As the sun goes down on Halls Hill Farm tonight our Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dog Aunty Barbara bears a heavy burden of more than 200 farm critters to serve and protect. Aunty Barbara, or just Barb for short, was so named by our 3 year old daughter for an obscure character in a chapter book. Our daughter named her with absolute conviction, and after only a moment of thought it was apparent that there was no better name. She serves to protect all the animals and the feed on the farm, like a benevolent Aunt. Her primary role has been as defender of chickens. (Full disclosure: she has failed at her role on occasion, which we’ll discuss below, but first I will praise Barb and attempt to convince you, Reader, that she is worth an occasional loss.)
Barb and her worn path. This winter we could see her extensive tracks in the snow throughout the entire pasture, evidence of her dedication even in the cold and snow
A neighboring goat farmer delivered a litter of puppies, including Barb, out of his working stock. Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) are unique as they are considered farm stock, not pets, so much so that you can sell them on Craigslist. (Try to sell puppies on Craigslist and watch the moral outrage see you banned from the site). The litter was in a goat pen when we first saw them. Unlike normal puppies who would be yipping and running under foot vying for face-licks, Barb and her mates were reluctant at best – not afraid but uninterested in human contact at all. We decided on Barb who was least friendly – remember this is not a pet, she’s a worker. Barb was set to task immediately. I fashioned a shelter for her and leashed her to the side of the chicken coop during the day. At night she would sleep in with the chickens roosting above her. The importance of early integration with LGDs cannot be understated. Adult LGDs are often listed for sale online, but from what I’ve read, these are best converted to family dogs. They’ll guard your kids if you lack goats, but they may not be the best bet to keep your stock for various reasons. Now at a year and half old, Barb lives with the chickens day and night, year round. In the winter, her coat grew thick and even with shelter available she preferred a bed of snow. I rarely touch her, but she will greet me in the field or wait for me by the gate in the fence. I’m just part of the hierarchy in the field. I feed her and she is interested in me, but has remained reserved. She runs alongside our children when they come to visit, but doesn’t jump. (The kids are sure she will clobber them, although she has not followed through on this.) She only barks when she has spotted something within her view.
Checking in on her charges
As a pup Barb killed a few chickens and will kill a chicken if her feeding schedule is altered. She likes chicken as much as we do and will prove it if she gets hungry. I would guess that in a year she has killed 8 chickens. It is written extensively that Pyrenees don’t respond to beatings or other physical punishment. Even a smack on the nose is supposed to be counter-productive with this breed. Most effectively I have thrown the dead chicken at her and yelled loudly. This has produced an effect similar to a toddler who knows they did wrong, and has corrected most of the behavior. An occasional chicken is a small price to pay for the knowledge that the rest are safe, as is the feed Recently added to HHF are 162 chicks that broadcast their helplessness with an incessant “peep peep peep.” This sound is sweeter than a dinner bell to a predator looking for a quick bite. Also in the barn are 5 new piglets and 3000lbs of feed. All are safe tonight while the farmer and his wife sleep peacefully in our bed because Aunty Barbara has the watch.