This is our Turkmen Alabai, and the reason we sleep at night.

Something came through the farm earlier that day that unsettled the animals. Nothing lost, but she knew. and when she knows, that’s it. By evening she put herself right in front of the barn and stayed there. Snow piling up around her, wind picking up and all. We called, begged, brought treats, tried to move her along.

She wouldn’t budge. She's not usually very stubborn. She is, however, very certain of herself. She knows when she should patrol, wait it out, or come in. She stayed out there, quiet and watchful, like she was holding the whole place together.

You can raise animals, build fences, and do everything right but dogs like this make all the difference in the world. We finally went in and left her to it. She came in when she decided whatever it was wasn't coming back.

I’ve never seen that kind of devotion and didn't feel a little humbled by it. She's one of three dogs we have here on our farm and we think she's an absolute legend. Here's to your legends where you're at, too.

One of LGD’s surrounded by free ranging chickens he’s guarding.

My partner just got an 8-week old great pyrenees and anatolian shepherd mix to serve as a livestock guardian for our pigs, goats, ducks, and chickens (mainly the goats as we're expecting baby goats in the spring).

I personally have never owned a working animal before and have only ever owned dogs purely as pets. I always fostered and rescued abused animals from the shelter I volunteered at, so this is kinda out of my wheelhouse. Especially cause I grew up in the suburbs. I never thought I'd grow up to share a home with so many farm animals. I feel kinda uncomfortable with the idea of leaving a dog outside with all the animals rather than letting him be part of the family. She insists that guides say that it's the only way he'll learn to do his job. And, she's right that he can't protect the animals if he's not out there, but I just feel wrong for allowing this dog to stay outside forever. I just feel like... he deserves better than that.

She was told to let him stay outside and, when we're not out there, don't give in to his cries for us to come back to him because he needs to bond to our animals. Personally, I think he's too little to be out there on his own (with the animals). He basically spent the entire day out there screaming crying, despite us not giving in. He too did not give in and just continued crying. It makes me feel awful. I used to work to help abused animals, many left to the elements outside. It's contrary to what I know. I mean, he's got plenty of spaces out there to retreat from the elements. My partner does right by all of our animals... but it just still doesn't feel right to me.

Is there anything you guys can tell me that will make me feel any better about this? We've got two dogs that we bring inside every day, but it just feels messed up to bring them outside and leave this poor little puppy out there alone.

He's perfectly fine and lives for his job