EMR Started and Second Chance Dogs

Started Guardians
Second Chances Dogs

Started Guardians

A solid foundation for your ranch or farm.

At Emerald Mtn Ranch, we offer Started Guardians, dogs that have already begun their journey as dedicated livestock and homestead protectors.
While these dogs are well on their way, they are still in the “learning” phase. A started dog is a partnership: we provide the foundation, and you provide the continued training to polish their skills for your specific operation.

What to Expect with a Started Dog

The Transition Period: It is vital to understand that an older dog arrives with a developed personality. It can take 6 months to 1 year for an LGD to fully decompress, bond with your specific family, and claim your stock as their own. Success cannot be rushed.
Containment & Fencing: You must have appropriate, secure fencing to contain a Livestock Guardian Dog. While most of our dogs have been trained to electric fences, this is a supplement, not a replacement for, solid physical boundaries.
The “Barking” Factor: A guardian’s first line of defense is their voice. They bark to warn off predators long before a conflict happens. If you have close neighbors, we do not recommend getting an LGD.
Experience Required: We only place started dogs with homes that have LGD experience and are 100% committed to making the transaction successful.

Why Choose a Started Guardian?

Proven Foundations: These dogs were often produced or raised right here at Emerald Mtn Ranch. While they may not have aligned with our specific breeding program goals, they remain high-quality workers.
Lifetime Support: For any dog produced by us, we stand behind them for life and are always here to support you.
Available DOgs

Our Second Chance Program

Special home for unique guardians

The dogs in our Second Chances program aren’t always what you’d expect. While we don’t have a history of dogs being returned to Emerald Mtn Ranch, we occasionally have dogs available that were acquired but didn’t fit the specific needs of our breeding program, or they may be retired guardians ready for their next chapter.
Because these dogs often come with specific histories or unique personalities, they are typically available at no cost to the right, approved home.

What to Expect with a Second Chance Dog

Unique “Idiosyncrasies”: These dogs may have known quirks or specific issues that need to be considered before adoption. They aren’t “blank slates” they are individuals who need an environment where their specific needs are understood.
The Compassionate Choice: Bringing an adult dog into your life is a rewarding, compassionate choice, but it requires a high level of dedication. It can take a significant amount of time, 6 months to 1 year, for them to fully settle in, decompress, and bond with a new family and stock.
A Mature Companion: The reward for your patience is a mature, devoted companion who is ready to give their all to the right operation.

Requirements for Adoption

To ensure these dogs (and your ranch) remain safe and successful, we have firm requirements for our Second Chance placements:

LGD Experience is Mandatory: We will only place these dogs in homes with proven experience handling Livestock Guardian Dogs. You must be 100% committed to the long-term success of the transition.
Containment: Appropriate, secure fencing is non-negotiable. While most of our dogs are trained to electric fences, a solid physical perimeter is required.
Noise Considerations: Barking is a guardian’s first line of defense. If you have close neighbors, we do not recommend these dogs.

Contact us for further information about our started / second chance dogs

Email Us

info@emeraldmtnranch.com

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Available Dogs:

Started Guardian

Leona – Yellow 2025 Princess Litter

Leona is a high-quality started guardian ready to protect your ranch.

Leona is a 14-month-old registered Turkish Boz Shepherd (Princess x Talat) currently recovering from her spay. Weighing 100+ lbs, she is a sweet, calm protector ready for a permanent job.

What Leona Needs:
Proven Stability: She is reliable with calves, sheep, and Nigerian Dwarf goats. She is also hotwire broke.
Firm Boundaries: A secure, perimeter-fenced property is non-negotiable.
Respectful Stock: Her new livestock must be dog-broke and not aggressive toward her.
Commitment: Adult dogs require 6 to 12 months to fully decompress, bond, and trust their new family and stock. If you cannot commit to this transition period, she isn’t the right fit.
Stats & Health:
Health: Embark cleared. PennHIP shows high laxity but no evidence of dysplasia.
Social: Good with house dogs and non-dominant with females unless provoked. Needs continued work with cats and poultry.
Second Chance

Samson

Samson is neutered and ready for a family that values his loyalty

Samson is a 2-year-old, 135 lb Turkish Boz/Newfoundland (12%) cross. He is a “wicked smart” elite alert dog who bonds deeply with his people. While he has experience with livestock, he is best suited as a homestead guardian rather than a full-time LGD.

Working Profile & Training:
Bird Training: He has been working with birds and generally leaves them alone, but this is a work in progress. His new family must be willing to continue his guidance and supervision around poultry.
Skills: He is hotwire broke, has excellent recall, and is well-behaved on a leash with commands like sit, wait, and leave it.
Elite Alert: He will definitely let you know if a person is on the property. He is protective but not aggressive.
Mandatory Home Requirements:
Commitment: Adult dogs need 6–12 months to decompress and bond. You must be willing to give him this time to understand his new role.
Dog-Broke Stock Only: Due to past trauma, he cannot be around aggressive livestock. His stock must be accustomed to dogs and not attack him.
Management: He is food aggressive with other animals and must be fed separately. He is not good with cats.
Infrastructure: Proper perimeter fencing and continued training are required.
Started Guardian

Shelby – 2024 Sox Litter

Shelby is a mature, structurally sound guardian ready for her next chapter.

Shelby is a 2-year-old, 3/4 Turkish Boz and 1/4 Great Pyrenees cross. She offers a rare combination: she is a proven livestock protector who is also fully house-broken and loves being a “velcro” dog with her humans.

What Shelby Offers:
The Ultimate Homestead Dog: She is most active at night patrolling her perimeter but loves being inside with her family during the day.
Proven in the Cold: Extremely cold-hardy (tested to -10°F) with a beautiful long coat.
Trained & Reliable: Leash-trained, knows basic commands, and is hotwire broke. She has been exposed to sheep and calves and alerts loudly to any changes in her environment.
Mandatory Home Requirements:
Pack Dynamics: Shelby has a dominant personality. She gets along with smaller house dogs and herding breeds but must not be placed with other large female dogs. No cats.
Training in Progress: She is still under training for birds and needs continued supervision there.
Infrastructure: Not a city dog. She needs a rural property or ranch with secure perimeter fencing where her “guarding voice” isn’t an issue for neighbors.
Commitment: Like all our adults, Shelby needs 6–12 months to decompress and bond with her new family and stock.
Health & Status:
Health: Cleared for PennHIP, OFA, and Embark genetic testing.
Training in Progress: She is still under training for birds and needs continued supervision there.
Status: Currently recovering from her spay and will be ready for placement soon.
Started Guardian

Porsche

Purebred Registered Turkish Boz Shepherd 

We’re offering Porsche as a select breeding prospect or a guardian for larger stock. We don’t need to keep two sisters, so this is a great chance to get a girl with her foundation already laid. At 18 months, she’s a solid 135 lbs and 31 inches.
She’s the total package for health, having passed her Embark Genetic health testing, OFA prelims, PennHip, heart, and thyroid tests. She moves beautifully and has the structural strength you want to see in the breed.

Working Style & Temperament
Porsche is a “thinker” with a serious, standoffish nature that makes her an incredible observer. She’s a dominant female who leads with quiet confidence. She respects our house dogs, but she’d be best placed with a male partner.
Livestock: She currently rotates through our sheep, goats, and calf pens. She hasn’t been through a lambing season yet, but she is a fantastic candidate for a large stock operation.
Important Notes: She is a serious resource guardian and won’t let stock near her food. She is not good with cats or free-range chickens.