LGD: How do they protect multiple pastures simultaneously?

I'm having difficulty visualizing how LGD's work. I get that they are 'out' with the livestock, but if you have multiple pastures with animals that all need protecting, do you put the LGD in one pasture, or outside the pastures? If something gets into a pasture, how does the dog get in there? If we have fences that keep in chickens and goats, how does a dog get in and out?

matt hogan wrote:I'm having difficulty visualizing how LGD's work. I get that they are 'out' with the livestock, but if you have multiple pastures with animals that all need protecting, do you put the LGD in one pasture, or outside the pastures?

there are a lot of factors that arent given here - size of pastures, number of animals, fencing type, high/med/low predator pressure etc - that said, i think 1 (preferably 2) per group. the LGDs should live with the stock they are protecting. you can keep the LGD outside of the electric fence like in the case of chickens. the LGD will patrol the perimeter. its possible they can protect to different animals if they are close enough to each other. a lot will depend on how much and what type of predation you have.

If something gets into a pasture, how does the dog get in there? If we have fences that keep in chickens and goats, how does a dog get in and out?

there are styes that can be built that will allow dogs to go through but 'theoretically' keep the stock back in. here is a link for one version: http://www.cornerstoneacresfarm.com/greatpyrenees.htm#952516355 i cant get the image on that page to copy into permies. you can also google "LGD jump gate" for info on them. They can also roam the perimeter (think - after the chicken are secure/in for the night).

im not LGD expert - but we have been reading up on this for a few months in the hopes to get a LGD late this year. hope this helps.

If memory serves me, LGDs were originally bred to be with stock out on open range with shepherds sometimes around, sometimes not. So I could see where multiple separated pastures might cause a problem, but that there may be some solutions as well. In our case, our property is entirely fenced, so the LGDs have access to all of the fenced area and we have not had to worry about any significant losses to chickens or concerns about coyote-pig encounters since their inclusion into the property. The coyotes do seem to "test" with their presence at varying locations along the fence, but the dogs are quick to greet them and let them know it would be unwise to advance further. The dogs have not hesitated to kill any racoon, mink, or in one case, a hawk, that was in pursuit of chickens. Foxes appear to be wise enough to stay away at this point.