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ORDERING A TRAINED
GUARDIAN DOG
What is
a Trained Guardian Dog? We will define a "trained
guardian dog" as a dog that has been taught to stay with the stock,
walk on a leash, protect its food and is ready to begin work with
the kind of livestock for which it has been trained. All dogs are ASDCA
or AKC registered Anatolian Shepherds and must be purchased
from Possum Hollow. Outside dogs may be enrolled in our other training
programs.
What is a
normal purchase price for a trained Guardian Dog? Dogs
trained to stay with cattle are usually $1000-$2000. Dogs trained
to stay with sheep or goats are usually $1500-2500. Dogs with lots of experience and
talent will usually cost more...if you can find one for sale.
Why would I
order a dog instead of just buying one? Good trained
guardian dogs are not easily found. Ranchers with good dogs rarely sell
them.
What will be
the price if I order a Guardian Dog? The price of your
guardian dog will be determined based on the overall value of the dog
(breed, gender, color, etc.) and the type of livestock it will
be required to guard. Dogs working with weaker livestock such as
poultry, lambs and kids will require
more training time and therefore cost more. Most ordered dogs will
be within the same price range as that given above. The price will
be established when you order your dog.
How do I order
a Guardian Dog? To order a guardian dog, call us and see what
dogs we have available for the program. We will also help you to
determine which of our available dogs/puppies would best suit your
situation and needs. Once you have selected your guardian dog you
will be asked to pay a deposit of 50% of the total price. $800
of the deposit is nonrefundable. The balance of the price will be
due when you pick up your dog.
How long will
I have to wait for my Guardian Dog? That depends on which dog
you select. If you select a dog that is already started and is
mature enough to handle a heavy work load the time required will be
shorter than if you select a pup that requires time to grow and mature
before starting serious work. The price of your trained dog will
be the same regardless of your selection of pup or adult dog.
When do I get
my dog? This is determined by you. You decide how
much training you want your dog to have before it joins your
family. Until then your dog/puppy will remain with us and be
cared for as if it were our own dog. Care includes all regular vet
expenses and board. We will give you a rough estimate of how long
we expect it to take to get your dog trained.
What if I have
never owned a guardian dog before? This is not a
problem. If you follow the instructions you will be given, you
should have no problems. We also have a book on CD that is
available for additional information and knowledge. For more
information about the book go to LGD
BOOK.
What if I
don't like my Guardian Dog when I come to pick it up? If you
do not like your dog when you come to pick it up, you may elect to trade
it for a dog of equal or lesser value for the same price or you may
trade up for a dog of higher value and pay the balance. If you
prefer to start over with another dog, the price will remain the same
and your previously paid deposit will be applied to the new dog with the
exception of the nonrefundable $800.
Which dogs are
available for this program? Any dog that is listed on the
Started/Trained Guardian Dogs page or any puppies listed on the LGD Puppies page
are eligible for the Guardian Dog program. This includes puppies that
are planned but not yet born. No outside dogs or puppies will be
accepted into this program.
What other
options do I have to get a Possum Hollow Guardian Dog? Wait
and take your chances that a trained dog would become available or buy a
puppy or started dog and pay for monthly training ($250/month).
If
you think this program would work for you, contact us at
828-429-6388
or info@possumhollowfarms.com
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