Hi! So this evening, I was making dinner when I saw a dog on my front porch! I went out there and found this guy, dragging a broken tie out cable. He was super friendly and wanted all the cuddles, and wanted to come in my house. I live in a rural area, so I put him in my garage and went looking for his owner. I found her, and she told me he’s a rescue but he has zero interest in guarding her livestock and he keeps running away and they’re worried he’s going to get hit by a car. I made a comment that if they ever wanted to rehome him someday, I’d be interested, because he was such a sweet love bug, and she offered him to me on the spot!! I already have two dogs (husky mutt, pit mutt) and a cat, and I called my husband and he said we have to talk and think about it, so we’re doing that right now. 

We live on an acre, and walk our dogs daily. I feel like that’s not enough room for a livestock guardian dog, if he’s on a huge farm right now and he keeps running away, but it also seems like he wants to be a house dog! Right now my husband and I are leaning towards borrowing him and doing introductions with my dogs and cat and seeing how it goes. 

From what I’ve read, GPs are big, shed a lot, are independent and stubborn, and like to run away. I’d like to hear from experienced GP owners what their thoughts are on this situation. I have a decent amount of experience with big stubborn dogs, but not with livestock guardian breed dogs, all my dogs have been mutts. Should I say yes and take this dog? 

(Also, this made me realize that I’m a city dweller at heart and therefore I see animals differently from farm people, because I’m pretty sure you’d have to kill me to take my dogs from me, and this lady just offered me this dog like it was not even a thing.) 

Advice from current owners