Could Bess Be A Match for Mr Fox or Misses Mink?

Won't she turn around some day and attack the chickens? This is the first question that people ask when I suggest Bess working on the farm as livestock guardian.

In theory this will not happen. If trained right, Bess a Pyrenean Mountain dog will protect the poultry flock at all cost. But as with any dog, training is the key.

So to save you a lot of googling, the sites below give background information on livestock guardian dogs.

Livestock guardian dog overview

Staring with a livestock guardian dog

Selection, socializing & training of your dog

More training guidance.

Others doing it.

Puppy Power

Could this puppy protect the lives of thousands?

The latest addition to the farm is Bess a 12 week old Pyrenean Mountain Dog. Pyrenean Mountain dogs are classed as 'livestock guardians' and if trained properly they will protect whatever livestock they live with, she could prove to be a brilliant help on the farm as one of the biggest obstacles to running a successful pasture poultry operation is predators (fox, dogs, minks & even humans!).

But, (and there always is a but) the challenge is that we have no experience of training such a dog. We may be the first in Ireland to try this out, I will post more details later on the breed, training and their role in farming and the pasture poultry model, meanwhile we can just admire how cute she is!