Meet our Livestock Guardian Dog: Cassidy
Cassidy was born on March 12, was the first born of a litter of six, and was the only girl. She came home to live with us at about 9 weeks old. She is mostly Great Pyrenees with 1/8th Anatolian Shepherd. Both of her parents are livestock guardian dogs and work to protect alpacas at a small farm nearby.
Just like her parents, Cassidy is going to be a livestock guardian dog on our farm when she grows up. A livestock guardian dog is a dog of a particular breed category that lives with and guards animals on a farm or homestead. They don’t come inside like regular pet dogs would, they stay with “their” animals that they are bonded with, and guard them 24/7. They can take up to 2 years of training and socialization to be trusted alone with the animals. Cassidy has her own little enclosed dog run area in the same yard as our goats and chickens. That way she can still be around them and bond with them, but the goats and chickens are protected from her while we are gone or not able to supervise her. When we are available to supervise her, we have her out with the other animals, but are ready to correct her when needed if she tries to play, chase or engages in other unwanted behavior with the animals. After 1-2 years, or once we can trust her, she will be living with the other animals full-time, with no supervision.
The Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherd breeds have been bred to specifically be working livestock guardian dogs. Therefore, they don’t need much training to be a guard per se, it’s more of allowing them to bond and have interactions with the animals, followed by corrections when need be. We see so much natural instinct in Cassidy when she is around our goats and chickens. Yes she does occasionally try to play or chase the goats and chickens, but for the most part she leaves them alone, just hangs out with them, or watches them. I think she will make an excellent guard one day! She is very fond of the goats, as they are with her. She can even be found browsing with them around the yard! (I think she thinks she’s a goat, haha!)
As far as personality goes, Cassidy is independent, confident, and a little stubborn, which is expected for her breed temperament. For her to be able to be a successful livestock guardian dog, she has to have those traits to help her make tough decisions out on the pasture. She is also more on the sociable and excitable end of the spectrum for livestock guardian dog personalities, which will be great since we want her to be friendly to the numerous visitors that come to our farmstead.
We have been enjoying her presence around the farmstead and can’t wait until she will be able to be trusted enough to protect our livestock full time.
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