Farming of the Future. . .Happening Today
Guardian dogs are ancient breeds…their important role…..to be guardians of livestock. The following article by renowned expert on Guardian dogs, Jan Dohner, speaks of the important need to protect these breeds from alternative uses: https://www.jandohner.com/single-post/2018/12/02/Preserving-the-Essential-Traits-and-Behaviors-of-Livestock-Guardian-Dogs
Great Pyrenees pups photo by Peter Sannicandro
WHEN IT COMES TO THE MOST OUTSTANDING, CARING, AND ETHICAL BREEDER OF GREAT PYRENEES
IT IS PETER SANNICANDRO IN MILLBURY MASSACHUSETTS
Shown here are two of his beautiful 7 month old girls, whose blood line is 75% European and 25% American. The raising of these special dogs is a complete labor of love for him & his commitment to supporting our farmers who wish to coexist with the carnivores on their land. He gives them a very happy and socialized life that also includes living with goats and chickens. Right now he has three of these girls available. Oh the lucky farmer who gets to have one of them as a farming partner. You can contact Peter via email at : guardthehive@gmail.com or phone him at (508) 740-8643.
*** You can read more about Peter in our Meet the Farmers section of our website here.
GUARDIAN DOGS ARE LIKE A NEW PHD PROFESSOR AT A UNIVERSITY
They come to you with all the genetic know how that has been passed down for many generations in their breed. BUT….. like a new professor at a university, they have to learn everything about this new place where they will be working: the rules, getting to know the ones they will nurture, safety, relationships with their fellow humans and others, and the limits of their environment.
SO IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO RAISE A NEW PUPPY WELL.
WE ARE ALL ABOUT SHARING! TOGETHER WE ARE TRANSITIONING TO THE FUTURE OF FARMING.
Here Abby and Jake from the Applecreek Farm in Bowdoinham, Maine share ~
We’re adding a new member of our farm team for this season. In the job description you’ll find requirements such as an attention to detail, a big bark, a thick coat and an ability to work from 6 pm to 5 am daily.
Who is this new employee? A Great Pyrennes pup! She’s been raised alongside goats and chickens at a farmstead in Massachusetts and will be joining us in March. This photo of the whole litter (below) may give you the same sense of excitement we have!
Our new girl will have her work cut out for her. Our latest blog post entitled, Who Else Lives on the Farm is about some of the other critters that call Apple Creek home and the recent uninvited guests who have been calling up on our hens! We have plenty of land and it can support an abundance of wildlife, but we’re finding it more and more challenging to ensure our animals stay safe while enjoying the great outdoors.
As you know our broilers, laying hens and turkeys are outside every day and while this is critical to our farming philosophy and their innate desires — it makes them susceptible to predation. Our new pup will be trained as an LGD or Livestock Guardian Dog in order to spend her days (and nights) patrolling the fields and deterring owls, hawks and other would-be predators. In doing so we’ll have happy, healthy animals that thrive outdoors and we’ll sleep better at night knowing everyone is safe.
This is the case we made to Food Animal Concerns Trust, FACT as part of our application for their Fund-A-Farmer grant. I’m happy to report they agreed! The grant award will offset the purchase and first year “start-up” expenses of our new canine. This is our second grant award, our first helped us install water lines in two of our fields ensuring clean, fresh water for all animals.
This is Otto and his human partner
He lives in Maine in the United States. But his ancestors are from Turkey. They have for centuries been the guardians of sheep, working alongside their shepherds. Sharing here a short video of the life they continue to live there. Note the relationship they have with their shepherds, and how the very young pups are incorporated into the flock along with their adult companions. Note the spiked collars the adult dogs wear for their protection. Click below:
Wanting to share a true life happening that took place last week during the destructive California fires
ODIN a Great Pyrenees guardian dog refused to leave the baby goats he had been guarding, despite the explosions, heat, and the fast moving fire that forced his family to evacuate. The family returned, finding their way past police barricades and still dangerous areas, intent on seeking Odin and the goats…..with thoughts that they were all lost to the fire. But once back they found Odin weak, whiskers singed, limping, his white fur all yellow and burned paws with the small goats surrounding him. Not only that…..young deer sought Odin’s protection as well.
THIS IS THE COURAGE OF GUARDIAN DOGS. THY WILL SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES FOR THOSE THEY ARE TO PROTECT.
*Odin will have a full recovery, thanks to his caring family
OUR FARMERS ARE DAILY NEEDING TO LEARN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO CARE FOR AND SUPPORT
GUARDIAN DOGS IN THE IMPORTANT ROLE THEY PLAY
Below is a link to a valuable facebook group “Learning about LGDs” Very experienced breeders and long time owners of these guardians often answer questions that are posed. One of those is Jan Dohner, who we have highlighted here on our Network. It is good to have a place to go to support each other.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LearningAboutLGDs/806443969441053/?notif_t=group_comment_reply
IT IS WINTER TIME ~ A challenging time to farm; also a LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE for wild carnivores.
It is important for you to know that carnivores walk this line of survival, that they are often on the edge of starvation in the winter.
That is why Guardian Animals are such an important part of your team in the winter. Note the photo above, taken by Billy Foster of the Foster Farm in Maine. Though his fencing is excellent, the deep snow would allow a carnivore to jump over it with ease.
BUT ~ His guardian dogs are present, and have been present all year. There is an UNDERSTANDING between them and the Coyote family who live on his farm. Note the Coyote tracks that REMAIN on the outside of the fence.
SO ~ if you are thinking about acquiring one of these amazing guardians for your farm, the following are some questions and thoughts to think about and research this winter:
If ever you wanted to do research regarding the Guardian Dog that is right for your farm, this newly published book by Jan Dohner will be of great assistance to you. It is one of those books you would want to keep as a reference because it is packed with valuable information.
An Excellent opportunity to come learn about farming successfully with Carnivores will take place at THE COMMON GROUND FAIR in Unity, Maine on September 24 and 25.
At 1:00 PM on Saturday, the 24th we will host a panel of two outstanding farmers, Dave Kennard and Billy Foster, noted author and breeder of Kangals Jan Dohner, and Wildlife biologist and author Geri Vistein. Last year the tent was packed as we shared together in a lively discussion, our experience and knowledge. Our audience was amazing, jumping right in and asking excellent questions and expressing what has been happening on their farm.
Then, at 2:00 PM Jan Dohner will go more into depth about all the important issues regarding the decision to find a guardian dog, and then when they come to your farm…then what? Her new book Farm Dogs is just being released on time for the Fair, and her excellent 2007 book Guardian Animals: Using Dogs, Llamas and Donkeys to Protect your Herd is highly recommended She will also speak on Sunday, the 25th at 1:00 PM
SO COME IF YOU CAN! MUCH TO LEARN AND GREAT SUPPORT AWAITING YOU!