If you were sold these dogs with the assurance that they were trained livestock guard dogs, and now the previous owners are not replying to you when you try to contact them, then it sounds to me as if you might have indeed been scammed. However, not knowing the details of the situation, or the dogs, and not being familiar with the training of LGDs, I am not going to say that I know this for sure.

If you continue to be unable to contact the previous owners, can you go in person to their home?

If not, or if that gets you nowhere, and you want to keep the dogs, you may want to contact people who have LGDs in your area and find someone who trains these dogs to help you with the situation. This could be a case of two dogs who are simply confused and want to go back to where they used to live, but will turn out to be good dogs and do your livestock guarding for you once they settle down, or it could be a situation in which you were misled into taking on two untrained dogs. Without more information from the people who sold them to you, only time and a consultation with a trainer will tell you which this is.

 

Some LGD breeds, and I believe the Akbash might be one of them, do have a tendency to roam. They are establishing and patrolling their territory. Their territory, as they perceive it, might cover quite a bit more geography than the area we humans consider to be ours.

Eating eggs is not an unusual trait in farm dogs. Think of it like counter surfing. It's just one of those bad habits some dogs develop. Eggs are tasty and nutritious. Eggs in a farm yard are accessible with only a bit of a challenge. It's not surprising that some dogs pick up the habit. Once they get the habit it's self reinforcing, so it becomes very difficult to train out.

As far as protecting your flock, it really depends on how they have been socialized. LGDs usually like hang out near their herd. If they weren't introduced to goats when they were young, they may not consider goats to be part of their herd.

 

On May 15, we adopted a two-year-old sister pair of Akbash Pyrenees to help with our goats and the resident coyote population. Very sweet, but shy girls, one clearly the alpha. On the fourth day we had them, they left their enclosure and remained "on the lam" for two weeks. I attributed this to being new to our home and didn't know how to get home. Long story, but they recognized me and decided to walk home with me.
They have hidden in our chicken coop the entire time. They found that place when entering the barn, and prefer to be there, in a corner. Of course ... they are egg eaters!
During the runaway episode I contacted the previous owner who didn't return messages and never offered assistance. Runaway egg eaters...did I get scammed??
Yesterday, we finished a large section of pasture with a high fence for them and goats. We turned them all into the pasture, and within an hour, they had escaped. They came to the front of the barn and into the chicken house they went. We found ONE spot they probably pushed under and it has been adjusted.
I'm struggling to get a handle on their need to be out of enclosures doing the job the owner said they were already doing. We've spent hours with the girls, familiarizing and personalizing with them. We've trained lots of dogs..... BUT, any advice is welcome!

Hi @vicijennings
I would suggest starting over from scratch introducing and bonding your dogs to the stock you want them to protect and taking much longer about it than you think you need. I don't think enclosing them will be enough, you will have to tether them as well - for a while at least.
I would also suggest a FB group called Learning About LGDs it's a private group, you will have to ask to join, but the folks there are super knowledgeable and will let you know honestly if this is going to work or not.
Do you know if your dogs were working where they previously lived? I suspect the age of your girls and if they are littermates or not will factor in as well.

 

Its an excellent idea to join a full time group for active LGDs . for me GP's is hit and miss for roamers. Being their age, and being new to you and being LGD's devoted to their animals and people... They may just be determined to go back to their previous home.

Starting from scratch to get them bonded over to your place, animals and you.. You might consider investing in a gps collar one that allows you to sets up exact areas so when the dogs leave or enter those places you are notified. Garmin Dog trackers is very expensive but one of the best for live information.

Not all individual LGD's will be the same in how they protect your farm there is always a value in them for how devoted they are to what is theres.. My imported Caucasians came from security work kennels with no exposure to farm animals... It didn't make a difference they bonded and protect the animals and us. We also didn't put them in the barns to start. They were in the house first to bond and went with us to do chores and daily activities with the animals to include feeding watering and taking the animals out to pasture and staying with them and bringing the animals back in. An they took over the rotuine on their own with out us being there.