Well I guess that means me...LOL
Here is a link...
http://www.geocities.com/tanimara_2000/Livestock_Guardians_Intro.htmlIt is a very indepth article on livestock guardians in general. It's a research article by Robin Riggs. I dont agree with all she says but most of it is right on. The main thing to remember is that she imburses the old theory that LGDs should not be socialized. She's wrong!
When I first got into Pyrs the theory backed by the powers that be was that you took an 8 week old pup, put them in with whatever they were going to guard and leave them there. They were not to be petted or socialized because (as the theory went) they would not bond with the animals they were to protect and would roam.
It did not take me long to figure out that it was a stupid theory. This is one of my soap boxes when it comes to Pyrs. But since I was just one of the "little guys" in the business I did not think I could really question the "experts". After seeing some pups ruined by a lack of socialization, then trying it my way (that is to definitely socialize your LGDs) and seeing it work, then I did not hesitate to question the "autorities" and ticked half of them off. But when you are 60 years old, it doesn't rally matter that much...LOL
Now many of the livestock guardians folks agree with me. Some dont. But the nice thing is, the theory is changing. This article was written in 2001 and it looks at Livestock guardians mostly in Europe. It's a good article for you to read.
What are you going to run your guardians with?
And the other breed you were trying to think of was probably a Marrema.
Here is a list of the most common LGDs.
Afganistan Sage Koochi
Anatolian Shepherd
Barachesto (Bulgaria)
Caucasian Mountain Dog (Russia)
Croatian Guard Dog (Croatia)
Great Pyrenees (France)
Briard (Alpine Shephard Dog)
Greek Shephard Dog (Greece)
Komondor (Hungarian)
Kuvasz
Sage Mazandarani (Iran)
Maremma (Italy)
Bergamo Shephard Dog
Kirgizian Shephard Dog
Mongolian Buryato (Mongolia)
Morrocan Aidi (Morroco)
Himalayin Mastiff (Nepal and Northern India)
Tatra Mountain Dog (Poland)
Raferio
Portugal Cao de Castro Laborerio (Portugese)
Estrela Mountain Dog - Cao da Serra da Estrela
Romanian Sheep Dog (Romania)
Mioritic Shephard Dog
Spanish Pyrnean Mastiff (not to be confused with the Great Pyrenees)
Spanish Mastiff
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Bernese Mt. Dog
St. Bernard?
Tibetian Mastiff
Akbash (Turkey)
Sharplaninatz
Jackie Wood
Tanimara Great Pyrenes