LGD's and paddock shift

This is a theoretical question at the moment, but one which seems not to have been discussed much.

Suppose you run a paddock shift system with multiple animals in separate paddocks. Is there a way to give dogs access to a paddock without the other animals escaping? This would allow a dog to freely roam a property while also being able to get into a paddock and provide protection if needed.

For Chickens, ducks, geese and other small animals you could have a heavy hanging object (or a spring door) on hinges that a dog could push through, but that the smaller animals wouldn't be able to put enough force on to open.

For larger animals like cattle or horses, a section of fence could have a large enough gap to allow a dog to fit through (that gap could be covered with something the dog had to push open so the paddock could also be used for chickens etc...)

Where I'm lost is on sheep, pigs and goats that are of a similar size/dexterity to a dog. I have goats right now and my dog (who is about the same size as the goats, maybe a few inches shorter) can get in and out of their pasture by going under the fence. The goats haven't figured this out, but I'm not sure how reliable of a solution that would be long term. I'm curious if anyone has solutions or ideas for what could be done. In an ideal world I'd like to have 5+ types of animals in separate rotating paddocks and dogs that are free to roam and can access any paddock as needed to provide protection.

I know there are companies that make pet doors that are activated with a dogs collar. Here is one company that does. I don't want to vouch for this company, but this is the type of product I am thinking of.

http://www.hitecpet.com/electronic-pet-door.html

Guys build special gates with a triangular shape notch (point down V) the dogs can jump through but the goats can't. They are also used for those that put out a self-feeder for the dog food. I will see if I can scrape up a picture.

R Scott wrote:Guys build special gates with a triangular shape notch (point down V) the dogs can jump through but the goats can't. They are also used for those that put out a self-feeder for the dog food. I will see if I can scrape up a picture.

I'd like to see a picture if you can find it. It sounds good if it can be done. I was thinking perhaps a very low gate that the dog could squeeze through but goats or sheep wouldn't. That wouldn't stop pigs... But at least in my area pigs are probably the least needing of a LGD (there are wild pigs in the area that are - unfortunately according to most people - doing just fine).

http://www.bountifulfarm.com/DOG%20SELF%20FEEDER.html

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Our livestock guardian herding dogs patrol about 70 acres of which about 10 to 40 acres is being used by livestock at any one movement as the herds are moved between paddocks. Our dogs are not confined to the paddocks but patrol the perimeters and move around between the various grazing paddocks. We have multiple herds that they keep their eyes on so there are several paddocks in use at any time - typically about 10 paddocks are in use at once.

Given their druthers the dogs would patrol a much larger territory of two to ten square miles but I have told them to confine their patrolling to the pastures and forest margins. This is done by a fence around the perimeter that looks different. (the fence is 4' high, they can jump 8'.) They learn which fences they are allowed to jump and which not. This mostly works. I have one leader who for a while was extending his territory and he has a radio collar which he calls his free collar. As in with it he is free to roam the radio defined space but otherwise he would end up on the chain. His choice of names.