Placing Rescue Great Pyrenees as Livestock Guardian Dogs

Oklahoma GPCA  Great Pyrenees Rescue Representatives

 

FROM RESCUE TO RELIABLE GUARDIANS

Placing a rescued dog as a Livestock Guardian Dog has special requirements and hazards. It is essential that all concerned - representatives of Rescue, Foster home, and potential new owner - understand the requirements of both the dog and the adoptive home.  A rescue has no history generally, we train these dogs, mostly former companions, to be goat guardians and goat guardians transfer easily over to sheep.  These dogs are purebred Great Pyrenees as well as we are able to tell and no dog will leave here as a guardian unless its behavior would warrant us keeping it for one of our own.  We can and do guarantee the dogs' behavior here at the farm but are not liable for incidents at the adopter's farm other than to accept the dog back. As said in other parts of this document, we will mentor new owners for the life of the dog if the owner requests it.

DEFINITIONS:

Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD): a dog that spends the majority of its time with livestock and is expected to prevent predation by coyotes, dogs or other predators.

Range Dog: A LGD that works with large bands of livestock, usually sheep, on unfenced range, with or without the presence of a human shepherd Because of the very special needs of range operators, and the lack of daily supervision, Rescue will not as a rule place dogs where they are intended to be range dogs.

Family Farm Dog: A LGD that lives in a rural setting with any of a variety of livestock and/or poultry, that is expected to interact appropriately with humans while protecting the livestock from predators.

Fencing: May include normal woven-wire field fencing, 4-feet tall, adequate to restrain a flock of sheep or goats; welded wire fencing, or “no climb”, four to six feet tall, used to restrain ratites, cattle or horses. For the purpose of this section, it does not include barbed-wire used exclusively as fencing, “invisible” electronic fencing nor woven netting, with or without electric wires, nor horizontal-board fencing when the space between the boards is inadequate to prevent the entrance or exit of a dog (“dog-tight”).

Requirements for the adoptive home that wants a Livestock Guardian Dog

As a minimum, all of the following must apply:

1.) All areas where the dog has access must be fenced with the fences in good repair; all gates must be dog-tight.  If the dog may have access to a driveway, there must be a dog-tight gate that is kept closed between it and the road.

2.) There must be an adult normally present at all times on the property where the dog will usually reside.

3.) The adopters must understand that they take the dog from Rescue on a trial basis only; that they are responsible for the welfare and safety of their own animals; that they agree to properly restrain the dog with fencing or leash until they are satisfied that the dog will not itself or harm their animals; that the dog will require a significant commitment of time and effort to monitor. The adoption will become final only upon the adopters being satisfied that the dog meets their needs and Rescue being satisfied that the dog will be properly cared for.

Inspection of the potential adopter’s farm

Wherever possible, a representative of Rescue will visit the farm of the potential adopter. The representative should have had some experience with normal farm life, in order to better evaluate the dog’s chances for success.

Introductory period

The introductory or trial period should have a specific limit; 30 days is suggested; although it may be shorter, there is little purpose to having it longer. During this time, the adoption may be canceled for any reason by the adopter and for cause by Rescue. “Cause” would be abuse or neglect of the dog, fraudulent statements on the application about how and where the dog would be used, if such statements result in neglect of or hazard to the dog. The adoptive home must sign a waiver at the time they receive the dog, releasing the GPRO from any liability for damage done by the dog. The adoption fee is paid at the beginning of the trial period. If the adoption is cancelled the adoption fee is non-refundable. During the introductory period, adopter should stay in regular touch with Rescue or the designated Livestock Guardian Dog advisors, to help correct problems before they become too serious to correct. The LGD advisor may give advice on training and care and may visit the dog to assure it is being trained properly and given adequate care.