Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdogs and Mini Dairy Goats
  • Home
    • Contact us
    • Veterinarian's Letter of Recommendation
  • MSCA Registered Maremma Sheepdogs for Sale
    • Available Maremma Puppies, Juveniles & Adults
    • Companion Maremmas
    • Maremma Buyers' Guide
    • Maremma Questionnaire
    • Shipping Maremma Puppies
    • Maremma Sheepdog FAQ's
    • Training Your Prancing Pony Maremma Sheepdog
    • The Prancing Pony Farm Difference - How We Raise and Train Our Maremma Puppies
      • Our Puppy Parlor
      • How Many LGD's do I Need?
    • Our Maremma Sheepdogs
      • Our Breeding Maremmas
        • Simba
        • Sevro
        • Pax
        • Pegaso
        • Gianna
        • Marcella
        • Marisa
        • Celeste
        • Electra
      • Reference Maremmas and Non-Breeding Dogs
    • Maremma Litters - Past & Present
      • January 2023 Litter Gianna x Pax
      • December 2022 Litter Marisa x Sevro
      • October 2022 Litter Marcella x Sevro
      • May 2022 Litter Polar x Sevro
      • May 2022 Litter Marisa x Simba
      • February 2022 Litter Celeste x Sevro
      • December 2021 Litter Gianna x Simba
      • October 2021 Litter Marcella x Sevro
      • May 2021 Litter Olaf x Genevieve
      • February 2021 Litter Simba x Marcella
      • February 2021 Litter Sevro x Polar
      • December 2020 Litter Sevro x Gianna
      • September 2020 Litter Olaf x Carina
      • August 2020 Litter Simba x Polar
      • January 2020 Litter Olaf x Carina
      • 2019 Litter Olaf x Genevieve
      • 2018 Litter Olaf x Genevieve
      • 2017 Litter Olaf x Genevieve
    • Maremma Sheepdog Info & Care
  • Mini Nubian & Nigerian Dwarf Goats for Sale
    • Baby Goats For Sale
    • Adult Goats for Sale
    • Goat Store
    • Breeding Plan Goats
    • 2023 Mini Nubians
    • 2023 Nigerians
    • Goat Questionnaire
    • Shipping Goats
    • Clicker Training Goats
    • Dairy Goat FAQ's
    • Our Dairy Goat Herd
      • Mini Nubian Does
      • Mini Nubian Bucks
      • Reference Mini Nubian Does
      • Reference Mini Nubian Bucks
      • Standard Nubian Does
      • Nigerian Dwarf Does
      • Nigerian Dwarf Bucks
      • Reference Nigerian Dwarf Does
      • Reference Nigerian Dwarf Bucks
      • Past Kidding Seasons
  • Prancing Pony Farm Blog
    • Dairy Goat Blog
    • Fun Farm videos
    • Our Prancing Ponies
  • Membership Home
    • Free Membership Sign-up
    • Products & Links We Recommend
  • Maremma Client Portal
    • Bringing Home Your Prancing Pony Maremma Sheepdog Puppy
    • Maremma Sheepdog Info
      • Favorite Dog Products
      • Housing Maremmas
      • Grooming Maremma Sheepdogs
      • Feeding our Maremma Sheepdogs
      • Vaccine and Parasite Protocol for Our Maremma Puppies
      • Keeping Your Maremma Sheepdog Cool in Summer
      • Goat Milk for Healthy Dogs and Puppies
      • Whelping & Puppy Rearing Info & Supplies for LGD's
  • Dairy Goat Client Portal
    • Bringing Home Your Prancing Pony Dairy Goats
    • Goat Care Info
      • Bringing Home Your New Goat
      • Health concerns of your new goat
      • Goat Care Articles & Links
      • Favorite Goat products
      • Supplies for Goats
      • Feeding Mini & Dwarf Baby Goats
      • Housing Does & Kids
      • Goat Parasites
      • Annual Disease Testing of Goats
      • Goat Hoof Trimming
      • Milking Dairy Goats
      • Milking Nigerian Dwarfs versus Mini Nubians
      • Our Dairy Goat Milking Parlor
      • Disbudding Mini & Dwarf Goats
      • Mini Nubian Ears
  • Home
    • Contact us
    • Veterinarian's Letter of Recommendation
  • MSCA Registered Maremma Sheepdogs for Sale
    • Available Maremma Puppies, Juveniles & Adults
    • Companion Maremmas
    • Maremma Buyers' Guide
    • Maremma Questionnaire
    • Shipping Maremma Puppies
    • Maremma Sheepdog FAQ's
    • Training Your Prancing Pony Maremma Sheepdog
    • The Prancing Pony Farm Difference - How We Raise and Train Our Maremma Puppies
      • Our Puppy Parlor
      • How Many LGD's do I Need?
    • Our Maremma Sheepdogs
      • Our Breeding Maremmas
        • Simba
        • Sevro
        • Pax
        • Pegaso
        • Gianna
        • Marcella
        • Marisa
        • Celeste
        • Electra
      • Reference Maremmas and Non-Breeding Dogs
    • Maremma Litters - Past & Present
      • January 2023 Litter Gianna x Pax
      • December 2022 Litter Marisa x Sevro
      • October 2022 Litter Marcella x Sevro
      • May 2022 Litter Polar x Sevro
      • May 2022 Litter Marisa x Simba
      • February 2022 Litter Celeste x Sevro
      • December 2021 Litter Gianna x Simba
      • October 2021 Litter Marcella x Sevro
      • May 2021 Litter Olaf x Genevieve
      • February 2021 Litter Simba x Marcella
      • February 2021 Litter Sevro x Polar
      • December 2020 Litter Sevro x Gianna
      • September 2020 Litter Olaf x Carina
      • August 2020 Litter Simba x Polar
      • January 2020 Litter Olaf x Carina
      • 2019 Litter Olaf x Genevieve
      • 2018 Litter Olaf x Genevieve
      • 2017 Litter Olaf x Genevieve
    • Maremma Sheepdog Info & Care
  • Mini Nubian & Nigerian Dwarf Goats for Sale
    • Baby Goats For Sale
    • Adult Goats for Sale
    • Goat Store
    • Breeding Plan Goats
    • 2023 Mini Nubians
    • 2023 Nigerians
    • Goat Questionnaire
    • Shipping Goats
    • Clicker Training Goats
    • Dairy Goat FAQ's
    • Our Dairy Goat Herd
      • Mini Nubian Does
      • Mini Nubian Bucks
      • Reference Mini Nubian Does
      • Reference Mini Nubian Bucks
      • Standard Nubian Does
      • Nigerian Dwarf Does
      • Nigerian Dwarf Bucks
      • Reference Nigerian Dwarf Does
      • Reference Nigerian Dwarf Bucks
      • Past Kidding Seasons
  • Prancing Pony Farm Blog
    • Dairy Goat Blog
    • Fun Farm videos
    • Our Prancing Ponies
  • Membership Home
    • Free Membership Sign-up
    • Products & Links We Recommend
  • Maremma Client Portal
    • Bringing Home Your Prancing Pony Maremma Sheepdog Puppy
    • Maremma Sheepdog Info
      • Favorite Dog Products
      • Housing Maremmas
      • Grooming Maremma Sheepdogs
      • Feeding our Maremma Sheepdogs
      • Vaccine and Parasite Protocol for Our Maremma Puppies
      • Keeping Your Maremma Sheepdog Cool in Summer
      • Goat Milk for Healthy Dogs and Puppies
      • Whelping & Puppy Rearing Info & Supplies for LGD's
  • Dairy Goat Client Portal
    • Bringing Home Your Prancing Pony Dairy Goats
    • Goat Care Info
      • Bringing Home Your New Goat
      • Health concerns of your new goat
      • Goat Care Articles & Links
      • Favorite Goat products
      • Supplies for Goats
      • Feeding Mini & Dwarf Baby Goats
      • Housing Does & Kids
      • Goat Parasites
      • Annual Disease Testing of Goats
      • Goat Hoof Trimming
      • Milking Dairy Goats
      • Milking Nigerian Dwarfs versus Mini Nubians
      • Our Dairy Goat Milking Parlor
      • Disbudding Mini & Dwarf Goats
      • Mini Nubian Ears
Search

Categories

All
Alpacas
Animal Loss
Bloat
Breeding Candidates Puppy Program
Breeding Decisions
Breeding Dogs
Breeding Rights
California
Clicker Training
Contract Violations
DNA Testing
Dog Behavior
Dog Training
Drought
Ethics
Farming
Feeding Goats
Focusing On What Matters
Goats
Goat Training
Health Testing
Hip Dysplasia
How To Choose A Maremma Breeder
How To Raise And Train Outstanding Livestock Guardian Dogs
Husbandry
Illegally Bred Puppies
Karen Pryor National Training Center
Keeping Animals Cool
Limited Registration
Maremma Sheepdog Open Forum
MSCA Code Of Ethics
Positive Reinforcement Training
Positivity
Puppies
Puppy Contracts
Puppy Scams
Puppy Training
Responsibility
Scam Artists
Science
Sheep Paint
Socialization With Stock
Social Media
Theft
Travel
Umbilical Hernias
Voiceover
Zoo Goats

Archives

September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022

Livestock Guardian Dog Training Vest Hack - A Good Dog Trainer (and Goat Farmer) is Always Prepared!

1/26/2023

3 Comments

 
Picture
My middle son, Michael, was a Boy Scout, rising all the way to the rank of Eagle Scout. The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared!" As a breeder and trainer of Maremma Sheepdogs as well as a breeder of dairy goats this is a motto that I try to live by. There are always items I will need any time I am working with my animals and the minutes it takes to find a thermometer to check the temperature on a sickly looking goat, a leash to move a goat or dog from one place to another or a knife to open a feed bag can quickly add up. I also need a place to store my barn and Cricket keys, iPhone, Airpods and reading glasses. (I can't even see my phone without them!) My pockets are full and I haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet!

As a positive reinforcement trainer I am always looking for opportunities to train my dogs and reinforce them for desired behaviors, even if it's just rewarding them for greeting me as I come into their pasture. (If you think LGD's can't be taught good recall you need to try clicker training!) And I have learned from past experience that it definitely pays to be prepared if your dog ever accidentally slips out the gate! We live on a busy road so running to find a leash and treats to catch my dog could mean the difference between life and death, so I don't leave that to chance. I never walk into a pasture without treats in my pockets and if I walk out there without a leash it was an accident and I usually end up needing to go get one. I had slip leashes made with my logo specifically for leading goats and dogs from one spot to another, inside my pastures. (I use a Blue 9 Balance harness, which we sell in our Online Store, if I take my dogs outside the fence, unless the dog is very trustworthy with a slip lead.)

Over the years I have tried various methods for carrying all of this paraphernalia. I don't always have pockets on my clothes and even if I do there usually aren't enough for all the gear, much less for treats. I have used different kinds of treat pouches but they usually have little to no pockets. I have used and worn out many fanny packs and until recently they were the best option I could find. But I don't like the way they look and they were so heavy with all the stuff I had to carry that they would irritate me, sometimes giving me a backache. In the winter I sometimes wore an insulated vest with inner and outer pockets. That worked pretty well, but it was too hot during the summer. I kept brainstorming, trying to come up with a solution. Somewhere I came across the idea of a "Dog Trainer's vest". That sounded perfect. So I looked for one on Amazon, and I found one, all right. For $100! Ouch!

Now if you are a dog trainer or owner of companion dogs maybe the $100 vest would be a good investment. But I breed Livestock Guardian Dogs and dairy goats they are both HARD on things like clothes and jackets. Pretty much every jacket I own eventually gets ripped sleeves and pockets from puppy teeth and baby goat hooves. My lightweight insulated vests usually only lasted one season so I could just imagine how long that $100 dog trainer vest would last. No thank you! So I searched for tactical vests, instead, thinking that might be what I need. What came up was fishing vests and they were perfect for my needs! They usually run between $20-$30, come in multiple sizes and colors and have more pockets than you can count. And you can get them made of a mesh material, which makes them cooler in summer and lightweight under a jacket in winter. 

I bought the Flygo brand vest in black mesh. I bought it in November and have used it every day since and it's still in great shape. I wear it under my jacket but I anticipate it will work just as well in summer. It holds everything I need and the weight of all the items is more evenly distributed, so no more backache! The only thing that would make it more perfect would be if it came in purple, but I'll keep looking and buy a new one if I find it. It's always good to have a spare! If you are looking to be prepared for anything your animals dish out then I highly recommend you get yourself one of these oh-so-fashionable vests! 

What Do I Have in my Pocketses, Precious?

The plan is to always have the items I need in the exact same pocket every time I wear the vest, so I can quickly find what I need. Sometimes I get in a hurry and forget, and then I have to search for what I need through all those pockets. So stick to the plan! Here's what I usually have in my pockets. (Sorry, there's no One Ring, Precious.)
  • A clicker - attached to the left zipper pocket
  • A mixture of low and high value dog treats, hard and soft - large right outer pocket (the quickest and easiest for me to access) 
  • Dried chicken strips (highest value treat) - large left outer pocket (the dogs all know what is in this pocket!)
  • Phone, AirPods, reading glasses - inner left pocket
  • Barn and Cricket keys - inner right pocket
  • 1-2 slip leashes - small left outer pocket
  • Thermometer and alcohol wipes - small right breast pocket
  • Pocket knife - other small right breast pocket
  • Other odds and ends like gloves, carabiners and assorted items go in one of the unused pockets, as needed
Essentials
Training Treats we Use

Don't Forget the Goats!
One additional item that I plan to add to my "Be Prepared" arsenal is goat treats. A long time ago, before I started Clicker Training my dogs, I used to always carry goat treats with me. (I use alfalfa pellets, large hay pellets and horse treats.) My goats knew this and it made catching even the shy ones pretty easy. Like the dogs they were always looking for a treat. When I started clicker training my dogs I replaced the goat treats with dog treats. Eventually the goats gave up and stopped checking my pockets for treats. But after attending the Across Species Clicker Training course at the Karen Pryor National Training Center in Washington in August 2022, I decided I wanted to clicker train my goats. This was something I had wanted to do for a while but didn't know how. While I was attending the week long course I worked with a goat training partner every day, and watched demonstrations, as well. Now I know how to clicker train my goats, I just need to make it a habit. And the best way to do this is to be prepared, like I am for the dogs. So I will be choosing a pocket to fill with goat treats, and we will see where this leads!
3 Comments
Mayra
1/26/2023 07:10:19 am

Once I get my jacket and treats from Amazon, I am going to be prepared! Just like you. Thanks for taking the time to write this article to lead me in the right direction when I would want my dog to quit chasing my chickens. Instead, I should and need to work on changing her behavior through clicker training while using treats. Thanks for the detailed list of items I could use. I want to be prepared just like you‼️

Reply
Kim
2/7/2023 02:26:31 pm

I’m glad you found the post helpful and am excited about how it will help you and your dogs and goats! 💜

Reply
Kim
5/9/2023 11:57:23 am

Glad to inspire you!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Hi I'm Kim. I have been an avid animal lover all my life but goats and dogs are my favorites so I built a business around them, breeding registered Mini Nubian & Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats and MSCA registered Maremma Sheepdogs. I love sharing my passion and knowledge of these amazing creatures with others.

    RSS Feed

    Subscribe to Our Blog
Click the links below for information on our dairy goats or Maremma Sheepdogs.
​We are located in Lemoore, California.
Goat Info
Maremma Info
  • Home
    • Contact us
    • Veterinarian's Letter of Recommendation
  • MSCA Registered Maremma Sheepdogs for Sale
    • Available Maremma Puppies, Juveniles & Adults
    • Companion Maremmas
    • Maremma Buyers' Guide
    • Maremma Questionnaire
    • Shipping Maremma Puppies
    • Maremma Sheepdog FAQ's
    • Training Your Prancing Pony Maremma Sheepdog
    • The Prancing Pony Farm Difference - How We Raise and Train Our Maremma Puppies
      • Our Puppy Parlor
      • How Many LGD's do I Need?
    • Our Maremma Sheepdogs
      • Our Breeding Maremmas
        • Simba
        • Sevro
        • Pax
        • Pegaso
        • Gianna
        • Marcella
        • Marisa
        • Celeste
        • Electra
      • Reference Maremmas and Non-Breeding Dogs
    • Maremma Litters - Past & Present
      • January 2023 Litter Gianna x Pax
      • December 2022 Litter Marisa x Sevro
      • October 2022 Litter Marcella x Sevro
      • May 2022 Litter Polar x Sevro
      • May 2022 Litter Marisa x Simba
      • February 2022 Litter Celeste x Sevro
      • December 2021 Litter Gianna x Simba
      • October 2021 Litter Marcella x Sevro
      • May 2021 Litter Olaf x Genevieve
      • February 2021 Litter Simba x Marcella
      • February 2021 Litter Sevro x Polar
      • December 2020 Litter Sevro x Gianna
      • September 2020 Litter Olaf x Carina
      • August 2020 Litter Simba x Polar
      • January 2020 Litter Olaf x Carina
      • 2019 Litter Olaf x Genevieve
      • 2018 Litter Olaf x Genevieve
      • 2017 Litter Olaf x Genevieve
    • Maremma Sheepdog Info & Care
  • Mini Nubian & Nigerian Dwarf Goats for Sale
    • Baby Goats For Sale
    • Adult Goats for Sale
    • Goat Store
    • Breeding Plan Goats
    • 2023 Mini Nubians
    • 2023 Nigerians
    • Goat Questionnaire
    • Shipping Goats
    • Clicker Training Goats
    • Dairy Goat FAQ's
    • Our Dairy Goat Herd
      • Mini Nubian Does
      • Mini Nubian Bucks
      • Reference Mini Nubian Does
      • Reference Mini Nubian Bucks
      • Standard Nubian Does
      • Nigerian Dwarf Does
      • Nigerian Dwarf Bucks
      • Reference Nigerian Dwarf Does
      • Reference Nigerian Dwarf Bucks
      • Past Kidding Seasons
  • Prancing Pony Farm Blog
    • Dairy Goat Blog
    • Fun Farm videos
    • Our Prancing Ponies
  • Membership Home
    • Free Membership Sign-up
    • Products & Links We Recommend
  • Maremma Client Portal
    • Bringing Home Your Prancing Pony Maremma Sheepdog Puppy
    • Maremma Sheepdog Info
      • Favorite Dog Products
      • Housing Maremmas
      • Grooming Maremma Sheepdogs
      • Feeding our Maremma Sheepdogs
      • Vaccine and Parasite Protocol for Our Maremma Puppies
      • Keeping Your Maremma Sheepdog Cool in Summer
      • Goat Milk for Healthy Dogs and Puppies
      • Whelping & Puppy Rearing Info & Supplies for LGD's
  • Dairy Goat Client Portal
    • Bringing Home Your Prancing Pony Dairy Goats
    • Goat Care Info
      • Bringing Home Your New Goat
      • Health concerns of your new goat
      • Goat Care Articles & Links
      • Favorite Goat products
      • Supplies for Goats
      • Feeding Mini & Dwarf Baby Goats
      • Housing Does & Kids
      • Goat Parasites
      • Annual Disease Testing of Goats
      • Goat Hoof Trimming
      • Milking Dairy Goats
      • Milking Nigerian Dwarfs versus Mini Nubians
      • Our Dairy Goat Milking Parlor
      • Disbudding Mini & Dwarf Goats
      • Mini Nubian Ears