Our Guard Dog: the UNTOLD STORY

[@gkiferonhs]

Routine trips with the kids around your property line will firmly establish what is and what isn't her territory. I think you have a much better solution for your farm. Just the sheep area isn't enough to entertain a dog like Winnie. Once she knows firmly what territory is hers, I think she'll be a great farm dog.

[@mmegraham]

Yes, I agree. She seems to be very motivated by interacting with the humans and pleasing the humans. She needed more than just sheep to guard.

[@analarson2920]

@@mmegraham totally agree

[@SunshineValley121]

She was trying to tell you guys this whole time what her calling was. Such a beautiful outcome #FreeWinnie lol ✌🏻♥️🇨🇦

[@lararabb8888]

This is probably the better solution for her. Her job is to guard. Now she can guard everybody freely which she was meant to do. It is also better because she can freely mark her territory to announce her presence to all predators.

[@edwardculbertson779]

O9ī ko ko

[@AB-ol5uz]

Pyrs are pleasers while being so independent. They are incredibly sensitive to criticism (will pout, etc.) but respond quickly to positive training. I've been relieved in the past few weeks when your vlogs showed she was not being penned up anymore. They are bred to cover large areas and work better in pairs long-term. I hope that you will consider getting a Pyr puppy that Winnie can help train now that she's more confident in her role. I was really concerned when you picked her initially because she showed such submissive behavior/wanting affection and to please, etc. as some pyrs are more people driven then animal driven. But now that she's living in a way that supports both aspects, she'll be a great asset and a great trainer of her partner in crime. A single pyr can defend itself well against a predator, and possibly even against a couple of predators at one time but they need a partner to ward off a larger predator pack.

[@KellysGarden]

I agree about the positive training idea. I can tell by her body language and facial expressions that she is a nervous and sensitive dog ❤️

[@stacyjothompson2776]

4 of our dogs are GP's and they are wonderful. I actually laughed out loud when you said they pout...omg do they ever! Our females are fantastic guard dogs, but our male kinda' just runs and gets the girls if he sees or hears trouble (he's actually afraid of the chickens). The irony is the male came from the larger of the two farms that we got our GP's from and even though we got him as a pup, he's always just kind of been this way. We named him Aquilla, and he has a girlfriend that we named Priscilla...figured it was appropriate. Best dogs I've ever owned !

[@Lucas_Terry]

We need a Winnie cam! It would be interesting to see what she does daily.

[@secretgardenhomestead3251]

I would LOVE a Teddy cam too! Hehe!

[@donnamays24]

What a fabulous idea..I would love to see the homestead from her perspective r a few days…surely would be entertaining! 🙏🏻💖

[@michaelcarney6280]

I tried that with my Czech wolf dog and she hated it refused to walk and they are stubborn as hell

[@Lucas_Terry]

@@michaelcarney6280 yeah I also tried it. But then again all dogs are different

[@Shonnasstuff]

She was used to having other pups to play with, now she's trying to play with the sheep. Fence around the outside of everything, for her to protect everything. Too close of quarters. Keep walking her boundaries with her, she won't leave her boundaries, but will watch it all.

[@LydieBaillie]

She's found a role she can embrace, guarding her people and their stuff and your farm gets the surveillance you require. It's a win. God bless Winnie

[@patriotmama]

Great Pyrenees love to roam. We had one and she was all over our property. She guarded everything including our kids and we NEVER had a predator come on the farm. She was a great guard dog. She not only guarded the goats, steers, chickens and kept critters out of the garden, she watched the kids when they were little and kept them from going in the road. We watched her. LOL. It's better if you get them as pups. A little older dogs have a harder time. Her barking is natural. Most of them bark most of the night. That is a good thing. She is letting any predator know that she will come after any of the animals she would have none of it. Sheep are naturally afraid of dogs. Unless you have a small pup that grows up with them, they will run every time they see her. She is doing just what she is supposed to do.

[@donnamays24]

Letting her be the guardian of the entire property is gonna make her a very happy girl…she’s so smart, your blessed to have her! As time goes by she will prove to be one of your homesteads biggest assets, I’m sure of it! It’s obvious she loves the family as well. Winnie is a rock star. ❤️🙏

[@maltipoosoffgrid6868]

You finally figured it out. We have 6 pyrenees/ komondors that roam our property. We live offgrid in the woods and not only do they protect against animal predators, but also human ones. When we get something new like a vehicle tractor or side by side part of them will stay up in our parking area when they hear anyone driving by the property, slowing down or stopping. My only suggestion to make your situation better with your dog is to get another when she is about 2 years old. They will work much more effectively as a pair and get a male. That can make all the difference if there's a pack of coyotes.

[@michelesteward5170]

💯

[@Mothman.69]

Often LGDs are kept in pairs for team work, but also let’s them play without using the sheep to play and they are more likely to stick around

[@N-A-uw5fp]

It sounds like you finally figured out how your dog works rather than you making your dog work the way you think. So glad to see you figured it all out and she will now be a happy dog and will not be digging for freedom

[@tracybruring7560]

your son is smart; this is a great thing. I sleep like a baby when my LGD is barking.

[@michaeldavis8599]

There's an old song lyric, "You can't always get what you want... but if you try sometimes, you get what you need." Seems like your farm needed a general guard dog and Winnie stepped up to the job. Win-Win for all.

[@radza100]

you didnt get what you wanted, you got what you needed. protection. god bless!

[@bethsands7665]

I am glad that you tried out many options in her favor and for the best outcome for a great family and farm guard dog. Everyone looks happier now, thankfully.

[@veronicajean3612]

Never understood the confinement to a small sheep herd. Small area. I mentioned she needed to guard the entire perimeter of the farm. And now her dreams come tru

[@HeatherNaturaly]

My Pyrenees also roam free. They will go into the sheep pasture, but mostly they patrol the entire property and up the mountain. We have never lost any livestock to a predator bigger than a rat. Today, they downed a stray fawn and I had to rescue her from them. We let her loose at the bottom of the knoll across the road, out of their range.

[@jamjar5716]

HEASEBA, what?! The fawn was downed by rats?! Did I read this wrong?

[@HeatherNaturaly]

@@jamjar5716 Oh my, no. The LGD's downed the fawn. Sorry for the confusion. they won't let ANY stray animal on the property.

[@andrewwhitman1718]

We have a dog similar to Winnie. He will not be penned. He escaped a 6-foot-tall chain link fence. He will protect us, our farm, and our animals. But he does not like small areas. He has to have wide open areas to roam and protect. You guys have shown a lot of understanding and compassion to her. Keeping her in a confined area will stress her and cause her to stress the other animals around her.

[@jillyd2807]

Every time I saw her on your videos I knew she wasn’t happy and I was sad for her! So pleased to see she’s living her best life. Another ingenious solution from Jonah! Perfect! 🐶👏👏👏

[@vanessaallan7858]

You could work with an invisible fence which works with a collar that buzzes when they get too close to boundary markers. Also look into a tracking tag so that you always know where she is with your phone. When she comes into season she will bleed for approx 2 weeks only AFTER the bleeding stops is she receptive to being bred so you can lock her up for the last 10-14 days. I'm glad things are working out for you all

[@flyingpigpreserve8562]

Winnie is doing what she knows how to best. I really think she's found here role on your farm. She was large and proud barking at the end of the video. She'll learn the boundaries just take her with whenever you go anywhere on the farm. She's smart that's for sure. So happy for her and you all. Peace from WV

[@donnamays24]

Totally agree💖

[@laurapoynter2970]

@@donnamays24 same here. Winnie needs to patrol all the farm. So she can protect everything the property, all the animals and her beloved family members. I thought thats what they wanted her for. She needs to roam around everywhere of their property. Her being pen ip with small area with the sheep is way to tiny for her. She needed more space to be happy and free to roam around. Yes I agree that she needs another guardian puppy or 2 to train and love. and they can be great companions for each other . To have each other backs to protect everything from hugh packs of predators. So please consider getting another or two for more protection and it will miss Whinnie more happier. She's use to having another guardian dogs around her. She had all her family guardian dogs where you got her from. Please get her a couple more guardian dogs to her family. I promise you it would be the best thing for her, them and you family. Please keep us updated how she's doing and if yoy get more guardian dogs. Thank you and Gods Blessings. 💗🙏🕊🌹🥰🐕🐶😍

[@rebeccamunoz4596]

I am soo happy for her and your whole family and farm. She looked proud on the Hill barking towards the end of your video 😊🤗👍👍👍❤

[@TheMrothe]

Nothing makes me happier than seeing your son pulling out the wire feed and "mig'ing" up his bicycle! That is a lifelong skill that every good farmer needs!

[@morningmystfarm2017]

I feel your struggles. I have LGDs also, and had issues... But then I found Farei Kennels Shepherd Training on Mighty Networks, learned how to train them properly, and have had no further serious issues. The training methods work amazingly well with LGDs, as well as other dogs. As far as worrying about her running off and getting bred - it would be far simpler and smarter to simply get her fixed. With my girls I noticed that they are more serious about their jobs and less likely to run off. Plus, if you have no idea what type of dog gets her pregnant, you could easily end up with pups that would be confused about their purpose in life - all the different genetics would be warring with each other and the end result would be dogs who have lives with limited peace and structure.

[@Jess7Lane]

So glad that wood and chain thing didn't work out... its like putting a muzzle on a sheep and not letting them eat grass... dogs are designed to run. You found a way to let her thrive by protecting you all 🙌🙌🙌 it's just beautiful to see her with the kids too. 💖

[@jeannec1308]

I've had 3 Gr. Pyrs., they are amazing dogs! The male was like Winnie, didn't like being locked up with the sheep - or the goats - or the dairy cow! He was great at keeping the bobcats away from the chickens, running free. The 2 females were also different from each other. One loved to stay on the hillsides within the fencing as the "Watcher". The other loved to stay with the herd all the time, tolerating the lambs and kids to play king of the hill/dog. It is harder for an adult dog to feel an affinity for the animals if they have not grown up together. There is a good chance Winnie will bond with the lambs!

[@rachelcrane3519]

Once old enough you can have her spayed to prevent unwanted pregnancies ❤️

[@tinatippin5705]

I was wondering about Winnie. So happy you were able to work out her purpose that was the right fit for you both. Great outcome. All is well again.

[@WinkTartanBelle]

Some walkie talkies might be not only handy for y'all, but lifesaving. I applaud you for not giving up and working through the situation until finding a solution that works best for the farm and for the dog. I'm going to second the advice of others with LGD and Pyr experience. You need a second dog, preferably a less introverted/submissive male. Winnie was obviously more submissive from the start, as evidenced by her body language when you filmed her on her original farm with all the other dogs. You don't have to get another Pyr, but a male LGD breed puppy (after Winnie settles into her new situation) will be a good backup for Winnie in the case of pack attacks, will give her a playmate so she lays off the sheep, and will help fill in the areas she can't patrol all the time. An Anatolian might be just the ticket, provided you get a pup and can allow him to bond with your sheep or cattle. He needn't remain intact, so Winnie having puppies isn't an issue. If you DO choose to breed, be aware that your female will not be on patrol for a large chunk of time, so you'll want to plan accordingly. Different breeds of LGDs tend to work in slightly different ways, but not all Pyrs do thus-and-such and all Anatolians do this-a-way absolutely. Generalizations are not absolutes. Different breeds were developed to a purpose. They are like specialized wrenches: Every wrench is still a wrench, but some are better for certain jobs than others. Doesn't make it impossible to use one type of wrench for a job it wasn't built for. Just makes things harder. Knowing and defining the specific job you want the dog to do, you research to find the best dog for the job. LGD is not a breed, it's a generalized job description. Don't visit a proctologist to get help with your skin rash. The proctologist might be able to help you, but it's not actually his best use. Your gynecologist can prescribe a medicine for your heart issue, but you'd be nuts to rely on her alone to treat that issue routinely. Same with these dog breeds. Find the specialist that fits your needs. This will GENERALY work in your favor. Again, good job sticking with it to find what works for you and for Winnie. I feel like Jonah came up with the solution instinctually,. He's not so indoctrinated or biased, just observing and thinking critically. Excellent!

[@cynthiahofer2903]

I'm glad you figured this out.

[@saundramorris5530]

New owners of Livestock Guardian Dogs forget sometimes to realize… you are also part of her “herd”. She looks super happy to guard the livestock and you all as well. 💕 Your LGD will do amazing.

[@struykfamilyfarm9587]

The people I know who have bought grown livestock guardian dogs have ALWAYS bought a few of the livestock they are bonded to WITH the dog. The animals that come with the dog will keep it from wondering away and teach the new animals that she isn't something dangerous

[@stephanienuce7711]

This is the exact situation with my Anatolian. She guards the whole place and roams free! We never have a predator issue and she always alarms us when people pull up to the gate! Good choice!

[@michelesteward5170]

Loved my Anatolian

[@cherievallee646]

Her job is much bigger than you anticipated. 💜 I just love dog’s.

[@christinedescant8504]

Thanks so much for enviting us into yr lives. I feel like part of yr 👪 Family. I love all of yr Animals. Yr family is amazing. I feel like im out there with yall. Tks again and God bless u all cant wait till the next vidio. Louisiana.

[@alexandeurross4169]

Pyrenees guard by roaming out in a radius and pushing predators away from the animals. This contrasts with lgds like Anatolians, which stay with the animals and defend if anything comes to attack. What you have Winnie doing now is way closer to her natural instinct than trying to keep her in a pen. They'll always try to escape in order to do their job. 😁

[@christineosborne3155]

I hope her appointment for being spade is already on the books! Rebecca is good at that; hope it's a priority.

[@stephaniedagenais525]

*spayed

[@christineosborne3155]

@@stephaniedagenais525 gotta love auto-correct but thank you. It's good to know the spelling/grammar police are still around...lol

[@stephaniedagenais525]

@@christineosborne3155 sorry!! Former vet tech here, so that’s a pet peeve of mine… no pun intended! 🤪😂

[@johnrambo127]

Thank goodness. I really was expecting to hear y'all had to re-home her. Glad she gets to explore your property and has a bunch of kids to hug on her. Great compromise.

[@karenlemley8656]

She's doing exactly what she was bred for... Protecting everything on the farm. Not just the sheep. She's a very smart dog.

[@jeannedigennaro6484]

So glad you could resolve the situation and keep her.

[@Mcfaddenclan000]

So glad You Guy’s worked it out with her because she is very evidently attached to your family. We keep our Guardian the same way - he is our protector ❤️ predators by land and air don’t trespass unnoticed.

[@rezyness]

Yeah mine LGDs roam n guard a large area chasing off coyote pack...love their big loud bark

[@liddigoodwin9807]

She is a big girl and smart as. This feels right. Good job.

[@bbraskey8521]

Waaaaaaaay better solution!!!! She’s a sweetheart with the kids!

[@OneStepHomestead]

I call that a blessing in disguise..... You thought you bought a tire but you ended up getting the whole wheel barrel........ So much bigger gift than first expected. When life gives you lemons....... As far as it may feel it's just a test to see if you can handle getting the whole tree

[@heatherk8931]

Nice short story about your new pup and all the ingenuity and patience it took to get to the answer🌟

[@Rugersgirl724]

I for sure do not like the wood chained to her, cruel. She should be spade and I saw you did get her spade so yeah, that’s protecting Winnie and being a responsible dog person. It’s nice to see her happy, she’s pretty special. Sweet girl Winnie.

[@marlenereimchen9141]

One of our guardians is like that. He has always been guarding the farm as a whole. He never bonded with the goats. He is neutered though so he doesn't wonder. Our other one we got as a puppy, just over 2 months old and put him with the goats right away. He has bonded to all the livestock and lives with them. It wasn't without some growing pains but he will be 2 years old in September and is a great dog and wonderful with the livestock.

[@artwithmycoffee]

What a great solution! Happy for you all.

[@phyrewillow6463]

Really interesting problem. Thanks for bringing us along while you were figuring it out! Very useful info, as I’m planning on a guardian dog. Our area has lots of predators. Kudos for being open minded

[@twinmaples.carnivoreroad]

When I saw the title of this story I was worried about Winnie. Great to see the Rhodes wisdom kick through and realize Winnie was what the whole farm needed.

[@stephanieg5195]

So glad you came up with this decision for her and y’all!

[@janelleb8274]

Wow, some of these commenters are harsh! Imagine if someone recorded all of your trial and errors, what would that look like, would you be proud of how you handled every situation in your life, would you know the answer the first time....Geez? As I see it, you got into a situation that didn't work out as planned, but you re-worked, adapted, listened to suggestions, and ended up with a good outcome. Thank you Rhodes family for showing that real life situations don't always work out on the first try or how you intended them! I personally love the outcome of this one.

[@mamat5264]

You did the right thing, you got so much more than you originally wanted. And she seems very happy.

[@kevinturner121]

Great happy ending. Thank you

[@louiseeyahpaise795]

That's what dogs do, they take care of their people. Winnie is a good watchdog.👩🏽‍🌾👍🏽💖

[@Fatimasroots]

So smart mr brown sharing his ideas for solutions definitely growing to get involved. Thanks for showing us the way

[@soniaschemel3436]

Thanks for this video and how you handled this. Livestock guardians are greatly misunderstood and each breed of livestock guardian comes with its own challenge. They all can cover vast areas and will guard everything within their territory. I have found in my own experience that what you did by giving her freedom and allowing her to do her job is what brings balance and security. And having more than one will increase that! One is a predator and one is prey: that is instinct even though there should be no attack there is going to be a tension

[@Acadian.FrenchFry]

I think this is the perfect situation. I have seen other farm channels that also just have their LGDs roam the entire property. She seems very attuned to what is happening around your land and running off predators. They will know now that she is there and it will deter them from just boldly coming onto your farm.

[@stephanieallen8591]

I don’t have any advice on how to train your dog to not bully the sheep, but a GPS collar could really help you if she does get out. We highly recommend Fi!

[@RhondaRichter-1234]

Just wonderful!!!

[@katherineb6102]

Things don't always go the way we plan but because we are sentient beings, we can adjust. Seems to be a win for all.

[@anneturner2018]

Such what an incredibly wonderful story!!❤️

[@gotsleddogs]

She loves you guys. We have a pyr who serves very similarly except, we bring him in at night because he barks and alerts ALL night. He will let us know if we have to let him out to protect animals at night too. She looks super sweet. Enjoy her.

[@JMK_Fam]

Our GP wanted to only protect our children. So she quickly became our "babysitter" when the kids go exploring, she is there. When the kids are in the pool or pond, she is watching like a hawk. Not what we intended, but absolutely perfect for what was needed. So far 2 copperheads, countless coyotes, 3 stray dogs, and one amazon delivery person have been knowingly scared off. Currently at my feet while the kids play. She could care less about the cows or birds. But mess with her people....😳 she just gave birth to poodle crosses. So we are hoping 2 of them will be great cow and horse protection.

[@janethamil9337]

I am so glad you finally realized Winnie's purpose on the farm. I was getting upset watching you guys fumble and fail with that poor girl. You now have the ultimate guard dog, the way that breed is intended to function. I love watching your videos, please don't get me wrong.

[@suewilliams9910]

You don't keep guard dogs penned up. They patrol the area. The only time you keep them penned up with the sheep is when they are puppies so they identify as part of the pack. I think at first Winnie wanted to go back to her old farm. Poor Winnie trapped for weeks.

[@stevedyer13]

Beautiful working dog!

[@anneburdette6037]

Her personal scope of activity is much larger than yours Justin; she’s clearly a people dog as well as livestock and y’all’s kids are her responsibility. She is an amazing dog, y’all are so lucky to have a dog like Winnie!

[@kfg4046]

I wish I could have guided you through this process

[@leahness3588]

I'm so glad Winney can be an essential part of your homestead. But I would wish you would get her fixed.....the world doesn't need anymore unwanted pets. Shelters are full again after covid and you can't guarantee the pups get a good forever home. PLEASE❤🙏❤🙏

[@MonicaRrtx]

We had a rough collie, like lassie, she did her job, on keeping coyotes away for 15 years... never had a fence, and she was an outside pup, she knew her home boundaries.

[@cat-wo7ee]

Really happy that in the end it worked out and everyone is happier

[@fionar1656]

Jonahs idea was a great idea for her to guard your home & farm. I'm glad you guys didn't give up on her. Justin you should speak to your friends Miah & Jess Sowards @RootsandRefugeFarm about livestock guardian dogs as they have a couple & experience of them guarding their livestock or you could speak to Greg Judy who breeds them.

[@debraflecker151]

Way to go guys and way to go Winnie!

[@joshdickson8884]

My only fear now would be that coyotes hunt as a pack and their strategy can be to lead her off as the others come behind her to attack her so if possible get another guard dog to patrol with her as the coyotes are less likely to attack her

[@thatonedog819]

Thats why packs of dogs are better than a single

[@Acadian.FrenchFry]

I always warn people about coyotes doing this. Amazing how many are clueless to this behavior in cotes. One thing that is good is that she is a really large dog and most coyotes will not want to work that hard on a larger more powerful aggressive dog. There is plenty of easier prey for them to target. Problem will still be her getting attacked if they come after sheep, etc. They might not kill her, but they will still hurt her. I hope they get a second dog at least.

[@joshdickson8884]

@@Acadian.FrenchFry they may not kill her but they might attack her enough to disable her as they will see her as a threat to their pack and once they have attacked they will have nothing to stop them from attacking the livestock

[@Acadian.FrenchFry]

@@joshdickson8884 Totally agree! I hope they see the need for a second dog.

[@marilynnew2189]

This is such a fabulous outcome for all of you.

[@tinabloomfield7228]

So glad you figured Winnie out,❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@StoneKathryn]

Thanks for explaining how it went with Winnie. She is a good guard dog so she is getting used for her original intent too. I'm glad you found a solution that benefits the farm. You still have Teddy as the family dog but he doesn't do the role that Winnie has now taken over. Thanks for this Justin and family.

[@angelasheppard7197]

Glad you found a way to use her

[@donna7338]

About Winnie's failure as a sheep guard dog, as Bob Ross said, there aren't mistakes, only happy accidents.

[@julieking4304]

it seems to me that you got her before knowing what you were getting into...you and the dog are learning together what she can do.

[@dmerrell9723]

Definitely should have had a much better education and expectation of an adult dog before you ventured into this one. Why the heck wasn’t she spayed from the start. You were definitely doing her a huge disservice until you finally figured it out. GET HER SPAYED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jillfaber9865]

Learning is key D Merrill. You learned somethings probably from experience. Give people a break. I’m sure there are things people could lecture you on. Lighten up!

[@10forseven]

@@dmerrell9723 She was on a another farm in with their sheep when they got her. That farm was being sold and everything on it had to go. They were under the impression she was fine doing what she had always done. What happened was she went alone with out her sibling and probably has separation anxiety. She has a good home settle er' down

[@darci12u]

Justin you have finally made a great decision she is a farm guard she wants to make sure y'all are all safe... She also likes to sleep in day time... Love The Rhodes

[@janetwithers7427]

Winnie is a fine dog. She can protect the farm. 💞

[@sallyintucson]

GP tend to be nocturnal watch dogs, which is why they’re so good for guarding livestock. Please get her spayed.

[@hair2fab]

This is Exactly how we purposely trained our LGD. He keeps his AREA safe. Not just one animal. The animals are safe by default in his area. We love it!

[@crzyjenni]

Great story!

[@alexMTR2019]

Winnie needs a buddy, back up when she goes after a few coyotes.

[@CountryLady1752]

I only take in dogs that have been abused & as soon as I saw Miss Winnie , I knew she is a family dog.. love Happy endings.. if I were a coyote ,I would get out of Dodge hear her deep bark.. take care🕊🌹🙏🏼

[@believeinyourself7511]

We use two guard dogs together in the sheep fields here in Ohio. Get a microchip put in Whinny for her safety if she does get lost.

[@julierutkowski7654]

doing what she was bred to do!

[@thatonedog819]

Lgd are well known for being escape artists. She wants to roam her territory and bark off the predators. She doesn't want to be stuck in a fence. You could probably look into something like a Vence which is an electric collar that is also a fence using GPS. You make the fence at your property line. Also, adult dogs keep puppies in line. They teach them proper behavior.

[@susannevells208]

She is so smart dog 🐕

[@pamelam1500]

Love a happy Winnie!!!

[@helenpenner9899]

Such a good story I thoroughly enjoyed 😀

[@AmandakailynnAllen]

That's a pretty awesome case of what you want vs what she's breed to do.. the padocks were too small for her and she was nicely trying to make her point.

[@AmandakailynnAllen]

Can you attach a hypper laps on her?

[@camicri4263]

Wow! That's so much better than you anticipated! I wish that she would have a partner rather than being alone! Jonah had a awesome idea! Your kids are amazing, Gideon too! Truly blessed! 🤗🤗❤🤗🤗

[@julieten2774]

Glad you figured out what to do with her. Looks like a win win for everyone including the sheep. Have you looked into using donkeys as guard animals? There are videos of donkeys fighting with coyotes and the donkeys won. Some states like Colorado have rescue donkey shelters. I'm not sure because I've never had that breed but I do believe in order to train them to be livestock guard dogs they have to be trained as puppies with no human interaction at first. My sister got one as a puppy to guard her sheep and it turned out to be a house dog because my sister wouldn't leave it alone.

[@bevnelson3678]

Awesome.