Which would be better..your thoughts

I am getting Alpacas next year and I live in the middle of nowhere so there are plenty predators around. I am bouncing back and forth between Great Pyrenees and a Spanish Mastiff to guard the herd. All or most farms in the area have horses or cows and they all have Pyrs. I have been to a few Alpacas Farms which they have all had Pyrs with the exception of one who had Anatolians. Wondering, which do you believe would be best or positive vs negatives of either breed. I do want them to be independent and work. I know that I could adopt a Pyrenese from a rescue, which I have thought of, but how will I know if it will work or just be some goofy dog in the yard? And once it doesnt want to work, how to I tell the rescue it isnt working out...?? BUT SM are not easy to find and I have only seen one in a rescue in the last year. I doubt that I would import one. Thanks in advance on your thoughts. WHo knows by next year I may decide on a different breed :)

Just be carefull. 6-12 month pup from your neighbor's farm may be unsocialized fearfull scared animal that barks well while in a pasture, but unable to get in your car to even go to a vet.

Pyr , the swiss army knife of LGDs . Prices are reasonable & " most " are very healthy

Ya my luck I try to do a good thing and rescue a Pyr and it probably will originate from a Pet Store... !special :( I will have to find a breeder. None of my neighbors breed them, nor do any of the Alpaca Breeders I have visited...except the one did breed her Anatolians. Thanks for your thoughts...I still have plenty of time to figure out what will work for us and what is available at that time. Jess- I thought about using a Neo but....... maybe I should be the first! lol Its not a bad idea actually but we will see. :) I have a couple that could do the job, most likely, and are more independent... OoooOh what the future could hold LOL

No way you could use a neo as a livestock guardian, and I think trying to train it to be one would be borderline animal cruelty. Most dogs are overwhelmingly drawn to people, neos maybe more than any other, a livestock guardian needs to be ok with hanging out with alpacas(or whatever) all day. A neo just isn't going to do that. Mind you, if your alpacas don't range very far from your house any dog would serve as a "livestock guardian", just by guarding the house and area close to it. But if you want a dog to follow livestock out into the sticks and stay with them, you'd need a real livestock guardian.

for charina.. if u need a real lgd u have to concentrate in working lne of breed..in my opinion u should point ur attention on:maremma sheepdog,cao,caucasina hsepherd dog short hair..lemme know if u want to have some contacts..i can help u in translation here in italy..

Just wanted to update everyone. I am getting Anatolian Shepards. I have a friend who breeds them for working and the ability to go onto the show ring as well. She has been raising them for a time now and and keep them with her Alpacas & goats. Proven for working, and well once she goes thru her evaluation procedure I will know which female is mine. I do show and handle other dogs in the AKC ring such as Neos, GSP, AmStaffs but really want this girl for work only with potential to take in the ring If I choose. Cant wait! Will post pics later. They were just born last night

[quote1290475683=RedEagle] Don't Llamas protect Alpacas? Will you get more than one dog? I hear Alapacas need lots of territory, so I assume having a single dog might not be perfectly effective. [/quote1290475683] Llamas will protect Alpacas. I just have no interest in them. They are double the size of an Alpaca and tend to be a little more aggressive than an Alpaca. I will be using the Fiber from the Alpacas to make clothing and other items and yarn for sale. And actually you can have 6-10 Alpacas on 1 acre of land! I have plenty more than that and plan to use 4 acres for my Alpacas. They are a close knit herd. ;) I will show pics and stories. This is also exciting for us for getting a LGD that will be a working full time job. Not that the Neos dont guard the property but its different. THey also want to come in and lay on the dog beds :)

ooops...forgot to say that I will be only getting one female at this time. She will start here career at my home with the Chickens and move up to the Alpacas. :)

[quote1290566660=gsicard] hummm maybe you should start her with the Alpacas - if she is a pup - the bonding will be critical during the development stages [/quote1290566660] Actually that is what the breeder recommended and what she does with her pups and Im not quite sure what age she will release her, after her initial testing, I think by 6 months.