Choosing A Homestead LGD | Let’s Talk About Animals | Episode 19 #offgrid #LGD #homestead

Choosing A Homestead LGD | Let’s Talk About Animals | Episode 19 #offgrid #LGD #homestead #livestockguarddog

Hi - We are Douglas and Keri…follow us as we make the move from our urban home near Denver, Colorado to our off grid property in Southeast Arizona. If you are considering buying off grid or homestead property be sure to subscribe to our channel so you can follow our journey!

Livestock Guard Dogs can be an integral part of protecting your livestock and can help defend things like sheep, goats, calves, chickens, ducks, and other poultry. They can help protect against predators like coyotes, foxes, bobcats, wolves, and mountain lions. Also, consider getting one to safeguard against predators from the air like hawks or other common predators like raccoons, skunks, and weasels that will go after poultry.

Something important to consider is that LGDs are not bred to be good family pets AND LGDs, so know that going in. They are also not great with other dogs, but that can be an advantage in keeping stray dogs off of your property. These dogs typically live outside year round and they have developed characteristics that keep them from bothering livestock and also are not prone to try to kill or eat them. They are usually very big, over 100 pounds and are friendly and devoted to their owners.

Certain breeds of LGDs are better for certain types of livestock. For example, sheep and goat guard dog breeds may be different than what you would use for smaller animals like rabbits or chickens, so that’s important to think about. You don’t have to get a purebred LGD…many people say combining two different breeds brings out the best of the protective qualities in the dog. Livestock guard dogs are bred to live with livestock without any direction from humans.

Many people every year choose a dog and then later need to rehome it (or even worse, turn it over to a shelter) because the did not research the characteristics or the needs of the dog well enough. Do your research and know what you are getting into before getting a dog, so you don’t contribute to this problem. Remember that instinct cannot be trained out of a dog! If you can meet the parents of the puppy you are looking at, that is always ideal because often negative traits, like aggression or unfriendly behavior, can be passed onto the offspring even though it might not be evident in that cute little playful puppy!

You’ll also want to consider the climate for your LGD because some of the double coated dogs would not be comfortable at all in a hot climate like Arizona. These dogs are living outside 24/7, so this matters a lot. Also, try to avoid rescue dogs to use as an LGD because typically you will not be able to get the health history, parental temperament history, or behavior issues on a rescue dog. Typically, when you use a breeder for your LGD, all of these important pieces of info are available to you.

Here is our list of LGDs that do better in warmer, dry climates that we will be considering…they are not in any particular order:

*Anatolian Shepherd (also called a Kangal): They weigh between 80-150 pounds and average 2’3” to 2’5” tall. On average they live 11-13 years. They are known to be very intelligent, independent, and are very loyal. You should note they can also be very stubborn. They are good with kids. They shed a lot, so make note of that. This is a dog that you will need to train and socialize well.

*Maremma Sheepdog: They weigh between 65-100 pounds and average 23.5” to 28.5” tall. On average they live 11-13 years. They are known to be devoted, independent thinkers. They are intelligent and make good family dogs if they are socialized and trained young. They require fencing because they tend to want to wander.

*Spanish Mastiff: They weigh between 140-220 pounds and average 26” to 35” tall. On average they live 10-12 years. They are known as gentle giants and do well as a family dog. They tend to be strong willed and need their owner to use firm training.

*Central Asian Shepherd: They weigh between 88-110 pounds and average 24” to 28” tall. On average they live 12-15 years. They are known to be affectionate, playful, and protective of their family. They need to have a secure yard because they tend to wander.

*Akbash: Weigh between 75-140 pounds and average 27” to 34” tall. On average they live 10-12 years. They are known to be loyal, alert, and intelligent. They need a lot of space and are very good with kids. They are friendly with their family and very protective.

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Music by: Tunepocket
Video Editing by: iMovie for Windows
All the artwork for this channel are original creations by Douglas