Question 1

What exactly is a livestock guardian dog?

Accepted Answer

A livestock guardian dog lives with your animals full time and treats them as its own. It is not a herding dog — it doesn't move stock, it protects it. The job is done mostly by presence: patrolling, marking, barking at what doesn't belong, and being large enough that coyotes, stray dogs, and hawks decide to hunt somewhere else.

Question 2

Why Kangal crossed with Great Pyrenees?

Accepted Answer

The Kangal brings size, courage, and a strong protective drive. The Great Pyrenees brings patience, tolerance of handling, and a gentler default around young stock and children. At 75% Kangal and 25% Pyrenees you get a dog serious enough to do the work and steady enough to live with.

Question 3

How much are the puppies?

Accepted Answer

Puppies are $500, males and females alike. A $200 deposit holds your pick from the current litter and is applied toward the total. Deposits aren't required for same-day pickups.

Question 4

How old are the puppies when they go home?

Accepted Answer

Eight weeks is our normal go-home age. By then they are weaned, eating well, and have spent their whole lives around poultry and stock. If you need us to hold a pup a little longer while you finish fencing or a shelter, we can usually work with you.

Question 5

Are the puppies already bonded to livestock?

Accepted Answer

They start bonded. Ours are whelped on the homestead and raised among chickens, ducks, and other animals from the day their eyes open, so livestock is simply normal to them. That head start matters, but the bond that counts is the one they form with your animals, so plan to place your pup with its stock right away.

Question 6

Do they come with shots and a health check?

Accepted Answer

Every puppy gets a health check before it leaves and goes home with its age-appropriate worming and first vaccinations, plus what we've fed and how we've handled it. We'll always tell you exactly what has and hasn't been done.

Question 7

Will a guardian dog kill my chickens?

Accepted Answer

A well-raised guardian pup raised with poultry doesn't view it as prey — but a bored adolescent will absolutely play too rough. The four-to-ten-month stretch is where most poultry losses happen, and it's a supervision problem, not a temperament problem. Correct it early, keep the pup with an adult dog or in a smaller pen when unsupervised, and it passes.

Question 8

How much fence do I need?

Accepted Answer

More than you think. These dogs expand their territory as they mature and will take a wider perimeter if you let them. Solid field fence at least five feet high, no gaps at the bottom, and gates that latch. Electric alone is not enough for an adult. Good fencing is the single biggest predictor of whether a guardian placement works out.

Question 9

Do they bark a lot?

Accepted Answer

Yes, especially at night — that's the job. Barking is how a guardian announces the perimeter is occupied, and most predators never get closer than that. If your nearest neighbor is a hundred feet away, think carefully about whether this is the right dog for your place.

Question 10

Can they also be a family dog?

Accepted Answer

They can be both, and ours are handled daily so they're comfortable with people. But a guardian that lives in the house stops guarding. The usual arrangement that works: the dog lives with the stock, and the family goes out to it — feeding, checking, and handling every day so it stays social and easy to work on.

Question 11

How big will they get?

Accepted Answer

Expect 90 to 140 pounds grown, with males at the top of that range, and roughly 28 to 32 inches at the shoulder. They mature slowly — a two-year-old is still filling out and still learning the job.

Question 12

Do I need two dogs?

Accepted Answer

For a small poultry flock on a few acres, one is usually plenty. For sheep, goats, or open ground with real predator pressure, two working together is far more effective — one holds the stock while the other pushes out to the threat. It's also easier on the dogs.

Question 13

Where are you and can you deliver?

Accepted Answer

We're in Newport, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Smokies. Most buyers pick up here at the farm, which we prefer because you get to meet the parents and see how the pups are raised. For longer distances we can help arrange third-party ground transport at the buyer's cost.

Question 14

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

Cash at pickup, or PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, or card for deposits and remote payments. Call or text Michael at 423-540-6566 and he'll set it up.

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