Protecting Garden from Critters... Great Pyr?

[MacEntyre]

I am one of the Directors of a Park/Farm/Parrish/Abbey project.
Eventually, we will have 8 acres cultivated.
Right now, we have a very dense 1/2 acre garden inside our fence.
We have about one acre total that is fenced... much more later.
I have shot 3 groundhogs in the garden and chased away many others.
Deer come out of the woods and go all over our property at night.
I don't want to keep hunting critters, so I suggested getting a farm dog.
Just by being there, it will keep groundhogs and deer out.
The dog does not have to hunt them.
Any dog will do, as long as it's big enough that it cannot crawl under our front gate.

We have an opportunity to get a 10 month old Great Pyrenees female puppy.
Some folks say our 4' fence will not contain her.
Some folks say they will protect property, others say only livestock.
Some folks say they need professional training, others say not so.
Lotsa folks say if you make 'em a pet, they are no good as a working dog.
Some folks say a GP will do well for our purposes, others say it's a very bad choice.

I'm thinking that a GP Working Dog, or a GP Pet, will do... either one. I don' care!
Just by being on the property, the critters will stay outa the garden.
I'm only worried that a GP might not respect our 4' fences.
The one we've been offered has never jumped or climbed the 3' or 4' fences where she now lives.

What do you think?

 

[kcult]

I know of two farms (one official, one unofficial) and both property owners have these dogs. Both tell me how well they do at keeping watch over the property. Both properties are fenced. Neither have told me that their dogs have had any sort of training.

A lot help, I know.

 

[Burt Gummer]

@beamernc has a few awesome Pyrenees. He’d be good for advice

 

[Darkhorse]

Australian Cattle Dog all the way baby!!! This is what you need.

 

[beamernc]

We have had 6 GP's. 3 have passed and we still have 3 in the pasture. None have ever had any "training" other than being allowed to do their job. We had also heard that you could not have them as pets if you want them to work and that is complete BS! Majority of ours lived indoors for 6 months to a year to make sure they were big enough that the goats did not bully them and they do a great job guarding the pasture. Most of ours have been around 100-110 lbs.

We had one male GP that we took in as a stray and he was the only one we have ever had any issue with getting out of the pasture. We think he had been abused and any loud noise would send him into a panic mode and he would get out. The fire works on New Year's and the 4th of July were very hard times for him as well as neighbors shooting. He had a heart condition and ended up dying on the 4th of July while we were gone and before we could bring him in the house away from the fireworks. When he was in panic mode he would climb out of the fence, dig under the fence or go through the fence. He was a big boy, almost 150 lbs. with a huge head, and one time he forced his way through one of the squares in regular woven cattle wire.

He was one of the most laid back dogs I have ever seen. When we had baby goats, they would climb all over him like he was a jungle gym and he never did anything to them or baby chicks. But if a wild rabbit or squirrel got in the pasture and he caught them, he would kill them.

If you get a GP, I would suggest having 2 so they do not get bored and want to get out or have them a flock to watch over, even if it is just chickens.

We also have a 7 month old Pyredoodle in the house as she does not shed like the Pyres.

 

[fishgutzy]

Hot pepper around the perimeter is said to be a good deterrent.

 

[MacEntyre]

I know of two farms (one official, one unofficial) and both property owners have these dogs. Both tell me how well they do at keeping watch over the property. Both properties are fenced. Neither have told me that their dogs have had any sort of training.

I'd like to talk to them, if it is possible.

 

[kcult]

I'd like to talk to them, if it is possible.

I work with the unofficial farm owner. I'm ask him if it's ok to PM his number to you.

The other farm can be found on Facebook. I don't have a FB account, but if you do, search for Serenity Lakeview Farms in Morven, NC. You should be able to get in touch with them. If you're unsuccessful, I think I can search my email and get the email address for you.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[Mightyox04]

I kept mine inside the house because of the wife. It tried to kill the chickens. It has a new home now. They need to bond with the animals supposedly. @beamernc didn't have these issues so results may very. I know the mom and dad of the pup we got and they chased people away trying to take a trump sign out of the yard. My MIL has another one of their puppies and it's scared of everyone.

Buy the dog. If it don't work out sale the dog.