Wow! I surely did not mean to provoke such reactions. I was merely trying to learn something here. We have only been in this sheep business since last December and do have a lot to learn. I thought this might be a place to do so.
Bruce - When we first got the dogs, along with the twenty plus sheep that had been raised with them, I did a web search for information on the breed. I was very impressed with what I read and considered us lucky to have gotten the dogs along with the sheep. While the dogs are not registered stock, they do look like the Great Pyranesee I find in all references and have seen at the stock shows in this area. The female, who is four years old, is great with the animals and behaves just as we expected. She even allows the sheep to steal her dog food and will not behave aggressively toward them.
Reference your follow up question: We did not introduce them to each other. They had been living together since the sheep were born. Therefore, we did not consider using any socialization process. We still plan on using the female and her offspring with our sheep. But, I believe that dogs, like people, can sometimes go bad. My intent was not to knock your dogs, but to learn something.
I must add that the individual we got the animals from was an older gentleman (I am guessing late 70s) and disabled. It appeared that he had not been taking adequate care of the sheep or the dogs. We have spent a good deal of time deworming, caring for injured animals and generally trying to improve their nutrition. In the short time we have had them, the difference is startling. However, that dog did kill that sheep. When my partners son came upon them, the dog was chewing on the carcuss. Rather that pass the problem on to someone else, I humanely destroyed him. The dog that is, not my partner's son.
Carol and Britt
Thank you for the input. After reading some of the information here, I believe we should not get donkeys to act as guard animals. I believe this forum can be useful and hope to learn a lot more here.
Oneta
I am trying to use the brain God gave me, but it is not easy. I get headaches...
Cecil
I wholeheartedly agree. We have a serious coyote and/or dog problem in this area to. We are doing all we can to eliminate them.
Thanks everyone for sharing.
Mike
