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Micheal,
There are trouble animals in all breeds. A
good guard dog at 9 years old will not be unpredictable. Hopefully you
have eliminated the dog from your herd. I have been through donkeys and am
now using dogs. I started with a 5 week old puppy and bonded that puppy to
my young goats. I still have to bond strange new animals to the existing
dogs. You also have to bond donkeys to a herd. ONE donkey, either a
female or a gelding, is all you should have if you are going that way. Two
donkeys make a herd and they do not believe they are a sheep any
longer.
It is work to keep dogs, donkeys, llamas, or
whatever the guards are. During lambing you only want experienced guards
with your flock. Until you have a mature animal you must keep them away from the
newborns.
However, there is no reason a guard dog should kill
one of the flock much less attack it. That dog is a true danger to you and
your animals.
The donkey I had would protect the babies to the
extent that mama couldn't get near them. The next time she would be
chasing one of the youngsters or picking one up and shaking it.
So good luck whichever way you decide to go.
Do your research. Ask lots of questions.
This list is wonderful because there are so many
folks who have been there - done that.
Rhonda
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