Canines that reside outdoors and guard livestock grew to become a sizzling subject on the island again in December when a Fb submit on the Whidbey Island Group web page garnered a variety of consideration.

The one who made the submit was involved a few canine on Greenbank Farm that was outdoors the entire time within the chilly climate. The submit acquired over 200 feedback and led to a vigorous discussions in regards to the subject of animals that guard livestock. Quite a few farms on Whidbey Island have had or presently have llamas or specialised breeds of canine that reside alongside and shield sheep.

At the very least two farms on the island even have particular canine particularly educated to guard livestock of the feathered selection.

Mark Stewart, proprietor of One Willow Farm, owns the canine that sparked the dialogue on social media. Cooper is a livestock guardian canine and lives outdoors to guard the farm’s chickens from predators. One Willow Farm raises rooster for meat and eggs, in addition to turkeys. On the peak of their busy season, Stewart and his spouse Melissa have about 1,000 birds. The couple leases land on Greenbank Farm to accommodate the animals.

Stewart commented on the Fb submit and did his finest to elucidate, over the web, that Cooper is an Anatolian shepherd and Nice Pyrenees combine and was bred to reside outdoors. A descendant of mountain canine, he has a thick double coat. Cooper’s mother and father had been additionally working canine. Each Anatolian Shepherds and Nice Pyrenees have traditionally been guardian canine, bred to guard livestock corresponding to goats, sheep and chickens from predators.

“I feel folks overlook that canine had jobs earlier than folks domesticated them and introduced them into the home,” Stewart stated.

Due to Cooper’s coat, Stewart is definitely extra fearful in regards to the warmth than the chilly affecting him. Within the hotter months, Cooper’s shelter offers him a cool, shady place to lie down. It doesn’t get chilly sufficient on the island to trouble him. When the Fb dialogue occurred, Stewart double-checked with Cooper’s vet to verify his shelter was sufficient, which she stated it was.

“The unique query that was posted was a really respectable query,” Stewart stated.

Cooper doesn’t keep in his pen on a regular basis. Stewart visits the farm twice a day to let him out and feed him. Some folks thought he was deserted, Stewart stated, which is certainly not the case.

Cooper is defending his rooster pals primarily from coyotes. He additionally retains a watch on birds like ravens who will steal eggs. Cooper’s bark is loud and ferocious sufficient to discourage something, Stewart stated.

“He makes sufficient raucous and postures in such a approach that it scares the coyotes off and that’s what we would like,” he stated.

Since Cooper is just one and half years previous and nonetheless in coaching, he’s stored in a separate pen from chickens. He thinks the birds are toys and has by accident killed about 15 of them from over-enthusiastic taking part in. When Cooper is older and absolutely educated, the plan is to have him in the identical pen because the chickens. Stewart estimates that may occur in a few 12 months.

Loads of work goes into coaching him, Stewart stated. Cooper can also be their first first livestock guardian canine, in order that they didn’t have the luxurious of getting an older canine to assist prepare him.

Stewart follows tips from A Greener World, a corporation that promotes sustainable farming and has peer-reviewed requirements for livestock guardian canine corresponding to breed choice, coaching, well being administration and shelter.

“The issues and the complications (Cooper) causes me repay in the truth that I do know he’s defending these guys from predators, particularly with how costly issues are these days,” he stated.

Animals are an costly funding and he stated Cooper acts as his insurance coverage coverage.

Brooke Crowder, proprietor of 1902 Ranch in Coupeville, shares an identical sentiment. She owns three working canine to guard her flock of chickens from coyotes, raccoons and eagles. Earlier than she had the canine, she as soon as noticed an eagle decide up one among her chickens and fly away with it.

Lars and Bodhi are two-and-half-year previous Nice Pyrenees and Maremma Sheepdog mixes. The most recent addition to the household is Murphy, a 7-month-old St. Bernard and Pyrenees combine. Lars and Bodhi are brothers from the identical litter, and Crowder wished a 3rd canine to interrupt up the sibling squabbles.

She stated guard canine have to bond with the animals they shield.

“As puppies, canine will chase absolutely anything that runs, together with chickens, and you must be there to cease the conduct and proper it,” she stated.

Their coaching takes years however after two years, she stated all of the arduous work begins to repay. The event of the 2 older canine, Lars and Bodhi, has grown considerably during the last six months.

There is no such thing as a query that pups are a necessity for the farm.

“If we didn’t have the canine, we might have considerably extra loss, and I query if we may present eggs and make an revenue,” she stated.

Mark Stewart and his livestock guardian canine, Cooper.

Cooper is the livestock guardian canine for the chickens at One Willow Farm.

Cooper lives outdoors full-time and a has a small shelter in his pen.

Photographs by Rachel Rosen/Whidbey Information-Instances
Brooke Crowder with one among livestock guardian canine.