Sentry, Baymule’s Livestock Guard Dog

baymule

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We have two Great Pyrenees, Paris and Trip. Paris is 10 and Trip will be 5 in November. Now is a good time to introduce and train a new puppy. I have been wanting an Anatolian. I was on a Facebook Sheep and goat group when I saw a post for a very Anatolian looking puppy. I kept going back to that post, looking at that puppy. Finally I contacted the lady.

The puppy is 4 months old. His mom is Anatolian, his dad is Great Pyrenees and Akbash. He has been raised with Sheep and goats, horses, chickens and a pig.

We drove to Kaufman, only an hour away on Wednesday and got him.

The ride home. Look at that sweet face!

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Introducing a wether.

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I put the puppy in a pen for the night. Next morning, he was out, still in the Sheep lot, but not in his pen. I went to work, finding his escape holes and covering them up. Much of our pens are constructed out of cow panels, they have 6” holes and the puppy can squeeze through them. I got his pen secured. He is in the barn, with Sheep on 3 sides.

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The reason for penning him up, he is a puppy. When a puppy plays with littermates and the play gets too rough, the other pup will cry out, Yelp or whine. This is the signal “It hurts! Stop”. The puppy then knows to stop playing. But if a puppy is playing with a lamb and bites it, the lamb runs in terror-silently or saying BAA BAA! Since the puppy doesn’t speak terrified lamb, and the lamb doesn’t speak roughed up littermate, it is game on! The puppy then learns to chase and bite the sheep or whatever animals it is with. It takes time to teach proper behavior.

So, what to name him? He was in the lamb pen, exhibiting proper behavior. Keeping a respectful distance, alert, watching his lambs. It came to me, Sentry.

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Today we introduced Sentry to Trip and Carson. Carson was all about greeting a new friend!

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Trip was reserved, not antagonistic, which was a good thing. Sentry jumped up on Trip, Trip turned his head away. Sentry jumped on the other side, Trip turned his the other way. We stood outside the pasture, watching. What an affront on Trip’s dignity.

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Finally Trip had enough and bit Sentry. Not hard, but a dominant bite. Trip growled and bit Sentry up and down like we eat corn on the cob. Trip nose bumped him, poking Sentry hard. Sentry submitted and rolled over.

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Trip chewed on Sentry’s throat, legs, belly and growled. When Trip was satisfied that Sentry knew his place in the pack, he let the puppy up.
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    Sentry went a respectful distance away and laid down. He’s in the pack now.

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    After I fed Sentry this evening, he squeezed through a cow panel to follow me into the pen of pregnant ewes and the ram. Lady Baa Baa butted Sentry in the side, lifting him off the ground and doing a flip before he landed in a heap. She was teaching him Sheep manners.

    Later, Sentry, Trip, Carson and I took a walk around the pasture, letting Sentry hang out with the Big Boys before I put him up for the night.

 

Beekissed

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He's adorable and I love the name! I too love the Anatolian traits and looks and would love to have a pure Anatolian for my next LGD, if at all possible.

Trip is looking fluffy and clean, a beautiful dog as well. I love how gentle they are with the new pups but still able to teach them some manners.

Carson got BIG!

Would love to hear progress on this new pup as you watch him learn and grow into the dog you need for your place, Bay.
 

frustratedearthmother

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He's gorgeous! Looks like he's found his place in the pack....for now! What an adventure you have in front of you!
 

Lazy Gardener

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He looks like he's gonna be huge. Not at all a bad thing for a farm dog! Yes, please keep us posted about his training. Love pics! Many dog owners would have freaked out at a pup getting chewed on or sheep flipped. Glad you know about the value of letting things play out for "natural consequences" lessons.
 

baymule

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Sentry will reach from 110 to 140 pounds at maturity and be from 27" to 32" in height at the shoulder. At some point, he may surpass Trip for pack leader. Always, always I will be the Alpha B!tch over all the dogs.

Carson has grown into a huge, happy, loving farm dog. Chicken hearted, but barks loud enough to unnerve any would be intruders. Funny story-we went to see friends one evening and came back after dark. DH was wearing a cap. When he got out of the car, Carson went nuts. He barked furiously, DH advanced towards him and Carson scuttled backwards like a crawfish. DH roared and growled and Carson ran, looking back and barking. I told DH to come grab me and he did. He shook me, growling and Carson ran closer, but well within self-preservation distance for a fast get away. I yelled "Carson! Help!" over and over, but NOTHING would convince that dog to get closer to the horrible cap-monster that held me in his clutches. :lol: It was a test. Carson, you failed. :gig
 

Mini Horses

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Carson is still young! Things may change. Love the new one but sad to hear Paris is now 10. That puts her where we don't want them to be. :(:love She's getting all she needs, I know. Just that age has it's issues -- for ALL of us, animal & human alike.
 

baymule

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Oh... My...!!! Now, doesn't that just make you feel special and well loved by your dog??? Won't even protect the hand that feeds him!!!
He's too sweet to be tough. :love

Love the new one but sad to hear Paris is now 10. That puts her where we don't want them to be. :(:love She's getting all she needs, I know. Just that age has it's issues -- for ALL of us, animal & human alike.
Paris has slowed down a lot. Her eyes look tired. Then she smiles at me and looks young again. :love
 

baymule

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Today Sentry learned that cedar tastes bad. Ewenique was happily chomping on the greenery so he bit some off. It didn’t take but seconds for him to spit it out.

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I turned Ringo the ram in with Ewenique and Scottie. Ewenique lost no time in butting Sentry. I caught a pic of Ewenique threatening Sentry. He whirled around and skeedaddled!

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Just as quick, he came right back.

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Trip asked to come in the pasture so I cracked open the gate. Sentry jumped on Trip, overjoyed to see him, licking Trip’s face. Trip growled, but I think he likes the puppy. Ewenique sized Sentry up for another head butt, and Ringo came over to check him out.

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Sure enough, Ewenique butted him again.

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I watched several hours while Sentry followed the sheep trio. Scottie is wary of him and will run, causing him to run too. I yell NO! and he stops and looks at me. I put him back in his pen. We’re working on it.
 

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