We have a new addition on the farm this week! Meet, Willa, the newest addition to our “farmily” and our resident livestock guardian dog.

Willa is an 8 week old Colorado Mountain Dog (CMD) whose role on the farm is to protect our sheep herd. Colorado Mountain Dogs are a relatively new livestock guardian dog breed (the line began in 2008) whose lines originally began with a Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd mix, but have grown to include a wider variety of traditional livestock guardian breeds. When Jack and I were discussing our need for a guardian dog on the farm, we were impressed with the CMD’s characteristics, and ultimately chose to go with this breed because they have great temperament (we wanted a friendly dog that was easy to handle and be around with small children) and the breeder was conveniently located just a few hours down the mountain from us.

Willa is not only adorable, but she is also an invaluable asset to the farm. Although she is still too small and young to be out with the sheep on her own right now, Jack and I built her a mini kennel so she can live safely with the sheep while she grows and gets accustomed to the farm (and the sheep get accustomed to her). One of the most important differences for Willa’s role on the farm versus our other two house dogs (Cora and Tucker) is that her sole purpose is to bond with the sheep and become their protector from the many predators we have around the farm. Livestock guardian dogs act as great deterrents from predators, and when they are raised in the right conditions, will deeply bond with the livestock and protect them. This is the first time Jack and I have ever purchased a dog for the sole purpose of protecting livestock, and for dog lovers who are used to sharing a living space with dogs, this is a bit of an adjustment for us; however, we recognize the great importance of having a guardian dog and know that it is in the dog’s and the herd’s best interest that they share and develop that very special deep bond. We couldn’t be more excited to watch her learn and grow in her new guardian role!

Thanks for reading!

Farmer Kinzie

P.S. Be on the lookout for more updates on Willa as she grows and matures into the protector of Mystic Hills Farmstead’s animals!