They were 8 weeks old when we brought them home, and only two weeks later can come and sit on command. We are not dog people. To top it off, two of my kids are phobic! But, these sweet two already have us so very impressed. They are super smart, and I can tell that guarding livestock is in their blood. Their kennel area is surrounded by our free range chickens, turkeys, and guineas. Since they moved in, they have had poultry, goats, a horse, and a grumpy pig right on the other side of their fence. When we walk them through the pasture for training, they don't seem to even care that the chickens are there! I think if we had had the poultry locked up in coops, the puppies would find their movements, behavior, and sounds odd and want to play with them. But, these two guys don't seem to pay them any mind at all. Actually, they just lie down and watch them scratch about! The goats seem to be easy to accept the puppies, but Ms. Kitty (our mini horse) is less receptive. I will not be letting her near the dogs without me until they are much bigger and everyone is used to each other.
I was really worried about biting off this big commitment, but thanks to guidance from farm friends and the fact that I have never heard any farmer wish they did NOT have a guardian dog around, I got just the push I needed to bring these two home. When I go out late at night to close up a coop and those two little guys bark into the dark at the intruder, I know I made the right decision!
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