Raising puppies to become livestock guardian dogs is a 15 month to two year venture. These breeds of dogs do not mature nor can they be considered reliable before this age.
During this training time there are three foundation blocks to tend to:
Bonding to livestock
Training to fences
Socializing to people and surroundings
Bonding to Livestock
Livestock guardian breeds come with an inherent ability to guard that which they bond to, so our job is to be sure they bond to sheep. Puppies who are whelped out and raised amongst the flock will develope a bond with ewes early on. They will garner an affinity for sheep through the dam. This bonding needs to continue in the new home.
Before purchasing your pup do some preparation for his arrival and subsequent life at your place.
Have some adult ewes in a nearby paddock who will be kind enough to the pup but yet probably not put up with puppy playfulness. Avoid ewes you know are cranky and avoid young stock like lambs that may encourage the pup into chasing and rough play. These ewes will be your puppy raising crew.
Set up a pen within the paddock that the pup can access but the ewes cannot. If ewes are able to harm the pup at this time they can quickly turn him off of his guardian duties. It is preferable if the pen is located where it will be within site of the animals at all times.
It is also preferable if you can lock the pup in this pen when needed. It will serve you well to build this pen of a size that it can house an adult LGD later on. It needs to be escape proof too. Dog proof pens will become a handy feature at other times during the life of your LGD.
When you bring your pup home be prepared for him to spend the night where you expect him to spend his nights as an adult. With the stock. Not in your house.
Every day you will need to exercise your pup and let him interact with his charges. Leash walk the pup around the perimeter of the paddock. This teaches the pup about leash manners which is advantageous when the pup becomes an adult and needs to be moved or vetted. It also teaches him the boundaries.
You can allow free time outside the puppy pen whenever you are around to keep an eye on the action. For the first few weeks, lock the pup up when you are not there to supervise.
Over the next several months supervise the pup and discipline any unwanted action toward the animals such as chasing, chewing, and biting. After several months you may wish to give him more freedom with the stock but always be on the watch for problem behaviors. As the pup matures you will notice if he is bonding to the sheep or not.
When raising puppies encourage bonding by petting and feeding the pup in this area only. Do not take the pup up to the house for food or grooming etc.
Go to Part II of Raising Puppies - Training to Fences and Socializing
When you bring your pup home be prepared for him to spend the night where you expect him to spend his nights as an adult. With the stock. Not in your house. 