How to feed the dog, but not the sheep?

hobbyfarm · Sep 27, 2005

Get the dog a new PIN#, and make sure you tell him not to let those others use it, also, when he inputs it, tell him to stand over the keypad so they can't see over his shoulder. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Or, you could just keep them separate. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

jfh28 · Sep 27, 2005

I'm going to agree here but for additional reasons.

We currently have a 1 1/2 year old male pyr, amongst others. Previously we had a kuvasz.

Pyr's and especially GSD's are a very independent lot. That's what makes them good guardians. But they can also turn into real anti-social buttheads if left to their own devices. Periodic human interaction is important for their balanced development. Feeding time would be another chance for that to happen away from the sheep. It would also give her a chance to be "off duty" for a while.

So now the big question, has she discovered the joys of digging bomb craters in your fields yet? Our guy teams up with our wolfhound to dig ditches that swallow up a tractor in the blink of an eye.

Best
Jack

Freds · Sep 27, 2005

( I'm surprised that only the sheep compete with your dog for food. I would think that you'd have skunks, oppossums, foxes, crows, et al stopping by regularly. For all you know you could be supporting an entire eco-system out there. )

Isn't that what the dog is for? To keep the eco-system at bay? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Westonium · Sep 27, 2005

( ( I'm surprised that only the sheep compete with your dog for food. I would think that you'd have skunks, oppossums, foxes, crows, et al stopping by regularly. For all you know you could be supporting an entire eco-system out there. )

Isn't that what the dog is for? To keep the eco-system at bay? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif )

Yes. Yes it is. If the coyotes are cleaning it out, then I guess I need a meaner pyr.

We give her a big treat (largest milkbone size) every day, so if she suddenly doesn't want it for more than a day, we'd know something is up. She paces us up to 20 mph down the hill inside the pasture as we drive by - another time to see if she is well.

It is possible something else is eating her food. We could move her food closer to the house and see if it is still an issue, but I am pretty sure those crazy sheep are eatining it.

I may put up the steep ramps and teach her how to run over them so I can put ramps over all the sub-pasture fencing to go after whatever she feels like chasing.

Maybe if I got a male, he'd do a better job protecting the food or maybe they'd team up.

Freds · Sep 28, 2005

It would be nice for her to have a buddy, too. The shows I have seen on working Grt Pyrs always show more than one with the flock.

Westonium · Sep 28, 2005

I just fired off an email to some great pyrenees rescuers in our area. If we can find a decent young male, we'll probably get her a buddy. If ever a whole pack of coyotes show up, she'll have someone to watch her back. The coyotes seem to be avoiding our area a bit thankfully. Between our outdoor dog (fenced), our stock dog, and our neighbors Newfoundland that is allowed free roam, I don't think they think it is worth it.

That damned Newfoundland is a real pain at times, but at least it helps keep more viscious critters at bay and is certainly not a threat to us.

BlueRidge · Sep 28, 2005

Feed your dogs MEAT, instead of cereal, and your problem will be solved.

Your dogs will thank you.

fireshawn · Sep 28, 2005

I don't have sheep, but I do have goats and some great pyr's. The stupid dogs have to locked away from the goats so they don't eat all the goat food!! Since we do the whole feeding the dogs when we feed the goats (but in a separate pen) thing I don't have the problem, but look up jump feeders.
It is essentially a pen made out of cattle panels w/ a horizontal cut-out half way up or so big enough for the dog. Goats won't turn on thier side to go thru at the 24" mark or so. You can make it totally enclosed or open at top, but the peeps that I know that use them swear by them. I will try to find where I saw the pictures and a better description.

shawn

Westonium · Sep 28, 2005

( Feed your dogs MEAT, instead of cereal, and your problem will be solved.

Your dogs will thank you.
)
You sound like you have experience with this. How do I do this?

I do feed them all IAMs, and she gets large breed puppy. Suggestions on how to feed her meat regularly?

stevenf · Sep 29, 2005

Blueridge, I'm no vet and I'm no professional but there have been many studies done on why not to feed your dog solely meat raw or cooked. The pro side says all dogs ancestors are wolves/coyotes and meat was/is there primary source of nutrition. The research says that yes they do derive their protein from live/dead meat but they ate the whole thing so the stomach of most prey be it rabbit, sheep or other grass/vegetable eating mammal contains the vegetable part of the wolves/coyotes meal, if you choose to feed your dog meat you still should give them some type of vegetable matter for a balanced diet. There are certainly some good and some bad prepared dog foods but the point is a member of the canine family needs the cereal/vegetable in their diet to be healthy.
As to the question of how to feed the dogs and not the sheep I'll lean toward train the dog to come to the house at a specific time for meals it was said that a Pyrenees is a loner and I'll absolutely agree you need to do the once over and the socialization part or you'll have trouble with a working dog.
We raise predominantly equines/mules & donkeys so our need for a protector is nonexistant but we have used Danes, Pyrenees, Rottweilers and Dobermans as herd dogs and frankly we have just started a Dane as of last week as our Rott had to be put down do to a tangle with a porcupine that left thousands of quills in her and blinded in both eyes last weekend.
Steve