Category Archives: Guardian Dogs

December 2022 to April 2023 Updates

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It’s been quite awhile since I have posted on our website.  I tend to post on Facebook more and forget to update the website.  Here are a few photos and happenings that have gone on over the winter.

In December, we were surprised, humbled and happy to be among the finalists in the All Canada GenOvis Recognition Awards 2022 – maternal breed category!
We placed 3rd!

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We added a new pup to our pack in January.  His name is Kozan and he was 4 months old when we brought him home from Manitoba.  He is settling in nicely.

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We had a very mild January this year, which was so nice for lambing about 50 ewes.
We had turned the rams out for 1 week last August and just lambed for 11 days.

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Our next group of ewes lambed from March 14 to April 1.  We were very happy with a drop of 200%.***************************************************************************************************
The January lambs are coming along nicely.  We will be taking their 100 day weights on April 20.  There are some like this one that stand out.

Feeding Ewes and Dogs

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Feeding the guardian dogs and ewes. Our yard is half a mile south of our son’s place, so the dogs go back and forth across the field. I have anywhere from no dogs, to six dogs to feed in the morning.
We shred the hay for the ewes on fresh ground each day until the paddock has been covered. Then we move and feed in a different paddock. The nutrients from the sheep manure and leftover hay help the growth of the plants the next season. It also cuts down on cleaning corrals and we feel the sheep are healthier when not closely confined.

Feeding the 6 Guardian Dogs

Our flock of 300 Dorset, Blackface and Scotch Mule ewes, lined up to eat their freshly shredded hay.

This photo shows the even distribution of manure and leftover hay on the paddock after we have shredded on it for the ewes.

February and March Happenings

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We have been very lucky to have a mild winter with very little snow.  It has been easy on the livestock (and the shepherds).
When I took hay out to the Dorset ewes one morning in February, they were all waiting for me on top of the hill – along with the three Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dogs.
We had very heavy hoar frost on February 25 which made for some neat photos.  It also means we will get rain in 3 months (May 25) and 6 months (August 25).
We are so glad for the livestock guardian dogs alerting us when something isn’t right!
When I went out to feed the dogs and sheep one morning in March, Ben didn’t come for his dog food. I found him standing beside a ewe that was “cast”.
(This happens to sheep and cows sometimes that are heavily pregnant and full of hay and water. When they lay out on their side, the weight over-balances toward their backbone and they inadvertently roll onto their back and can’t get up). If not found in time, they will suffocate.
I helped this ewe up and she walked away, although a bit wobbly at first.

Bo, The Guardian

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This is Bo, our 10 month old Great Pyrenees, showing his serious, business side
as well as his big pup side.  We bought him last summer at 12 weeks old and he hadn’t been “people-ized” very much.  We unloaded him right out in the sheep pasture with our other semi-wild neutered male (picture with his head in the pail).  He bonded hard to the sheep and he never leaves them.  We take dog food out to them every day.  They are awesome dogs and we are very glad to have them on the team, protecting our flock.

Feeding Time

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We are sure glad for this mild weather and lack of snowfall! We are still able to feed the sheep out in the 160 acre field. We shred the hay on the hilltops to add mulch and fertilizer for the next growing season. It will make the hilltops more productive.
Another bonus with the light snow cover is that the ewes can still do some grazing.

Feeding Time!

Coyotes And Wolves

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Our ewe flock has been grazing on 160 acres of alfalfa regrowth on the quarter section south of our yard and the lambs are grazing on the quarter section west of the yard.  This fall, even with the quardian dogs, we have been having quite a bit of trouble with coyotes killing big lambs and even mature ewes.  Two weeks ago, our predation specialist confirmed that one of the ewes was killed by a wolf.  We found another ewe on Friday that the wolf got, so we brought the ewes closer to home yesterday.

Driving The Ewes Home

 

It’s Fall

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It’s hard to believe September has come and gone.  The leaves are changing color and the days and nights are cooler.  We have had frost 2 nights so far.  Hopefully we have a nice open fall and a long time before snow falls.  Summer seemed so short this year because the snow didn’t leave until sometime in May.

We had a ram out with some purebred ewes this past week so will have some lambs born in February.

On Saturday, we moved the flock across the road into 160 acres of alfalfa regrowth.  They should be able to get a month of grazing out there.

Ace – 3 Months Old

One of our Great Pyrenees dogs is getting old and slow, so we recently bought a pup who we named “Ace”.  He was born the end of July and he is a Great Pyrenees x Maremma x Akbash.  We put him with a pen of ewe lambs and he is bonding nicely with them.

Tribute to Patty

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One of our team of Great Pyrenees dogs, Patty, passed away last week.  We got her in 2004 when she was 3 years old and she has worked very hard for us for the last 8 years.  She was a wonderful sheep guardian.  She loved her sheep and was very loyal and dedicated to protecting them.  We will miss her sweet nature and big bark.

Patty 2001 - 2012

New Flock Guardians

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Yesterday, we bought 2 male Anatolian Shepherd pups to add to the sheep guardian team.  We named them Zeus and Zorro.  They are 9 week old brothers.  Zeus is short-haired and Zorro has a longer coat.

Anatolian Shepherd pups in pen beside lambs.

Anatolian Shepherd Pups, Zeus and Zorro

One of our Great Pyrenees dogs is 13 years old and is slowing down, so it was time to get replacements trained.  We thought we would try Anatolians for their speed and agility in chasing down and catching coyotes that threaten the sheep flock.  

Anatolian Shepherd pups laying down in pen beside lambs.

Zeus and Zorro Resting

Anatolian Shepherd pup nose to nose with orphan lamb.

Zeus Nose To Nose With An Orphan Lamb

About Anatolian Shepherds

Anatolian Shepherds are livestock guardian dogs that originated in Turkey.  They have acute hearing, exceptional eyesight and great strength to take down predators.  They are known for their strong protective instincts.  Males mature at 26-31 inches at the wither and weigh about 150 lbs.