[Jacob-list] Guard dogs/ family dogs

[Linda]

Rima, my last Great Dane, would make a face that looked like she was snarling.  If she'd done something wrong (like dump over the garbage or sleep on the bed), she'd always greet me at the door with that face - "oops, I goofed - might as well confess now!"  She was a very gentle dog, but no
 stranger is willing to climb over a fence with a 120 lb dog (she was on the small side for a Dane) on the other side.   All of my Danes have been very gentle around people, livestock, cats, etc, but have also been protective of their "estates" - even the one that lived with me on a 34' boat - not much of an estate :-)  Mine were all females.  

I enjoyed hearing what everyone had to say about dogs.  None of our dogs have ever chased sheep, chickens, cats or rabbits. They do undergo a training session early on.  Most of them have chased squirrels, though.  We're had a real assortment of dogs, including breeds which would not normally be considered farm dogs - a Mountain Cur and a Shar-Pei/Pit Bull cross - that turned out to be wonderful farm dogs, although both had been abused strays so were not prone to making friends with strangers.  I had to laugh when I read Cathy's story about the Airedale being beat up by the ewe!  Lucy, an 85 lb Shar-Pei/Pit Bull cross and the world's most timid dog, reacts to any threatening situation by rolling over, belly up.  She was with me while I was feeding the ewes and lambs.  I never heard anything, but turned around to see Lucy, belly up and silent, being beat up by Priscilla.  It was interesting to see the species interacting.  Priscilla was waiting for Lucy to give up and run away and Lucy was doing her best to give up!
 
Cathy, Dave has always wanted an Airedale.  I'm glad to hear that yours is good with your livestock.  

Linda
Who just found her next Great Dane puppy!

 
 
 

Getting ready for 2006 lambs!
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn

On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:41:58 -0700 (PDT), Sharon Hill wrote:

>
> He has a funny habit of raising the lip on one side of his mouth
> when happy to see people, and it makes it look as if he is
> snarling.  This is a good thing when strangers come around.  They
> won't go in the fence where he is.  People who know him, know that
> he is just smiling.
>
> He is one of the nicest dogs I have ever had and I have had a lot
> of dogs.  (7 at at the moment).  Even if the time comes when I have
> no sheep, I think I will always have a Great Pyrennes.
>
> Sharon Hill
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