Re: [AlpacaTalk] Re: LGD with alpaca

Patty:
I agree with you whole heartedly. A bad adult dog (meaning an lgd that doesn't seem to have the hard wiring in place as it should) is a dog that just cannot ever be with livestock. If you can't trust them, they're only going to do harm and make an otherwise sane person crazy with worry. The dog has to go if it makes any move on the animals it is supposed to be protecting. And though I love my pyrs, they are still dogs and I am all too aware of that....

On the other hand, a puppy lgd is still a dog puppy. It needs time to develop into what it is likely hard wired to do. That's where having an older dog is not only beneficial, but probably near essential to the dog's success. The older ones do teach the younger ones appropriate behavior. I haven't been in a situation to actually observe that with my own eyes, but I've read too many accounts of folks who are in that situation. I think these dogs are too valuable as a breed group to give up on the young ones that are still just doing puppy behaviors that will eventually disappear with proper intervention and correction. As for your situation, I am terribly sorry that you had a bad experience. I got lucky with the rescue I ended up with and am all too aware of that. And I watched both of them like hawks for at least 6 months. After 2 years, my trust is only now really settled in......and yet I know they are dogs and things can happen. If I were ever to try a rescue again, I would be very watchful. Thing is, as long as I have the two solid dogs that I do, I suspect they would put any inappropriate behavior to rest very quickly -- at least that's what I would hope for.......and once again, they are all still dogs and dogs by nature are hunters except in the case of lgd's where centuries of breeding have pretty much minimized that drive.........I guess I figured out that you have to trust some things so I opted to trust the dogs......while knowing there are always risks.

I agree though, that if a person isn't up to the task, it isn't worth the risk or worry. I don't fault anybody for not wanting to put the time, energy or money into seeing a young dog into a productive adulthood. We each have our own areas where we are willing and able to do things. If you aren't into working with a young dog, it isn't worth the hassle. Get rid of the dog and just know that you aren't up for that kind of challenge......no harm, no foul............everybody walks away feeling okay, including the dog. So, in the end, we all just gotta' do what works for us and be sure to learn a few lessons along the way.

Susan

Susan Forman
Dewey Morning Alpacas
Washington Court House, OH 43160
740-636-1899
http://www.alpacanation.com/deweymorning.asp
Home of Huey, Louie, and Dewey!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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