
As an appreciated of this special breed, I love this story!
So often this is the truth. They are smarter than we give them credit for and are pretty amazing. They require large territories for which they can be responsible.
I had some people in my dog training class recently krinkle their noses when I said my dogs were trained to an electric fence. But honestly, living on a rural piece of property with all kinds of stuff that my dogs protect the property from; a regular fence would not only not work but be impossible for me to afford. I failed into it similarly because my coonhound was either going back to the pound or the e-collar was going to work. Once he figured out that the 5/6 acres were his to do whatever with his own initiative and goals, he turned into the most sweetest and loving dog with the rest of the family. His freedom saved our relationship and he was the funniest dog to have around for over a decade but if anything threatened a kid or animal on our property he became the most ferocious looking and sounding dog I ever had.
I have often said that in order to keep animals from becoming casualties of predators - or - dogs from becoming miscreants, you have to be smarter than your fencing. But yeah, in this case, the money issue trumps the solution. That's a lt of land to fence properly.
Even though I don't trust digital assistants, I'm glad there has been a resolution here. This woman has a lot of herself invested in this endeavor and I hope the best going forward.
Wonderful video. I foster Golden Retriever rescue dogs, with an occasional foray into other breeds. One was an 80 pound Pyranees puppy whose throat had been permanently damaged by a goat. The hours I spent researching that breed, and the youtubes I watched trying to understand him! He's not aloof; he just prefers to be outside. He's not stubborn; he's an independent thinker. He's not a barker; he's a protector. In fact, he's adorable.
Just happened on to your channel. I’ve been a great fan and owner of GPs for more than 15 years. Maybe I’ve been lucky, but my first training routine has been to walk my dogs, every day for weeks along my fence line (yeah, that’s a big plus for me). My dogs learned to respect and stay within that boundary. The only two escapes I had were unintentional… one dog was chasing a squirrel that was running on top of a livestock fence and my girl wasn’t looking where she was going and went through a solid wood fence. Luckily she didn’t wander off. The other was on New Year’s Eve when someone drove by (100 yards away) and threw a bunch of big firecrackers which spooked my old boy and he broke down a wooden gate to get away. He went to his’safe’ place, a nearby wooded pond and waited for me. As for barking, if some predators are near, they will start. As long as everyone nearby is safe, I go out and take the lead dog role showing them that I am just as concerned as they are and look in the direction they are barking at (usually with a flashlight) until they settle. I have since only needed to shine the flashlight out there and they settle. Those are just my experiences in my situation and I know yours are different, just sharing what has worked for me. I wish you luck, health and prosperity. You certainly deserve it!
We’ve done the perimeter walks since the beginning, but the flashlight is a new one I haven’t heard before. That’s a really great tip and I’ll start working on it tonight! Thank you
Our great pyr was able to jump 6 feet over a fence. We did have an akbash that was angelic. Massive, docile, no desire to run. Kids weren't allowed out without that akbash. I feel you. Can be hard. His death still devastates us.
As an engineer I love it when a solution actually works they way it's supposed to and helps someone out properly. Glad to see you found one!
I apply a lot of engineering principles when designing better systems on the farm, in my woodshop, and with my business. Engineers are some of my favorite problem solvers!
Don't be afraid to ask for help. My wife and I would fly to TN to help. We believe in you and support you 💯
As a homeschooling mama to two dyslexics, I had to smile when you said you were dyslexic...it makes so much sense. Dyslexia breeds tenacity in my opinion, I have observed this time and time again in my kiddos. You my friend, have tenacity thru tears capacity....a trait that few acquire.
As a tenacious dyslexic with a dyslexic child, I whole heartedly agree. Rock on mama! 🙌🙏👍
I'm a homeschool mama too.
Oh girl, I feel this so much!! I rescued mine at 1 week old and 7 weeks old. The heart of an LGD is like no other ❤ Angels with paws ❤️❤️ best dogs ever (even through the first 2 years of puppy/teenhood) So happy you didn’t give up on them. Most are rehomed around 16-18 months old- size doesn’t equal maturity. Much respect to you 🙏🏻
At last! You made a golden statement of fact about LGDs that isn't ever mentioned; "...bred to guard as Independent Thinkers..."..Without that fact being appreciated they are mistakenly used. They don't know boundaries. They guard Everything they see as their responsibility. They've gone from the Pyrenees mountains for their territory to much smaller acreage. We have to adjust our limiting space in regards to their Unlimited capabilities. The Pyrenees guard dogs are magnificent. We need to step up our understanding of them to do them justice.
BTW....they are night guards....they bark mostly at night as warning to predators of their presence to mitigate intrusion.
I first saw you in video on fruit tree pruning and I subscribed. This vid on LGDs problems locked me in! I too have dyslexia. Nothing keeps me on track and focused as my caring for (and love of) my animals. Best regards.
So glad you’re here!
Well done for sticking with your dogs and so happy for you that you found a way to make it all come together. Hope the relationship with your neighbours/friends has improved as well. Warm greetings from the Netherlands 🙏🏻
Sounds like you are heading to success. You didn't fail, you learned. You got this girl! ❤️
Very Awesome Anne , I'm an old farm girl and your content keeps me glued to my seat . I'm soon to retire( from truck driving 🥴) and am looking for MY OWN LAND ! 🎉
I worked on a large dairy farm for most of the 80's, several horse establishments and a veterinary/boarding center. I've had a couple chickens here and there through the yrs and always dogs and cats . On my OWN FARM I am planning to have a large garden / orchard room for my horse plus goat , maybe donkey , dunno yet , leaning towards goat because they are so good at eating weeds that horses don't , and hopefully a hay field . 🤞 Oh and Chickens of course ! 😊
Glad i found your channel !
ps; i am also ADD , so i can relate very well with your timing/planning/organization stuff . 😬
Thank You for sharing both Successes and Challenges of rural farm living. Were pleased you stuck with your feelings and protected the four legged members of your family.
Thank you! I think it's important to show both sides. And when the going gets tough, we persevere!
Oh Anne, I’m so happy you found a solution! The change in your expression from tears to confidence that it’s going to be okay… awesome girl. 🙌
❤You reminded me of an incident from my childhood when my mother’s first goat and a cow decided to compete for dominance in a paddock on a dairy farm where my father worked. It was 72 years ago. Thanks for sharing with us ❤
No mistakes, only opportunities. Well done in figuring it out! There is a HUGE difference between a pet dog and a working dog. Great Pyrs are monumentally the best guard dogs on the planet and gosh are so smart. You are spot on in knowing that their ability to think critically and make decisions to protect their livestock family is unequalled. Can’t wait to see the next phase of dog guardianship!!
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
There isn't that much difference, depending on the dog. The biggest difference is that we tend to let our pets sleep inside with us at night. But many dogs can protect the livestock and the area. I personally don't think Great Pyrenees are that great, because their tendency to run off is not unusual, and not a trait you want.
Yet I've had two dogs that are great livestock guardians, a german shepherd and a blue heeler. If I made them stay outside at night, they'd do just as good a job as any GP. Sure, they're not going to kill a pack of coyotes, but they don't need to. They just need to raise hell and wake me up so I can take care of the situation.
And farmers have been doing this exact thing with mutts since forever. It just depends on the dog.
We have 2 Colorado mountain dogs as well. They are now coming 7 years old. THE BEST dogs I have ever had in my 62 years of life.. We use a under ground invisible fence... It works for us. In the beginning lots of work but well worth every penny for their 4 acre area..
Agreed, failures and mistakes create opportunities to learn. Glad you are so dedicated and have a “Never Quit” attitude. I’m happy that I came across your channel! I’m a newbie and I can’t wait to catch up and watch and learn more. Keep Farming!!! Things will happen, continue pushing through!
Yes! Thank you!
Interesting stuff. Good luck with your dogs!
Regarding predators digging under your fence, one tip I found from someone who raised ducks and chickens, was how he built his fencing around the pen. He used electric fencing to keep them from going over the fence, but to prevent them from digging under the fence, he used (I think) welded wire fabric bent at a 90° angle so that the fence extended about 1-1/2’ to 2’ out into the field, covered with dirt and gravel and packed down well. While this takes a lot of work to do, it works! The predators will dig down to the welded wire fabric and not be able to dig through it. They’re not smart enough to dig further out and go under the welded wire fabric.
Anne now I'm very intrigued 👀 and hopefully you will take the time to let us know how your little pooch saved your life last year! As a dog lover especially of the ones that DONT fit inside something that you carry over your shoulder. I have rescued a Newfoundland and a very very big St Bernard to go along with my German shepherd I find the love and loyalty you receive from them is nothing short of amazing, so I was really glad and happy to see and hear that you persisted to try and find a way of moving forward with your dog's rather than giving up like many or most would have done. This Anne just goes to show the type of person that you are and honestly you shouldn't beat yourself up if anything you should be extremely proud of yourself and everything that you have achieved so far with your life and the farm and not forgetting about the school building etc. Most people won't achieve anything near to what you have done in a full lifetime. Hold your head up high and be proud as hell of yourself and what you have done and remember your only just starting!!!. As always Anne 💯% 👍 🇬🇧.
I too would love to hear that story!
Those guardians are trained by experienced professionals since puppy days here in Germany. People in my area use turkish kangals, hungarian komondors and kuvacz and italian maremma as guardians against wolves.
Personally I own icelandic and hungarian sheepdogs. The icelanders protect extremely well against birds and eat rodents.
Good luck to you and wuff, wuff from my dogs.
Hier in Kanada habe Ich Islaendische Schafe und ein Kuvacz als Huetehund. Ich muss ehrlich sagen dass das altmodische training viel viel besser ist als den Quatsch den die hier in Nordamerika fuer Huetehunde benutzen... Wenns drauf ankommt wuerde mein hund durch ein Stromzaun kriechen, nur um den Fuchs zu fressen.. ein pieps vom Halsband bringt nichts...
Anne, you are amazingly inspirational, don’t get down on yourself. Your honesty is a breath of fresh air. My Great Uncle was a sheep rancher in the Oklahoma Panhandle. He had a very large flock and vast acreage. He had very bad predation problems with coyotes and wolves. His solution was a three dog system. He and his son would shepherd from horse back with his Border Collie allowing controlled free ranging during the day and bringing the flock into the pen (a really large pen) at night. The Border Collie and two shepherds (even with rifles and expert shooting) were not enough to keep such a large flock safe during the day and the pen couldn’t stop nighttime predators. Enter the two dog livestock protection dogs, massive Irish Wolfhounds who we’re literally treated as if they were sheep. No one could treat them like dogs or they would be of no use. They looked like the sheep in color and smelled like sheep too. When the smelled a predator they would crawl as far as they could to intercept it and then sprint into action. The system was successful, a no d they were credited with 12 coyote kills and 4 wolves in one year. After that the predators learned to stay clear of the flocks.
amazing Irish Wolfhounds are truly frightening to see in person & I'm not surprised they successfully downed that many predators especially wolves. Luckily for me the one I met in a park was friendly & well trained to humans. ;)
is that like "wolfhound in sheep's clothing"? But for predators, not the sheep... that's quite amazing. Undercover protectors!
I am very impressed with your testimony! Time to do more research on Irish Wolfhounds for our place!
Nice one. Always tricky with working dogs. I’ve had Border Collies in Australia and thought they would fit my lifestyle because I was active. They didn’t, the puppies are just nuts with energy and brains, and we had similar problems with neighbours in an urban setting even on a large block. We now rescue older dogs that people don’t want, suits our situation better. It”s all about the learning.
You can only be a failure if you don't try. You are amazing! Just for trying in the first place and persevering over time. Usually things work themselves out. Sometimes a little more time. Keep at it, it won't get easy but it will get better. Like I say, just amazing.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I border train our great pyr. It took time and patience but it was worth it. No fence no e collar and he's rly good. Also recall training and while I was out doing things I kept him close so he got used to not wondering far from where I am
This dog trainer loves this comment!!!
So glad it is working out now. I really admire you for your transparency with how hards things can be. It really makes me feel less alone in the goals I am trying to achieve. I have many days I feel like a failure.
Oh honey! Don't ever give up. I know you will never give up on your animals. Your heart is so precious....
I so appreciate the timeliness of this post! I am just beginning my journey with my great Pyrannese puppy. He is just 5 months old and every time I think I’m making progress, there he goes again leading me on a merry chase through the countryside. I’m going to look up those gps collars but am not holding my breath as we are in a cellular dead zone. Keep at it. I admire your tenacity!
If you can't use the collars, there is a no-tech solution that works for many dogs (nothing works for all dogs), though it is a bit gross. But it works with a dog's natural instincts. Basically, you pee in a bottle - then take a walk with your dog around the boundaries of your property and 'mark' your territory. Let the puppy sniff & add his own marks. All dogs understand territory marks (some just ignore them more), so it teaches them in their own 'language' where they should stay. It also has the benefit of marking the territory for any outside canines such as wolves of coyotes so they avoid your property.
Those collars seem to be great! I hope they continue to work for you.
You are amazing. I have been farming in a very similar manner for 17 years. I am still learning and learning from you young lady. I love your honesty and vulnerability. Got to go take care of the animals.
I feel your pain. I have had similar challenges with my Anatolian Shepherd’s on my 6 acre farm. It does get better! And it’s even more satisfying! LGD’s are amazing animals! Just discovered your channel. I’m a fan!
Your friends, family and farm creatures are blessed to have the love that pours from your heart.
❤
Thanks for sharing that with us. I always feel like I learn so much from your videos. Really happy the new collar system seems to be working so well.
I feel for you! I have 3 dogs on a homestead in Costa Rica. Most Costa Ricans allow their dogs to run fee ... but I have chickens and the road outside of my property would kill them pretty quickly because the cars and. motorcycles fly by so quickly and my dogs are not used to avoiding that. I have electric fencing around the back of my house and it works well for my 3 dogs - thank God!
*Anne, well done on sticking with it, to get the dogs sorted.... your 'never give up' motto has proved true in this case. thank goodness for new technology in the dog collars, coming along to help and assist. I am sure your neighbours are now enjoying some peaceful sleeps again.*
You did it! No failures here. I have learned that farming is quite harder than i thought. Thanks for paving the way. My friend got a flock of sheep, a Great Pyrenees and 3 llamas. It was very interesting👏!
I'm so glad you were able to resolve your problems with your dogs. I used to train dogs for farmers in private people I'm used to the old ways so I still train that way when one of my neighbors nearby will ask if I can help them out I have two guard dogs they are trained rather fence or just a plain old boundary not to go past it does take time. I know today everyone believes their dogs need to be in with their animals consistently from day one it's just my opinion over the years I have believed training them to command and to know their boundaries and then introduce them to the animals in what you need them to do. It may not work for but I've had really good luck my first dog I had the experience that you did. Back then there wasn't all the electronics as there is today I really love your videos wine the truthfulness and your experiences and two others can learn so much from you I personally think you are doing a fantastic job
Thank you so much for the encouragement Pamela! It means more than you could know, especially coming from someone with so much experience with the breed.
Anne love your gardening vids but a dogs got to do what a dogs got to do, He knows no boundaries .JUST CHILL at the end of the day he probably wouldn't kill your neighbours dog but its highly likely your neighbours dog would kill your livestock ! But i know ! its nice to be nice. keep up the good work and God bless
0keep up the good work.
Yay so glad things are finally coming together for you👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Glad that elusive "W" finally happened. TBH, over here at YT, I wasn't much aware- most of that must have been FB, IG and the rest- places I don't go. I realize why you do need to go and do there, but I decline; some of my earliest experiences with hackers and trolls- it got more sideways than I was ready to believe; to this day I keep no phone #, medical info or any such, like my bank info on my personal computer, period, STOP. the really good thing about this is that you probably will take more than a few "lessons learned" from it- you always do. There really is a place and a positive value in this world for stubborn girls! FR
Your tenacity to get answers is applaudable , your love for your animals is beautiful. You should Never consider yourself a failure , you are driven and most importantly let your enormous heart lead the way to the answer. Your videos are encouraging , informative and entertaining. Thankyou
7:06 nope. They are your dogs, for good or for bad, whether they are useful or not. I’m glad to hear you are committed to them.
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
That seems so tough. I came here after I saw your Instagram post. As long as you're learning and growing I wouldn't consider it a failure. I've been trying to teach my dog the difference between sit and lay down for like a year now and I still can't get her to figure it out 😅. I think you're doing great. Keep your head up about it.
It is amazing how our animals become our family. A tip of my hat to you and your dedication. You are awesome and a very determined person. My personal motto is, "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want." Keep up the great work.
Great Pyrenees are also large area guardian dogs. My cousin had one that after many years they finally mapped out her territory. She was guarding roughly 900 acres. Her neighbors had no issue being apart of her territory.
😅 that's funny and cool 😊
Thank goodness you got them under control - I often see guardian dogs in the ditches in my rural farm town, struck by logging trucks, and it breaks my heart every time.
You are phenomenally inspiring, Anne - you combine creativity, courage, and authenticity. Don't let the past define who or what you are or how you continue to realize your potential!
Thanks for being part of my community.. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
New subscriber from western Massachusetts. You are a strong, compassionate, beautiful young lady. I admire you. I'm on board. I adore all animals ❤️
Not having finished the video - just up to you mentioning the apple tracker... so apologies if this is irrelevant.
There is a great tracker made for dogs called the Fi tracker. Battery life is about 2 months, and it is full GPS + cell phone signal (of its own) + bluetooth + wifi. You get a notification as soon as they leave your customizable safe zone (you can have multiple safe zones as well), and you can pinpoint a lost dog in no time flat. I have a hound mix that is an escape artist who gets out pretty often. It's never taken more than 15 minutes to recover her since I started using it.
ah... I see you already found a similar solution that seems even better for your particular needs. leaving the comment up. I think Fi is a better solution for non-farm applications (residential pets), so for folks who are looking for a great dog tracking collar but might not want this solution, Fi is awesome. I've been using it for 3 years since a little while after we adopted our girl, and it's been fantastic.
I so admire your dedication and commitment to your animals. And to your neighbours too! ❤️👏🏻. I wish I was your neighbour. 😊
Maybe another kind of dog? I'm not a farmer and have nothing to do with dogs or farm animals, but it is enjoyable listen to you. I wish you all the best. 🤞🙏
I had a 1.80 meter high electric fence to keep my Turkish kangal on my property. Didn't work. When he needed to check what was needed checking, he was off. A little iew when his tail tip took a electric spark. They have a mind of their own, and that is their strength and our frustration
That is so Awesome! and the strength that you show to over come those triggers for depression are so life saving to so many problems, Coming from a farming background... I had to get out. I was always depressed, so Way to go and thank you.
LGDs are difficult to train. I have two 9 month old Maremmas and they are taking a lot of my time. Other projects have been put on hold while I train. It’s easy to underestimate how much time it takes.
I can see that you've probably seen this reply before but I do not think you are a failure. Give yourself a little more credit than that. You have learned so much and shared that knowledge to so many over the years that has been invaluable. Keep your chin up and know you are loved!
Thank you, I will
What you and your husband are doing is truly inspirational. Thank you just for being yourselves.
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
We use Halo GPS Collars on our cattle dogs. We have a 95 area farm and love allowing the dogs to be free.
You are amazing and very inspirational. We have moved and been starting our own homestead this past year. We have had so many problems , some with our great pyrenees! Glad you are sticking with it! This is my favorite youtube channel! Always glad when you put out a new video. How you have time to do RUclips I don't know! 😳You even answered me about what feed you use for your milk cow! You are and amazing woman and a great couple! Praying for you both!
That is incredibly kind of you to say. Even though I don’t always have all the answers, I hoped this video in particular would at the very least be an encouragement to other LGD owners who’ve faced similar frustrations in knowing they’re not alone ❤️❤️
Consider me encouraged!
Good for you on NOT giving up on your 2 lovely working dogs. As u clearly stated, once they UNDERSTOOD what the rules were with some tech collars, & mostly YOUR TRAINING, they obeyed & did their job. No failures. Barking dogs are part of life. What would your complaining neighbor have u do- not protect your goats, install $65k fence u cannot afford, or get rid of your protection K9s so predators can get easy meal? Be proud of yourself.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 way to persevere!!!
I’ve seen some version of this technology used on the goats themselves. You can redefine the grazing area on your phone by drawing it in an app
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
Glad the tech is working for you!
Farming is a lesson everyday, problem solving, lateral thinking, stopping everything to solve an issue, all in one day. Well done you
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
Good description
When you started talking about the bigger fence being a two person job, I very nearly paused to comment about geo-fencing for the goats!
Glad you've managed to get a handle on this and hopefully it'll just be the fine tuning that's needed from here.
Fences and pastures are the hardest thing we have had to deal with as well. We are constantly adding more permanent fence, temporary fence, taking the permanent fence down to move it and on and on and on. I think it's an unending issue for all farmers.
Hey Anne, Been awhile , good to see you. Persistence often overcomes other shortcomings. Don't ask how I know this! Have a better New Year!
Thanks for sharing the ups and downs! These dogs are a ton of work but they’re so great on farms like ours.
Part of me wished I still lived there. I was in the next valley over... Literally. I'd love to be your neighbor. I remember that area very fondly
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
Wow! Very inspiring to see how much willpower you have to make things work. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Great story, beautiful animals, and what a great solution to a difficult problem! So happy it's working for you. Thanks for sharing :)
((((💗Hugs))) Way to go! I had 5 Great Py's. Lost 3, despite having a fully fenced homestead, with multiple types of fencing. They are crazy intelligent. Digging under, climbing over, even with barb wire, climbing through gate slats, they drive you nuts! You solve one problem, they invent another. I now have one extremely strong hotwire on top of the fencing and one on the inside, roughly 10" from the ground. Neighbors even complained about my dogs and "lack of trying to control them", as they said on FB! Broke my heart. But like you, I'm stubborn. Didn't give up and finally managed to create a plan that works. Unless you've had LGD's, you don't get it. People are ugly. But you should be so proud of yourself! Your pups are lucky to have you. 💗 Stay strong. It's all worth it.
Farming is really hard.... We also had to fence our home because our german shepherd killed a sheep! It is pretty hard! Good luck, greetings from Portugal!
What a great coincidence, I’m glad to see it’s working out. ❤️
Thank you. Now I know why I have spatial problems.
You're amazing, Ma'am💌
I just came across your channel today, but it looks like 7 months too late!😉🤭
After hearing your concerns and watching a few of your videos, you have a new subscriber❣️
Your honesty and sincere devotion to your charges are commendable.
I used to Field Trail, my dogs,🐕🐕🐎 but so much has changed since I did it years ago. Perhaps you could check with the clubs in your local area? They could give you some ideas💡of the new equipment out there, as its always changing and may be of benefit.
But, more importantly! The manufacturers of the dog collars, etc. They are always looking for people like yourself, who have unique situations and experiences they can brainstorm with and utilize for their equipment. To help with handlers and livestock owners of all types. Some of them show up at the championships🏆 or at local shows, and they need and value handlers' input!
Just a thought... 😉.
God bless you, sweetheart, 🙏 from an old cowgirl🤠 in the High Desert 🏜 of So. CA.
I have a similar story with my guardian dog. I managed to keep him in the pastures, but his barking was too much and he thinks people are a threat to the livestock. Two of my pastures are on a road that neighbors walk on. I love him and getting rid of him wasn’t an option. Sadly he gets very little time protecting the animals. I’m so glad to hear you were able to find a solution!
I have an LGD. She is a 5 year old Anatolian & Great Pyrenees mix. She is a house dog and my companion. She is my best friend and is the most well trained dog i've ever had. I never took her to formal training. She knows I lead the house and she follows any command I give her. Do not underestimate them.
Thank you for making this video. I learned a lot and hopefully will be able to apply.
I thought the goats would be the problem with escaping but it was definitely my guard dog. She’s a digger and slider. But I love her
I had the same problem with mine. All I can say is if they don’t bond with the animals they are supposed to protect they don’t care to stay around. I’m sorry for your problems
I hate that you’ve struggled too, bonding with their charges hasn’t been the issue here, they love, care for, and count them all constantly, it’s just that they’ve got such a hot trigger when it comes to protecting them that any threat has to be pursued and/or eradicated. It’s been a really interesting thing to watch; the fierceness and gentleness side by side.
Feeling warm again watching your channel. 😁😍
Keep in mind that to give up is a failure. Keep trying and a solution will present itself. Great video!
Try random really good smelling meat treats to keep them interested in sticking around. Of course it doesn’t help if there is something of interest to chase away, but it may help with casual wandering. I like to give a dog a good treat while the others are away. When the wanders come back, they smell what they missed out on. Random conditioning with sporadic rewards is psychologically more effective than routine rewards. Good luck.
Thank you for making this honest video! Ive had similar problems myself with my sled dogs escaping. For me the neighbours actually started threathening to both shoot me And the dogs 🙈 Now I live at a farm and would love a livestock guardian but have been afraid of something similar happening... Love your tips at the end of the video! ❤❤
A BIG thing is finding the right breeder, regardless of which breed you choose! Our first three kuvasz came from three different breeders, and all three dogs - papered and purebred - were/are VERY different! Specify exactly what your needs and desires are, that you're a first-time owner of an Lgd, and ask for references/testimonials before you commit to a puppy ;) Some are far more manageable than others, and again, even within the same breed. One of our girls absolutely SUCKS at guarding against people - heck, leave your car door open and she'll jump in hoping for an adventure - but she's the only one we've ever been able to trust 100% with poultry (one bunch of incubator-hatched chicks actually adopted her as 'mom' despite being placed with a cochin hen - they climbed through the gate to be with the dog!) and is still a stellar guardian against any predator who dares show up! Another of ours is discerning with human visitors: some are okay and welcomed, others she will avidly try to "eat" if they cross into her territory. Poultry-wise, she's generally good, but likes to carry a bird off once in awhile to 'mother' them which generally doesn't end well. Our males have both been beyond overprotective when it comes to human visitors other than those who are regular (family), and have too strong of hunting instincts (kuvasz were used for hunting at one point in their history, plus they had to fend for themselves while working in the fields with their stock) to be reliable with poultry, and are only somewhat trustworthy with the bigger stock, so they're strictly night patrol.
We just got a pure breed anatolian and she was just a bully to her owner- he used the excuse that they were moving but in reality she was too much for him to handle- she jumped on everyone, out weighing the family members and towering over them- with in three days she stopped being food aggressive- sits and waits for commands and is a calm sweet heart. Our other is a pyrenes anatolian mix and he took a lot longer to get the hang of me being the boss- either way, both are very smart and I wish I had the land for them to do what they do best- this is literally the dream and they are the ones for the job
My LGDs are my biggest challenge as well. Thankfully, they got shocked at a young age trying to go through the fence. So they don't challenge it.
Luckily, we live far enough from neighbors that the barking doesn't bother anyone.
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
Perfect words of perseverance and encouragement! Thanks for sharing 💛
Thanks Stu! It always makes me smile seeing you here!
Anne, Adam: Have y'all looked into high tensile electric fencing for the perimeter of your land? Far fewer posts to set, easier to maintain.
One trick with these electric net fences is you can disconnect the bottom few wires if your having low voltage wires. You can also use T post rebar with insulators for bulk electric wire.
Good call! I'll have to do that on at least one set of the mesh fencing for taller grass.
This has got to be THE best advertising for the satellite tag company 😄
If you're not making mistakes, and failures, then you're not farming. Don't be hard on yourself, it's part of the process of learning what best works for you, your animals, and your farm. Regenerative Agriculture is what you seem to be doing, good job, love your stuff.
If you can afford it, fence larger pastures into smaller pastures, using star pickets and tensioned wire mesh. Then you only need a top hot wire, and an offset 200mm out, and 200 mm down. The mesh needs a top and bottom strained wire, with mesh strained until the 75% of kink is taken out (proper high-tensile wire mesh is kinked between each upright in the mesh). Then the mesh is tied off at the end posts, and clipped to the top and bottom strainer wire. This is the Australia DPI recommendations for sheep and goats (Department of Primary Industries). Check out Time Thompson on here for fencing techniques if you'd like to learn more. But I get that costs may be an issue. www.youtube.com/@FarmLearningTim
I'm so excited that this has worked out for you!! Now you can concentrate on your next plan, and things will continue to move forward...YIPEE! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
Never give up on your dogs, they will love you forever!
I agree
It shows the reason why you never give up, although it sounds like they pushed you pretty far, I pray that your troubles are behind you, and June and Johnny do there thing
Thanks for being part of my community. I would like to introduce you to Mr Frederick in other to make Pr0fitable InC0me 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟗𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒, with the What sap line above tell him I referred you
Hi there, I hope the colors keep working for the dogs so you can relax and do the things you love ( like making furniture & filming it 😁😁😁 ). Glad to see that everything eventualy works out. Keep on the nice work you do.
Greets Jeffrey.