Pooh Bear, our Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD), who we have had for four years, died a little over a week ago. Quite a shock to us with him being so young. We noticed that he was getting a little thin so I increased his food, but other than that, he had been doing very well. Eating well and going on a two mile walk every evening with our other two dogs. Pam went to check up on the goats about 10 am and found him down on the ground making some strange noises, called me, and I rushed home to help her load him into our car. The vet said he had a tumor on his pancreas and it was limiting the amount of insulin flowing into his body. I loved Pooh more than any dog I've ever had. So sad.
Pooh Bear was a Great Pyrenees dog that we got to protect our goat herd, mostly from coyotes. Our goats live in a fenced area that we are nearly 100% sure is safe from these wonderful predators, but for a goat there is probably no worse way to go than to be taken down by a coyote. Our fencing is very good, with five foot woven fence mesh and a hot wire on top. Surely, the goat in the picture with Pooh, were best friends, and were often seen laying together.
Meet Mishka, our 11 week old Great Pyrenees puppy. It takes a puppy about 16 months to mature into a force that can defend livestock, so we thought we should get started at once. Mishka means White Bear in Russian.
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| Mishka, 10 weeks old and learning his job |
The goats didn't like him much, with Alure stalking him, but with over a week now everyone seems to be adjusting fine. The yearlings took to him quickly, as did EV the buck, but the milking girls were not fast to warm up to him. For two days our milkers wouldn't eat their grain. He spends his time between being a puppy and watching the herd from a high spot.
Yes Pooh, we will never not remember you!
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