Friday, June 21, 2013

Guarding The Homestead...!

I've heard many ideas about the best way to protect the homestead, but I think this one is really unique!

Guard dogs, peacocks, geese...these are nothing new to me, but this next one is! I never heard of it before I found it over at Listverse!

Guard Donkey



When you have a property to protect from intruders, a Rottweiler, Cane Corso or Doberman Pinscher looking like an outtake from a Jack Lemmon film might seem to fit the bill. However, you always have the option of taking the alternative approach and recruiting a guard donkey instead of a guard dog. Guard donkeys can be trained to direct their herd-defending instincts against threats to the property with surprisingly effective results and are becoming recognized as a viable option to property protection and livestock security.

These “kick-ass” domestic defenders will fearlessly charge human and animal intruders before confronting them with carnivore-like snarls, bared incisor teeth and ready hooves. Stomping attacks will prevent future run-ins with livestock predators.

Call me crazy, but I think this is a great idea! If I lived in a place where I could own one, I would! Trouble is, in my neighborhood my donkey would end up on someone's table or grill!

Coffee out on the patio this morning. I'll set out a plate of cookies...all kinds!

12 comments:

Chickenmom said...

They are very smart animals! The farm down the road from us uses them to watch over his sheep and always has a few for sale each year. I want one - but hubby says NO!
Cookies? Save the chocolate ones for me!

Momlady said...

I'll have to rely on my .38.

trav4adventures said...

We just saw three herds of sheep grazing up here in the Sierra Nevada. Two of them had donkeys in the middle. It appears that since donkeys hate dogs and coyotes, they will attack them. They will also bray and let the sheep herder know when another intruder is nearby. I never knew that until I posted some photos of them in the middle of the sheep.

Rae said...

I want a donkey now. I have some neighbors that need controlling. Some of that "kick-ass" might work.

Rae said...

I want a donkey now. I have some neighbors that need controlling. Some of that "kick-ass" might work.

linda m said...

I have heard of this before. In fact, my daughter-in-law (who lives in GA) was contemplating getting one to protect her goats. Only problem she had was she couldn't get the donkey loaded in the truck -no one could- so she passed on the deal. I would love to have one but I think my neighbors would object - also I'm not zoned for livestock. Have a great weekend.

Dizzy-Dick said...

Good choice over a guard dog and the donkey will keep your grass trimmed, too.

JO said...

I have never heard about this one before. There are lots of sheep up on the Apache Reservation but I have only seen the dogs helping herd them. How interesting.

You said the magic word Cookies! and coffee here I come.

Modern Day Redneck said...

I have used Donkeys and people just want to pet them, same with the dogs. I have a guard Llama now and nobody wants to get near it. Last weekend we had a tour of the Mini Farm and a guy walked out into the pasture and the Llama came a running. This guy cleared the five foot fence just to get away from it. Ironically his name is Barack OLlama. No one likes him when they get close they are spit on.

MamaHen said...

The man acroos the road from me keeps 2 donkeys with his cattle. I guess it works; he never seems to have a problem with the coyotes around here. I'd like to have one but have got to get a fence up first.

Ray Zamfir said...

Wow, a guard donkey, such a unique concept for property protection.

FSTGen said...


Thanks for the informative article on guard donkeys.