LGD Playing with Goats

[thankful_k]

Ripley, my Great Pyrenees, runs and chases the goats, and places her jaws across the back of their neck just enough to get slobber on them . She's a little over 18 months, and she's still a little rowdy.

She doesn't harass them constantly, and it's always playful. The only time she ever got aggressive was with a buck that would try to get in her food. Even then all she would do is bark and snarl and rush him, and grab him by the ear and "escort" him out of the barn. (that buck was just stupid. He never gave up trying to get her food)

My intuition tells me it's fine. If she wanted to hurt them she could easily do it. And besides the goats balance things out with their horns, which they will swing at her when they've had enough. And it's amusing to watch.

So ... is it really okay, or is this something I need to intervene with?

 

[backlash]

I just watched a video of a young LGD playing with sheep.
The older experienced LGD intervened and put a stop to it.

 

[Pearl]

I knew a two year old Pyrenees that would do that, kind of dominanting the goats. Her owner said that's how she established that she was in control, the goats had to obey her! Makes sense since the dog is protecting the goats! I had an Anatolian who would get bossy with the goats if they tried to go off without the herd! Hopefully someone with more experience chimes in!!