Hello old friends.....New LGD project

Robyn

Robyn

New member
I have spent the last few days on here, quietly reading all the posts of Sokol/Barry and having a good cry, alot of smiles and many laughs. I still mourn for my boy and so do Keevin and Quinten. Quinten saw photos of Sokol and instantly said, "KOL!"

Things are going well here, and I am working on a new project. I am putting together a pack of dogs and taking them to Oregon to work on a couple of ranches there during their calving season. These ranches are having problems with the Canadian wolves that were transplanted into the US.

Sheep ranchers are losing whole flocks of sheep in some cases, as well as their dogs. I was asked for some input on the situation by a few ranchers, and the thought came to do some trials with different breeds of LGD to see if we can find the type of dogs that can withstand the assault from the wolves.

I will spend my time there with the dogs while they are working, and will film and photograph as much as possible of the whole time I am there.
I will not be taking any of my personal dogs on this trip, as they are needed here on my farm.

I know that some had expressed interest in the working dogs, their pecking order process etc....so, I thought I would start this thread to answer any questions that any interested in the dogs might have.
 
AngusMcDubhsMom

AngusMcDubhsMom

New member
What an amazing project. You be careful out there, Robyn. I for one would love to hear how they work and how this happens. I don't think any of us old-timers will ever forget Sokol. That was such an awesome adventure! Take care.
 
Angela

Angela

Super Moderator
So happy you are back, still miss Barry stories. Your new project sounds most interesting and I look forward to hearing more.
 
DAWNMERIE

DAWNMERIE

Active member
Actually even some of us newbie's know this story....I had to go look it up after someone mentioned it. It was an amazing journey that touched many hearts including mine. I look forward to hearing your adventures and love absorbing all information I can.

And on a side note, I've got a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat now just talking about it and knowing that these animals hold such a special place in our hearts.
 
Murphy

Murphy

New member
I still miss that dog more than you could ever imagine.... And may the Lord strike me dead but I was just talking about him at work about a week ago... I still have his pictures light up my slide show on my pc.... he wasn't personally in my life for long but he left a mark.. and is a testament to what we can achieve as a NN family.. Whenever we need inspiration.. we just need to think back.... :icon_knuddel:
 
Robyn

Robyn

New member
I miss that freckled face and his fun sense of humor. He would look at me and I could never be mad at him! lol
 
Murphy

Murphy

New member
Barry/Sokol set the bar for what we can achieve... as a team... as a cyber family.. and brought many of us together.. I hope we will always go back and realize when we need to, what the power of a group of people coming together can accomplish... for one dog.... puts some of the ongoing squabbling in perspective cause we all claimed him as our own and brought him home as a family..... :icon_knuddel: Just as so many of you have done for Newf Friends special needs angels.. Ok.. I'm done... :bear:
 
W

wrknnwf

Active member
Oh Robyn, I hope you will chronicle this adventure and share it. I am very excited for you. What problems or challenges do you think you might encounter? Are you expecting a certain breed to work better than another and why? Are some breeds more inclined to warn, rather than physically defend the flock? This is a fascinating subject, so do keep us updated.

I sure hope this is wildly successful. I think it's great when dogs can fulfill the purpose for which they were bred. Even if that might offend some people's sensibilities.

As for sweet Sokol, I second everything Jen said. We need to keep that spirit close at heart.
 
Robyn

Robyn

New member
Jane, I intend to video and chronicle each and every moment I can.

There are so many challenges....that is why I chose to do these trials during the calving season, when the ranchers have their cattle in smaller areas to better keep track of them. Even so, I am still going to be dealing with some large pasture areas.

If anyone has read much about the Canadian or Arctic wolves, they are quite large and aggressive. Also, they carry some sort of bacteria, and animals that actually survive a wolf attack initially, usually end up dying from infection from the bacteria that the wolves leave in their saliva when they bite.

The wolves that the ranchers are dealing with are not like Timber wolves, Red wolves, or even the McKenzie Valley wolves...these Arctic wolves do not tend to be shy of humans and have been known to charge people with no provocation.

The wolves have also developed a taste for dog. Many ranchers and farmers have lost their dogs to the wolves and the wolves eat them, not just kill them.

I am NOT anti wolf, please keep in mind, but I am pro farm and pro ranch.

At this time, the wolves have killed Great Pyrenees and Maremma with great ease......but, I believe that part of that is because the ranchers used too few dogs to stand up to a pack of 7-8 large wolves.

These wolves are the apex of the predator world, and while they are beautiful to look at, they are costing ranchers thousands in lost livestock each year.

The dogs I plan to use for this project come from countries that are mountainous, cold and rough. I think that the LGD with the more mastiffy type features will have a better chance at defending against the wolves. Also, I am looking for dogs that have the harder temperments.

I am excited that I have the chance to do this and can not wait to get started!
 
Robyn

Robyn

New member
Some breeds tend to be more dog aggressive than others, and some are more human aggressive than others.

But, no matter what the breed, some dogs tend to be perimeter guardians, while others want to be right in the middle of their livestock all the time. I have always liked to use both types of dogs in a pack for better coverage of the fields.

Most all LGD will physically defend though, when they have to. You will sometimes see younger inexperienced dogs stay back from the battle, or running in and out, nipping then retreating.
 
Robyn

Robyn

New member
Sue, I am not sure yet how long I will be gone! But, this has been a goal and dream of mine for a long time and I finally have the chance to do it, so I am taking it.

Working on a horse trailer with living quarters. The Ag kids at school are going to modify the trailer so that I can haul dogs comfortably in it, and have living space while out on the ranch.
 
Angela

Angela

Super Moderator
Where will you get the dogs from and what breed will they be?

Maybe the wolves should be coralled and shipped back to up here LOL
 
Robyn

Robyn

New member
Angela, I wish they would, these wolves are not native to the US. The whole situation is a ticking time bomb. Ranchers and hunters want the wolves gone because they are destroying the elk, moose and other wild life along with cattle, sheep and horses.

It isn't a good situation.

As for the breeds that I plan to use, I am looking at Sharplaninac, Kangals, Gampr dogs and some of the other landrace breeds of the Caucasian Mountain Dogs.
 
Angela

Angela

Super Moderator
I find all this very fascinating, so sorry for more questions.!
These breeds, are the dog already in the U.S?
Why were the wolves transplanted down into Oregon in the first place and why don't they shoot them? They could send them to Vancouver Island to cut down on the deer population which are destroying all the farmers crops here.
 
Robyn

Robyn

New member
Not a problem, Angela! The first pack was placed in Yellowstone Park. And yes, the wolves were brought in from Canada. They are now in Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. Possibly other states that I have no heard about....... I believe in Montana they are allowed to hunt them, but they are still protected in Oregon and some other states.

Most packs seem to range from a few wolves, to 7-9 wolves, but there are reports and photos of "super packs", some reported to have 25 wolves or more. Nothing could stand up to that kind of assault.

Most people believe that only the alpha male and female will mate, but in times when they have plenty to eat, the lesser females will breed, so the numbers are booming because the wolves are not going hungry.

Some of the packs have also been known to kill for "sport" (for lack of a better word). It is long touted that the wolves only kill what they need to survive, but ranchers are seeing different. Packs of wolves are killing the dogs as well as all the sheep etc. And then they leave most lay, and many of the animals are still alive, but gutted, or hamstringed, rendering them unable to move.

There are some of the Sharplaniniac in the US, and some Gamprs. There are a fair number of Kangal breeders here as well. There are also several breeders here with Caucasian mountain dogs. Hips tend to be a common problem in the dogs seen in the US. Some of the dogs that I hope to use for this project are aboriginal nagasi.....a landrace breed of the CMD. These dogs tend to be pure working dogs, rather than factory guards that are seen coming out of Russia.

I also am having metal collars made for the dogs. The collars are similar to the ones used in the old countries where these dogs originate. The collars have metal spikes, that help to keep the wolf from grabbing the dogs by the throat and crushing them.
 
W

wrknnwf

Active member
Earlier this year, there was a report of a super pack of 400 wolves in Russia that killed 30 horses in 4 days. Whether or not it's true, its terrifying to think about!

How large a pack of dogs do you think you will need to put together?
 
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