The Changing of the Guard (written 5/29/25)

They have arrived.

After two and a half months of no protective dogs keeping watch over the goats, two new livestock guardian dogs have taken up residence out at the barn.

On May 14, a huge transport van bumped slowly down my driveway, and Treasure and Promise, the goats’ new personal bodyguards, were unloaded into the corrals. Both of them are great Pyrenees, although the female, Treasure, has just a smidge of Anatolian shepherd mixed in. Both are between two and three years old. Both have lived with goats their entire lives, and both, sadly, come from situations where their previous owners were forced to sell off the farms and the livestock that these dogs had been serving.

Promise, the big, shaggy male, hails from Kentucky, and Treasure, the medium-furred, leggy female, comes  all the way from Virginia.

Until I lost Valor and began weighing the pros and cons of bringing a couple of new guardian dogs onboard, I did not realize the tremendous need there is for proven, working livestock guardian dogs to find homes. My first two guardian dogs, Glacier and Snowstorm, were both rescues; but they each came to me thanks to personal contacts and careful inquiries. However, that was twelve or thirteen years ago. Since then, the burgeoning homestead movement has apparently resulted in a growing surplus of good working dogs who need new farms.

People burn out. Health issues come up. Would-be small-time farmers just don’t know what they’re getting into until they’re in over their heads. And so, when the livestock is sold, or when the land is parceled out, or when owners get sick and even die, lots of solid, steady working dogs find themselves out of a job.

When I realized the need was so great, there was no way I was going to start over with another puppy. I was going to rescue, and provide some really nice proven adult dogs with as nice a home as I could.

Treasure and Promise came to me by way of a really good rescue group based in Kentucky. Two weeks in and they are finding their feet, and forging a good bond with the slightly confused and startled goats. There have been some bumps in the road – as there almost always is with any kind of rehome or rescue effort. But for the most part, the new bodyguards are really fitting in.

I saw a nice moment to prove it just last night. I was standing outside the pasture gate, bottle feeding one of the baby goats, when there was a strange noise from down in the creek bottom. It might have been a buck deer snorting, or maybe a fox calling. Whatever it was, both dogs were instantly on duty.

Enjoying their new home!

Promise was the one who charged down into the brush to confront whatever might be out there. His big, Pyrenees challenge barks and deep growls left no doubt that he meant business. Treasure was the one who stayed behind close to the goats. They were all hanging out near the barn, and although she also barked, she only briefly trotted beyond the barn, then came straight back to her goats to watch them while her partner worked farther afield. One out front, dealing with the threat; the other staying back, keeping tabs on the herd.

That’s what I like to see. They are learning how to work with each other, and they also understand that their first responsibility is to the goats. Way to go, team!

So welcome, Treasure and Promise. May you both live up to your names, do your work well, and make both me and the goats you guard proud. We’re counting on you!

Treasure & Promise - standing guard!