Cody Arrowsmith, Lg.D.

Tim Arrowsmith dropped off 145 goats and one very Large Dog named Cody. I’ve learned though that Cody is not only a Large Dog, but also an LGD — or Livestock Guardian Dog.

Cody is a 12 year old Great Pyrenees or a Pyrenean Mountain Dog. From Wikipedia:

The Pyrenean Mountain Dog (French: Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées) is a breed of livestock guardian dog from France, where it is commonly called the Patou. The breed comes from the French side of the Pyrenees Mountains that separate France and Spain. It is recognised as a separate breed from the closely related Pyrenean Mastiff, which is from the Spanish side of the mountains.

The breed is widely used throughout France as a livestock guardian, particularly in the French Alps and Pyrenees, protecting flocks from predation by wolves and bears. The breed is known as the Great Pyrenees in the United States, where it is also used to protect flocks from various predators.

Great Pyrenees typically have a 10-12 year lifespan, so Cody is pretty darn old for his breed. I think he was expecting a desk job in retirement, but he has been battling in the trenches nearly every night — we can tell by the barking, the mountain lion prints and scat, and the injured, but not eaten, goats.

By morning, he is hungry. By mid-morning, he is exhausted. By noon, he has found a way to sneak into the cool air of the Red Barn.

He really is a great dog. Part of the flock for sure, but also very affectionate.

He may need some help though. — KLM