Is Our Puppy a Disappointment?

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[@UpandOvertheMoo]

Abby is still in a 'teenager' phase. You can't close the book on what her personality is like until she's around 2 years old. Also the hearing instinct is definitely more common in female dogs so it's not surprising.

[@jimothyj2638]

Herding instinct?

[@Lovehandels]

The hearing thing is that in general or with this breed?

[@woahblackbettybamalam]

I told him from the start to get another male

[@gracehaven5459]

Not even her teenager phase yet tbh

[@dahomesteadacre5099]

In 2 years that would make her 14 years old...still a teenager. There is no such thing as a "teenager phase" in dogs. That would imply all teenagers don't behave well or can learn and is labeling negatively all teenagers who do behave well and can learn.

[@janpack1569]

It's always hard to compare a second dog to the first. Especially when the first one worked out so well. They will never be the same. I'm sure with a lot of training she'll come around.

[@Emerson_the_imp]

i agree

[@brendapurvis4803]

I've got German shepherd's and everyone off them is different. They also have different traits to. But after the puppy stage is gone the brain finally kicks in. After all a dog is a puppy till its after 2 years of age. Abbey dog will just be a brilliant as Toby dog 🐕 👍.

[@TheKruxed]

I think she enjoys the attention that comes from gentle misbehaviour, not a bad dog. Training and discipline needs to change when the desired results aren't happening

[@arthas640]

i had the exact dynamic with my older rottweiler and German Shepard puppy. Rottweiler is a laid back, loving, sweetheart with a fierce protective instinct and a love of guarding. The German Shepard was and still is a hyper goofball who doesnt take her guarding job seriously like the rottweiler does. The rottweiler actually trains the German Shepard though, she taught the German Shepard not to jump on people, to play nice with kids, and helps keep her in line for me. It's kind of funny, it's a like an older sister/younger sister dynamic, especially since the German Shepard follows the rottweiler everywhere, which always works great for me since she normally would wander off if it was just me and the german shepard but since the rottweiler follows me everywhere that means the German Shepard does too. I think since the younger dog gets less intense attention like the first dog they dont always measure up, and since they see the older dog "cover for them" at their job they tend to slack off a bit. My German Shepard is a good dog but she just doesnt do nearly a good a job at most tasks even though she's just as smart if not smarter than the Rottweiler. It reminds me a bit of a spoiled younger sibling, always slacking off and not being very attentive at her job.

[@janetyurkin822]

It’s like raising kids. You have the same set of parents, raise them the same but you get one who’s studious, outgoing and never gives you any problem and another who’s mischievous, tests your limits. You can have 3 or 4 kids and they will all have different personality traits. Depends how the genes sort out!

[@GoneToTheSnowDogs]

Abby has lots of time to learn still!

[@denisebenjamin10]

I love your channel too😊

[@TheAdmoney02]

Hiii

[@TheAdmoney02]

I love your channel too 💖

[@heatherweir8726]

Abby dog is still young and energetic. She's basically a teenager.

[@gracehaven5459]

Not even a teenager yet tbh

[@AstralSparrows]

@@gracehaven5459 she is tho

[@gingerbaker4579]

ROFL. Try to educate yourself. Livestock guardian dogs are bred specifically ***NOT*** to have a strong herding instinct. It decreases their value. Because as shown a few times on this channel Abby is HARASSING livestock by chasing them more than she has any value as a guard dog. ... Tody is what a PROPER livestock guardian dog is supposed to be. Even as an adult in being reserved, etc. Abby even as a puppy is showing she has less and less potential to be a good livestock guardian dog.

[@lawlzipoof]

@@gingerbaker4579 How many times are you planning on copying and pasting the same comment?

[@lynnamint]

@@lawlzipoof hahaha exactly! @Ginger Baker and Abby seem to have a couple things in common - the need for attention and repetition

[@Alicia-fy3je]

I'm annoyed someone even asked that question. She's a baby doggy--she's going baby doggy things. My cat used to literally climb up the wall when she was a kitten and now she's chill. You gotta give her time to grow out of the phase and her personality is just different from Toby's. Abby definitely is the goodest girl.

[@apolloclouds]

Agreed. And of course a baby doggy is going to try to play with tasty smelling chicken. Everyone loves chicken

[@TheMotlias]

Im glad to see you're taking the prospect of breeding as seriously as you are, it's not something that should be taken as lightly as a lot of people do take it

[@prancingponyfarm]

Morgan doesn’t have breeding rights on Abby.

[@mojom.9221]

Our sweet little Abby, you're no dissappointnet. Just need a little patience , Love and training time. Luckily, Morgan has more than enough from all three on Hand ^^

[@juliemcgugan1244]

With Morgan’s experience and Toby’s confidence, she got a great support network to help her on her learning journey, too!

[@sophiarowe9430]

I can definitely agree! Ps. She is so cute!!

[@mrmattbassett]

She is just a puppy.

[@gingerbaker4579]

ROFL. Try to educate yourself. Livestock guardian dogs are bred specifically ***NOT*** to have a strong herding instinct. It decreases their value. Because as shown a few times on this channel Abby is HARASSING livestock by chasing them more than she has any value as a guard dog. ... Tody is what a PROPER livestock guardian dog is supposed to be. Even as an adult in being reserved, etc. Abby even as a puppy is showing she has less and less potential to be a good livestock guardian dog.

[@divinewrath3142]

@@gingerbaker4579 Just curious how many times did you copy and paste this reply in the comments? I counted 6 so far..

[@wall.daisies2952]

You could potentially train Abby and Toby for different purposes on your farm. Abby could herd the cattle while Toby is the protector. You could use the differences to your advantage so they both feel fulfilled in their roles. Maybe you could eventually get a few sheep for her to herd too 😊

[@juliemcgugan1244]

When they get to really learn the way each other work, they will make one heck of a team, because their different personalities mean that they have strengths in different areas. Backing each other up, they will be formidable!

[@elizabethkeen7851]

A few people have mentioned this I hope he take it into consideration because she would make a better cattle dog.

[@theduckfather7492]

You can't just train a non herding dog to herd. It takes two years of training for LGD to be trusted with ducks because they don't mature like other dogs. Herding dogs are so different than livestock guardians genetically. Livestock guardians do not have instincts to herd at all. What she is doing is chasing them big difference.

[@feargripper]

This is what I thought, except I’m not sure she’s the right size for cattle lol, sheep or goat maybe. Breed specifics are kinda overrated tbh, my grandfather raised sheep from the late 60s to 2010s, and his dogs were mostly mixed mutts with some herding genetics. Morgan doesn’t have as much time to train so many dogs with this channel and his other stuff that’s mostly why he chose such an easy breed to train for the task. Abby is easily capable to be an amazing herding dog, but with a bit more effort than Toby she can easily fit into her desired role!! Just more time, thats it, her unique personality compared to Toby is a good sign for genetic diversity IMO.

[@eyalreiss294]

@@elizabethkeen7851 yes absolutely

[@vonduus]

Don't forget that all dogs have their own personality. When I watch old videos with Toby as a puppy, it seems to me that Abby simply is more extrovert than Toby ever was. Which of course can be hard work for the dog trainer. But in the big picture, this may actually be a good thing - like you say, they complement each other. Think of Tobys and Abbys offspring, you might get the perfect blend of protection and herding instincts. Anyway, the decision is yours, but I love both dogs, and if it was up to me, you just have to work a little bit harder to make sure she becomes a responsible guardian dog.

[@jessecunningham9924]

I love watching Abby run around. I had a dog that was hyper and high-strung, and was also incredibly intelligent. Most of the time she got into trouble because she was bored. She was MUCH harder to train that my other dogs, but she had her own unique set of skills and things she was good at. Figuring out what those are is important for those kinds of dogs (similar to Abby), in my opinion. Plus, it’s really hard to tell just how hyper a puppy is going to be until about age 2. The dog i mentioned above was absolutely WILD as a puppy, but once she hit about 2 she became incredibly well behaved. Love your content, Morgan. Keep it up!

[@gingerbaker4579]

ROFL. Try to educate yourself. Livestock guardian dogs are bred specifically ***NOT*** to have a strong herding instinct. It decreases their value. Because as shown a few times on this channel Abby is HARASSING livestock by chasing them more than she has any value as a guard dog. ... Tody is what a PROPER livestock guardian dog is supposed to be. Even as an adult in being reserved, etc. Abby even as a puppy is showing she has less and less potential to be a good livestock guardian dog.

[@bonnieharris8855]

@@gingerbaker4579 You are a broken record. Aside from the fact that the behavior she is exhibiting may only LOOK like "herding" to Morgan and not be that at all. Besides, LGDs are also bred to control stock to a certain extent. They want to keep them together so they are easier to watch over. I have seen them get more and more distressed as the stock starts to get farther apart from one another, at which time, they will get up and start patrolling the perimeter until the stock begin to gather back together a bit. If you just wanted a dog for guarding, you could throw a mastiff out there. Or a Chihuahua. Great little guard dogs. Not much of a match for a predator, though. Rottweilers are bred to guard, but they can also be used to "herd" somewhat. They are mostly drovers. GSDs can be taught to herd a bit, but they are mostly bred for perimeter guarding of livestock. And, of course, simply as guard dogs. I have seen Labs and Chesapeakes that made excellent guard dogs. Dog are individuals and most breeds can do things their breed was never meant to do. I worked on a farm where an old Pyrenees would bring up the horses to the barn every night. This was not an easy job. They were Arabians and there were always young ones. And stallions. Far as I know, NO breed was developed to herd horses. But they can figure out what we want. Then figure out how to do it. Retrievers were always bred to retrieve, but I have owned BCs and Shelties that could put them to shame. Of course, lots of breeds will retrieve, even though they were not "bred for it". Behaviors can all bring other genes linked to them along, so that breeding for one certain behavior, will always bring other abilities and/or characteristics along with it.

[@TakenByStormEquestrian]

@@bonnieharris8855 I’m going to have to agree with the “broken record”. The dogs should be showing signs of their breeding, not this.

[@Bigbaymonstermare]

@@gingerbaker4579 May I ask what your credentials are as a professional breeder and trainer are please? You must have lots to judge all of this from short videos of only a few moments out of a week on KZbin.

[@TakenByStormEquestrian]

@@user-dd7gp1qo4k not the breed for competition frisbee

[@InsaneD602]

Too many people expect dogs to be perfect right out of the gate and don’t understand dogs need training. I lucked out and got my Jenny girl who’s a hyper German short haired from the shelter 5 years ago. She was adopted twice i got her and they told me both families brought her back within a week because she jumps on people. 5 years later this is the best dog I have ever had she just needed training and time. She sleeps all day now next to me while I work I love this dog. I guess people expecting perfect dogs right out of the gate also worked in my favor haha

[@sharonatkins5844]

Gsp's are the best breed by far, I miss my jed star 😍

[@InsaneD602]

@Sharon Atkins me too! I never knew about them until I got Jenny but I have gotten 2 more puppies since then. I bet Jed star was amazing! My Jenny is getting old we think she’s around 10 or 11 now kinda sucks but she still has puppy energy when we get outside then she goes right back to sleep as soon as she’s inside haha

[@gingerbaker4579]

ROFL. Try to educate yourself. Livestock guardian dogs are bred specifically ***NOT*** to have a strong herding instinct. It decreases their value. Because as shown a few times on this channel Abby is HARASSING livestock by chasing them more than she has any value as a guard dog. ... Tody is what a PROPER livestock guardian dog is supposed to be. Even as an adult in being reserved, etc. Abby even as a puppy is showing she has less and less potential to be a good livestock guardian dog.

[@InsaneD602]

@Ginger Baker you copying and pasting that reply to everyone’s comments is kind of weird haha

[@ItzCornucopia]

I get that, I got my dog when he was 16 months old, and his family was so frustrated with him and kinda gave up on him... they ended up giving him to me for free, and he has come so far! He's my first doggo and I have just started training him to now be my SDit because he's so work motivated and such a smart well behaved dog! He just needed the right training and patience to get where he is now ^^ He's an big australian shepherd and came to me with absolutely no training whatsoever (he also jumped up on people a lot and was a horrible mouther)

[@tmthompson79]

I feel like Toby had the advantage of being alot younger when he came to the farm and with time and patience and training (like alot of other people have said as well). Ultimately, Morgan will make the best decision for his situation 😁

[@freedomfighter4990]

Apparently female Maremmas are more rambunctious & active as pups than Toby was at her age. But she's certainly NOT a "disappointment" to anyone, she's still learning how to be a livestock guardian dog. And she's got the 2 best teachers she could hope for. My only concern is that after spending a big chunk of change to buy Abby with a mind towards breeding her, Morgan may end up having to get yet another pup down the road if Abby turns out to be unsuitable to breed due to health issues.

[@gingerbaker4579]

ROFL. Try to educate yourself. Livestock guardian dogs are bred specifically ***NOT*** to have a strong herding instinct. It decreases their value. Because as shown a few times on this channel Abby is HARASSING livestock by chasing them more than she has any value as a guard dog. ... Tody is what a PROPER livestock guardian dog is supposed to be. Even as an adult in being reserved, etc. Abby even as a puppy is showing she has less and less potential to be a good livestock guardian dog.

[@Bigbaymonstermare]

@@gingerbaker4579 May I ask what your credentials are as a professional breeder and trainer are please? You must have lots to judge all of this from short videos of only a few moments out of a week on KZbin.

[@marksmall7790]

Troll 🧌 under the bridge was spot on. “Hey! Get off my bridge!”😂

[@cynthiablackburn4226]

LOL. So, the chickens have a fancy summer cottage. Also--you assume Toby is searching for signs of intruders; he may just be thinking, "I need a good place to poop." Meanwhile, Abby says, "Yaaaaaaaay!" She's a happy girl.

[@gingerbaker4579]

ROFL. Try educating yourself Tody is a livestock guardian dog, he is bred to check for intruders.

[@CheezayBallz]

@@gingerbaker4579 If you have to copy paste the same comment over and over again, at least write the dog's name correct..

[@cynthiablackburn4226]

@@gingerbaker4579 Ouch. Sadly, I think you need to learn how to recognize a joke. Poor you. I wish you the best of luck.

[@Sam-ps8zz]

@@gingerbaker4579 k, im only going to say this once, so read carefully. Just because they were bred for a particular thing, does not mean they enjoy those tasks and everything in it. Behavior is really hard to get from genetics like that. Breeding results in desireable physical traits for a job. For example, a long, powerful snout for hounds. Breeding DOES NOT result in behavior. Behavior is a combination of personality, experience, and training. Pitbulls get a bad rep because they were bred for violence. Ask any pitbull owner how agressive their dog is, and the majority of them will say something along the lines of them being the sweetest little angles. They have the physical attributes to be a very powerful dog, used for personal protection, but unless trained (intentionally or not) they likely will act in a similar fashion to other dogs. There is still research being done on the link between personality and genetics (Im actually working on one such study for college) however the main link comes from the entire pack. A kid learns from their parents/siblings how to act. In the same fashion, a puppy learns from their pack members on how to act.

[@demonicpitbul7913]

Abbey is still a puppy who hasn’t received the same training as Toby! She will come into her own as she ages and will be an awesome Guard dog. People need to quit saying she is a disappointment!

[@arthas640]

Those people are very disappointing

[@minnahumble2294]

Yes but at the same time the bad habits need to be addressed right away. Get a dog whisperer!

[@gingerbaker4579]

ROFL. Try to educate yourself. Livestock guardian dogs are bred specifically ***NOT*** to have a strong herding instinct. It decreases their value. Because as shown a few times on this channel Abby is HARASSING livestock by chasing them more than she has any value as a guard dog. ... Tody is what a PROPER livestock guardian dog is supposed to be. Even as an adult in being reserved, etc. Abby even as a puppy is showing she has less and less potential to be a good livestock guardian dog.

[@arthas640]

@@gingerbaker4579 there are some breeds that do both jobs, in fact if you look up "livestock guardian dog breeds" around half of them even have "shepard" in their name. How much sheparding or herding they should do really comes down to training and what their job is, ideally though the dog shouldnt keep them in a tightly packed group like a Border Collie might do but just keep them together enough that no one gets lost or wanders off (which isnt an issue when they're penned in like this). Some breeds like many of the Molossers can be among the best guard dogs breeds, such as the rottweiler or mastiffs, and some of them are also great shepards too. Rottweilers were originally used as both herding dogs and livestock guardians but do tend to be more livestock guardians naturally and have to be trained to herd, I've got one and she naturally just keeps an eye on her "flock" (my chickens or if kids are nearby they become her flock/herd) but she doesnt really herd them and just keeps a loose eye on them. I did take her to an event where they train dogs to herd sheep and she did that pretty well but she didnt take to it naturally like she did with being a livestock guardian.

[@thegorgon7063]

The disappointment is the person who should be training Abby. They know what to do because they got it right with Toby, but they aren't doing what they should

[@glaceon9591]

Hi Morgan! Thank you for the sticker! I wrote the letter about the alfalfa and the moose. I'm glad to say I'll be graduating this Saturday the 14th with my degree in wildlife management! And as for Abby, in my opinion female dogs that I have seen have always been a little more energetic. She will calm down with time.

[@lcostantino7931]

LOL yeah woman doing more work.... LOL

[@yasminali7582]

Shes still a puppy and still needs a lot of training I sure once she's trained etc she will be ok

[@PalominoMule]

Abby dog reminds me of a dog we had, Annie. She was anxious and willful and acting out awfully in her youth to the point we were wondering if it was going to work out at all, but in adulthood she became biddable and an absolute sweetheart. I have a feeling Abby will be the same way.

[@Bobobaggins93747]

My maremma is 1.5yrs old right now and we still train her weekly with the chickens, ducks and goats - she won't be fully mature unyil she is 2+. So you're right to say she's still growing and learning!!! Training Maremma's takes time and effort 💗💗💗

[@shAnn0n1]

Thanks Morgan for the update on Abby.....she's gotten so much bigger too. She's a pup and that energy is just that.

[@Vesny86]

My friend had a male maremma with goats and sheep. One day there was a dead newborn lamb. While I forgot if the dog killed it he was definitely trying to eat it and that's also a big no. So he hooked the dead lamb to electricity and the dog learned the hard way that this was not a good idea. He had a lot of problem with the dog while he was a pup to the point he was seriously considering to moving him to the farm house. But as he matured all the problems stopped and he was a great guard dog after that. Most dogs just need time to mature.

[@frederickmoller]

Thanks, that's what I'm thinking too, and I'm happy that your dog turned out great!

[@irishlizzie]

This! Yes. Time to mature. I hear they definitely settle down a lot.

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

Something shocking like a fence charger, yes, but not the mains.

[@Vesny86]

@@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648 yup he hooked the dead lamb to the electric fence they use for keeping livestock in certain area. And that produces a mild shock, no damage just very unpleasant experience.

[@MajesticalHonky]

A lot of people would be calling for Morgan's head if he shocked Abby. They don't seem to understand that working dogs are so much different than household pets.

[@nahnotsomuch2292]

Cripes, what has she been there, 2 months? Maybe 3? People need to give the little girl a chance to learn.

[@kathymccaul2637]

OMG when Toby put his head on his shoulder!! Heart melter!!

[@AshleeKnowsNot]

I would Foster the hurding tendencies if I were in a similar situation. When a dog naturally takes up a role I think it's usually pretty easy to train them to do it consistently (and do it within your boundaries) So I have a malamute. She's very gentle. I have two cats and she does very good with them but one of her favorite games is "I'm a big ol dog and I'm going to block the door because I can". They're outdoor/indoor cats but during the winter we usually keep them in at night so they don't get cold and they HATE being forced to stay inside. Because Nanook (dog) already likes blocking the door I was able to tell her "no escape!" And she would keep the cats from bolting. I technically never even trained her to do it. She just started doing it consistently when I said "good girl" and "no escape". She also breaks up cat fights. Again something she did naturally but I encouraged it. My point is I feel like if Abby's already naturally trying to herd the flocks, you could probably teach her to consistently put all the animals to bed at a specific time. Or find the stragglers. And because she wants to do it naturally, she'll probably be very proud of herself. (Like mine with being my cat babysitter. She takes her job very seriously 😅)

[@argentoacres6042]

You have a FGD...feline guardian dog. I have one of those too lol.

[@yuannebaril6191]

good time dog life

[@Bigbaymonstermare]

*Herding. I’m so frustrated that the devices people own to post comments all spell check as we type and we still get people spelling herding with a u. It means that the person who posted it knows so little about herding instincts and training them out of it or to do it that we should question their comment.

[@AshleeKnowsNot]

@@Bigbaymonstermare or.... the person who wrote the comment just didn't notice? Because they wrote a long comment? My freind if this personality offennndds yew maybe stey of the enternet. 😉

[@plantedinparadise6720]

As much I like learning about your animals, I’d love to learn more about the permaculture orchard. Will you be planting berry bushes amongst the trees to further develop a food forest?

[@kevm7101]

*ZOOOOOM* "Hey Abby, was just talking about you" lmao sooo much energy 😂

[@waninggaming1342]

You are so respectful and kind! Love how patient and kind you are to Ms. Abby dog despite her finding some excitement in the wrong places. Love your videos :D

[@MrSpinnerbug]

Abby is just a puppy! Give her time and love! People asking you if Abby is a disappointment is itself a real disappointment-they obvious no nothing! 😡

[@ayexdoots]

maybe abby just isn’t cut out for the life she was bred for 😔 she is still a puppy though so time will tell

[@Tahoe756]

Idk some dogs just arnt as smart

[@irishlizzie]

I think you are doing great with Abby, and having Toby around will for sure help with her learning good behavior as well as her awesome natural herding instincts! We got a nearly pure Pyrenees and thought he was 3 years...turns out he's younger than 2! He's a puppy. We scaled back our expectations for him, and are telling ourselves we will train him for our farm but won't fully trust him or expect him to be dedicated to his instinct to protect until he's close to 3. He's so sweet and cheerful but energetic and that can get him in trouble. So we are going to focus on being patient and very consistent with whatever training we do so he learns over time certain things are a solid off-limit rule. We also have boundaries set up so our chickens are safe from him during the day and at night he has free reign to patrol. These livestock dogs are awesome but when they are young you have to be patient and allow for that energetic behavior and slowly train and not fully trust till they're adults and settled down a bit. :)

[@z0mb13v32]

It's really interesting that Abby has a herding instinct, though! We used to have a rough collie with a herding instinct. When he got older, he started herding my little brother and I to the house when the sun set or it started to rain. Dogs are mega cool Edit: obv he was bred for it, but it's still a very interesting thing dogs do

[@jennifergriffiths42]

I just wonder if some of their differences are the different lineage. Plus females can sometimes be more 'busy'. I hope she settles into a wonderful guardian dog for you. 💖

[@lesliebain5075]

I think some of the differences between the two dogs can also be based on their sex as well. I see this in my own dogs.

[@jennifergriffiths42]

@@lesliebain5075 yeah I said that lol

[@newkkl]

There is a difference between the breed qualities a dog can inherit genetically and its individual personality. Dogs are as much individuals with unique personalities as humans are. They may inherit coat color, size, nose length, and a predisposition for herding behavior or retrieving behavior, etc., but each dog will still be an individual with unique character traits.

[@LiveGrowRescue]

Having your first dog and they're the only dog, they tend to be more human oriented. But when you add a 2nd dog, they pay more attention to that 1st dog than they do you. So it's not that Abbys a bad dog, it's just she's not the only dog and she's learning differently than Toby did. If Abby was your first and only dog for a time, she'd be different.

[@rachelg785]

Yes. This.

[@Sandreline]

+

[@ahobbitsgrow2109]

An option for winter is to build a compost pile under your new coop, to heat the coop, and that way the chicken manure falls right onto the pile keeping the pile warm and adding nutrients. It is like an active hot bed. Just an option.

[@louise7029]

Abby is a puppy...period. She's in training. Different dog, different personally. Because of her differences she will bring something remarkable to the table as sweet Toby has. Morgan, time, patience & positive reinforcement.... Your gonna do great and so will your Abby.

[@micland360]

This is what happens when dog owners get very lucky with their first dog and get a second dog thinking it will turn out the same. If you actually do some training with her other than a sit stay she will turn out a wonderful guard dog. Yes I get it, that's all you had to do with Toby dog but they aren't the same and abby will require ACTUAL dog training. While Maremas work heavily on instinct, they still require training as they will try to herd the livestock they are guarding. How much they need depends on the the dog, their breader and their ancestry. Thats like getting a border collie and putting it in a field with sheep, expecting it to herd the sheep perfectly into the space you want them to go without training. Most likely the dog would injure the sheep and the sheep would injure the dog. If I could give you a piece of advice just on what I've seen from the video, using her kennel as a time out place is a big no no. Using a timeout as a reinforcement or teaching method for something like playing with chickens is a big waste of time. If you're ever interested or need advice, hit me up. Don't be lazy with Abby, she is not Toby. seek professional advice and fulfil her calling as a livestock guardian dog. Best of luck my dude

[@KNYD]

For winter you might want to add a skirt for the coop so that cold winds don't blow snow inside it.

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

This enterprise very largely looks like Morgan's exercise in setting up and keeping as ethical a farm as he can, and training Abby to it is one of its challenges/problems/opportunities (depending on how you look at it -- the experience could be quite helpful). Morgan was blessed with an easier dog to keep and train in Toby.

[@maritaandcats]

When you said “I’ll be back” you played the famous hold music! 😂🤩😂🤩 That made me happy.

[@lenzi1982]

abby is just full of life. everything is exciting, some smells are new and she has not even lived through summer! imagine during fall, with all of the leaves for her to play. puppy life is so fun she will have problems working for a while :P

[@hollyadkins4729]

I love the way Toby put his head on your shoulder ❣️

[@aleckoeppen7317]

Love seeing little Abby learning from the best. I'm sure everything will work out just find in the end. Keep up the great work Morgan.

[@heathero.7643]

We have a new puppy at home as well. He was really calm and mellow for the first week, but then his puppy energy really hit its stride around 2.5 months old. He’s almost 5 months now, so a similar age to Abby, and his puppy energy is getting more manageable, albeit slowly. I found using a harsher tone with his corrections worked to help him recognize that a behavior is not okay quicker. You’d be surprised how much of your training comes from the tone of your voice, not just your method of correction. Time outs are great, but only if she knows what the time out is for.

[@andersonrusnell3102]

Toby and Abby are two different dogs with two different personalities, you can’t expect Abby to act like Toby. You are still training Abby so she might still be doing bad things but you got to keep at it when it comes to her training.

[@krispy777]

The “on hold” music paired with the calves… that was adorable.

[@maitaimik]

Hey Morgan, best vid in a while, nice shots of the dogs and calves, eventually I expect spin-offs like "Abby, the road to perfection" or "Toby and Abby get married" or "the Highland Clan: from herd to eternity".

[@Bigbaymonstermare]

Toby and Abby get married? 😂😂 How old are you? lol

[@maitaimik]

@@Bigbaymonstermare I'm old enough to know better but I also know that Abby is besotted with Toby. FYI I have lived in a number of less developed countries where large numbers of stray dogs were normal, so huge "dog weddings" were a regular sight.

[@JamieLuv2u]

The funniness of the hold music clip was interrupted by the commercial, but I caught it. Gotta love that hold music. Lol

[@kc4941]

What you said about your dogs applies to patience with children as they learn and develop too!

[@lunerwerewolf]

People who live in tiny homes often skirt them with straw bails in the winter to hold in the heat

[@julielumsden5184]

When your in the yard use a short leash and attach it to your waist. Take Abby with you. Whatever you are doing I think she will learn much faster. We rescued a dog from a puppy mill I hired a dog trainer this is what she told me to do. She came with me attached all the time I was at home and out doors it worked really well . I think Abby needs to run a lot more she is full of energy

[@maggiesfarm7970]

I have a 3 year old female Pyrenees. She's super laid back like Toby is. She protects my chickens and chases off the feral cats that used to tear them up. I love her SO much!

[@25Soupy]

You got Abby when she was much older than Toby. I can't help to think you should have gotten Abby when she was younger.

[@rowboata7351]

Just a suggestion. Positive video titles would get more views than negative click bait. Your viewers love your dogs. A positive story about a beautiful puppy is what I'm looking for.

[@mbgal7758]

Some dogs are just naturally better behaved and others take more patience. All can learn though.

[@mariemaroney7891]

I’m amazed at the size of Toby’s head next to yours, he’s huge. And gorgeous.

[@HazardFeline69]

Puppies are never a disappointment 🐶

[@DeltaWaves1]

Remember, there are no bad pet/animals only bad owners. your good ones Morgan and Alison.

[@ronaldschmidt4748]

Abby is still a young dog. She needs to be worked with and trained. Some are trained easy and some require more work. I think that determination is a ways off. Thanks Morgan for the video. Out

[@sharonmoller6757]

You're doing very well with Abby Dog. Humans are mammals, too. We EACH have our own learning curve. You have acknowledged that and I thank you.

[@tzantza3719]

You should sell those pine seedlings as bonsai starters!

[@Valkyrie_71]

Right at 11:35 you needed an Aliens Ripley scene clip with her in the power loader saying "where do you want it?" haha

[@elisab.2398]

I am so glad you are considering breeding Abby and Toby in the most ethical way possible. Too many breeders just throw two dogs together as soon as they can mate, without doing any of the testing or behavioural considerations. Good breeders know that to do it right, it's about bettering the breed, and not just making a quick buck.

[@prancingponyfarm]

Morgan doesn’t have breeding rights on Abby.

[@psychosaiqaa]

the animals on your farm are so, so lucky to have you taking care of them. abby girl and toby dog are so precious!

[@Shadowspets]

You said that Abby has a herding instinct, turn that trait into a positive and take her to herding classes where she learns to control that urge and only use it when it’s wanted. She could be a great help of rounding up the cattle honestly. Or in the evening bringing the birds back to their roost.

[@Nemrai]

I think that's a good idea. Because she seems to be a more energetic dog than Toby, and that would be a great way for her to excercise and use her brain(something that's important to guarding dogs too).

[@kayleenfeher4341]

When I got my Great Pyrenees she was 4.5 months old (rescue). When she was finally healthy enough to want to play, she started trying to herd and she wound up herding and nipping me. I immediately yelled "OUCH!" and I smacked her on the nose. She has never done it again. I had to stop that ASAP considering she was with my very young grandchildren. Now she will kind of follow/push them along and sometimes me. However, as she has aged (now 3-years-old) she has improved significantly on just about everything, although she is still very stubborn about some things LOL (I knew this going in). Now I need to get her to stop wanting to jump on people (at 110+ lbs it can be very dangerous). Abby has a long time before anyone gets to decide that she is a "disappointment", I would say once she is 2-years-old would be the beginning of her being able to be a serious working dog. I personally think that Toby was a special dog and very work/goal oriented and Abby, well she is just a happy go lucky puppy right now. :)

[@nicholas3354]

I don't want to pretend that I know more details than I know, but it does appear to me that Morgan is not as clear as he could be with the contrast between reprimanding Abbey and giving her positive reinforcement and just generally interacting with her. Also, rubbing her face vigorously and making cute sounds to her may be feeding into her high-energy habits. I know cats are very responsive to human energy and human clam, but I suppose with dogs it might be mostly about the positive reinforcement and clear reprimands.

[@halyj]

i'm glad you're putting so much care and thought into breeding. it's important to know their genetics and take tests and etc!

[@yaitsmesuperboomboon]

Toby smelled and tried to kiss you a bit and then greeted the camera waving his tail all along lol he is so wise. he knows the camera is somehow part of the family. he came to you at a very early age, so he absorbed everything like a sponge, Abby was not a baby when she arrived, she had learned to playing with her brothers and her personality had developed a bit.

[@deborahs2593]

TobyDog is the wise elder and protector while Abby is young and nosey and spunky. It's hard to know at this point if she'll always be a herder. She sure is a sweet one. Can't wait to see the cattle in the pasture!

[@Godwinpounds4333]

Hi how are you doing?

[@vero8496]

Toby came to GSF when there were a LOT of less variables. Aby had to deal with 3 cats, herds and calves and she is as happy as she could be. For some reason her previous owner decided to keep her a little longer and she developed those playful skills which Toby doesn't have. Toby also received more 1 to 1 attention from Morgan. So does it mean that you are going to ship her back. I hope not.

[@diannt9583]

I can't ever see him shipping Abby back!

[@sueheaman7186]

The calves are SO CUTE… just want to hug them!🤗 Like your mobile chicken coup🙌🏼

[@RayF6126]

Herding instincts can be used by walking the fences at night to drive the birds down without her mouthing. If she walks circles around them she will drain energy and just drive them to where they need to be.

[@youarebymyside]

I've been quite curious about Abby and her breeder because you said that the breeder was watching the puppies closely so everyone can get the right type of dog for their situation. Is it working out? Was the breeder correct? Or maybe it wasn't the right choice of breeder? Again, energy wise, Abby is wild. Yes, she should settle down a little bit, but I remember Toby. He was much more calmer. I wonder if the matching to the farm was correct. Or maybe it was the entire litter & she was the calmest? Then I can't imagine the other pups, it's like a Malinois type of energy which is completely insane for Maremma.

[@sebbes333]

*@Gold Shaw Farm* I think it's "wrong" to think of Abby as a disappointment (as whoever asked), I think Toby & Abby complete each other very nicely. For example: 6:17 Toby investigates a trail or something thoroughly, while Abby covers lots of ground around him & could spot other "points of interests" for Toby to investigate. And Toby does not heard, while Abby does, that could be a HUGE strength for Abby, and a big benefit to you, if you can teach her to match her speed to the ducks while herding. You have yourself mentioned some times (like a year ago or so) that in some situations it would have been beneficial if Toby could help heard the ducks with you, and now you have a GOLDEN opportunity to train up Abby to do herding as her instincts tell her, but you just need to train her to do it "humanely" (duck-manely?).

[@jennabarna2353]

You can use the mini pines in your fireplace if you want. Have a nice fresh burst of smell. Once they are dry they will last maybe 2-3 seconds in the fireplace.

[@woahblackbettybamalam]

Abby would probably be more calm if she had the run of the farm at night with Toby. She needs to spend more time with Toby to learn from him. Its why I originally said to get a male

[@Bigbaymonstermare]

Yes. I’ve seen you say it in like three places in these comments. But it’s not your farm and he is looking to breed, hence it was ALWAYS going to be a female!

[@PsychOsmosis]

Short answer: "As of now, yes." Gotcha.

[@kathrynflynn2847]

There is no such thing as a “bad dog”, there are only dogs who tell us that there is something wrong in their environment or they are being overfaced. Abby came from an excellent breeder who put a strong positive reinforcement training start on her pups. Abby didn’t know she could do anything wrong when she arrived. Her environment needs to be changed so that she is set up to succeed.

[@laurasnest]

Agree 100%. This makes me sad for the dog to watch this.

[@mythirlmaiden]

I think people forget dogs arent grown up and set in their personality till around 1.5-2 years. My dog was extremely nervous, hated going outside, very timid, terrified of every stranger now he loves going outside, hes still nervous but not nearly so much, hes aloof with strangers but not afraid and hes eager to try new things. It just takes time.

[@danielashford2430]

If the puppy is screwing up it’s on you brother…

[@Dubstequtie]

I could faintly smell the hay opening, and I agree, I like the smell too, which I am guessing is why I remember it so well even after so long ago..

[@countrychola7735]

She is a puppy....she is learning. It will all work out. Ur farm is soooo adorable! I love ur videos and energy!

[@bbycherub2420]

That's not really how it works with guardian livestock dogs. I think she might be best as a family dog.

[@bbycherub2420]

@counselthyself LSGD don't have to be perfect of course but genetics matter completely, for example his other dog Toby was a far calmer and more stable puppy and is clearly an adequate livestock guardian. Abby still has a lot of potential but killing a chicken and chasing them in the background of this video shows that her genetics are very different than Tobys. But she still has a lot of time so we'll see.

[@movingforward2570]

No two living things are the same. What toby is weak in abbey is strong in. So if she is a herd dog then she will be good in helping u with the cows as u grow your farm. And I believe as she gets older and more access to the farm and see toby guarding at nights she will follow suit.

[@na195097]

Shouldn’t the breeder have discovered and resolved that hernia before you took possession? That seemed like something that is the breeder’s responsibility to have her screened for and resolved.

[@LolatheACS]

Exactly. A good breeder does not breed stock that has hernias or other congenital abnormalities. I would not breed Abby and continue that line since umbilical hernias are congenital and costly to fix.

[@Sandreline]

@@LolatheACS, removing all abnormalities or minor health issues would severely limit the genepool of a breed, eventually leading to MORE health problems. Responsible breeders need to find a balance between optimal health and genetic diversity. Often than means breeding less than perfect dogs.

[@Voltaic_Fire]

That hold music brought back every frustrating minute I suffered listening to that exact piece.

[@waryr11711]

Abby wanting to herd might be a blessing in disguise! Every dog has their good and bad traits but herding may be a very good thing for your farm. Look into herding trainers for instructions how to keep her distance from the stock.

[@LastMinWin]

A watched pot will always boil for the patient!! you are correct, patience is key!

[@marilialevacov2939]

C'mon! She is just a puppy! Let her grow and be patient. The same way it would not be fair to compare you with an experient farmer in your first year, it is unfair to compare Abbye with the older Tobby.

[@clayyoder2477]

Love what you said about people and animals not having a pre determined path

[@TheoriesOnNatureOfReality]

Poop all over the cattle place looks unhygienic. Over here in India, we never leave cow droppings lying around like that in the tending area.

[@dairyfarmer726]

We don't like filthy paddocks either. The problem is that Morgan is not mucking out, which results in a high bacteria environment that is unhealthy for cattle.

[@serenity5323]

Sidebar: to quote a well-known and highly accomplished dog trainer, name escapes me..... "There are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners". Translates to owner properly training a dog. That quote stuck with me when I had my 2nd dog and realized how eager she was to learn and respond to proper and positive training, behavior reinforcements.

[@Bigbaymonstermare]

It was John Grogran who wrote Marley and Me who said that!

[@Arkine13]

She might be a handful, but that is a really sweet dog. Love the little fang that shows when she's getting her belly rubbed. My dog does the same thing. LOL Also, I would buy those pine seedlings, seriously, a bunch of mine died in a greenhouse disaster.

[@MMDbuddy]

11:30 as someone who is a receptionist for 8 yrs + this gave me FLASHBACKS IM CRYING AHHH

[@nancydudley2778]

There is a guy named Jim Medeiros in Virginia. He has been fighting dog hunters for years. It was covered in Ass. Press 4-11-22. Thought of you.

[@IbelongtoJesus.]

Awe 😊 Love when Toby dog put his face near you with doggie affection for you 🐕 Toby loves his daddy ❣️

[@LtColShingSides]

If you're moving on to raising cattle, along with all the birds, do you really have time for puppies?

[@teresaatwater672]

Abby will come around. She is still a pup. Your baby calfs are just darling! Take care!

[@bjbumblebee5324]

When Abby Dabby turns two then compare. Abby will never be Toby and Toby will never have all of Abby's talents. My Sherman the German is three. Frankly, I miss the unpredictable puppy but he is the best trained service dog in the neighborhood. Yike's, I need another puppy. Oh man....

[@klo5126]

I so love every time you say “RELEASE THE QUACKEN!!”