Doc,In Italy they place a young pup in with baby sheep,when the pup grows up he/she thinks it is more sheep and will protect the flock at any cost.Looking for a young pup now to place with baby goats,hope the dog will imprint with the goats,what do you think about this idea??
Good Day Doc                                     mikey

It is okay to have a dog especially  if the area is not secured or without fence or wild animals can enter their area.

I do think it is okay to have a guard dog. Regardless whether they are for the sheep or even for house guard.

Imprinting start at birth but behavioral modification or socialization develops while they are still young. So, when the dog grows with the sheep a part of the behaviour and socialization of sheep will be adapted by the dog. And like you said they will feel like a part of the community of the sheep.

There are some pamahiin that when you have a dog you will not get sick easily because your dog will sacrifice his health for you. Slightly, i do believe it. 

Doc, I used the term guard dog because his job will be to protect the goats, a goat guard dog to help our caretaker.
Good Day To You                         mikey

It would be a beauty to the eye to see a dog protecting a goat.

You feel like you're in another country.

Doc,I am told in Australia the dog lives with the goats all summer in the pastures,when the goats are brought in during the winter time they have to shoot the dog(s) because they are too protective.I am not in favour of shooting the dog(s),our dog(s) will live with  the goats all the time,our goats now are confined,in the process of looking for a young pup to see if we can do it,just an experiment,maybe it will work maybe not.You are correct would be something to see.
Good Day Doc.                                mikey

P.S. if it works with goats maybe a hog guarding dog hehehe

BUt the problem is you have to let your hog in pasture so the purpose of the dog to guard them would be attained.

Doc, I used the term guard dog because his job will be to protect the goats, a goat guard dog to help our caretaker.
Good Day To You                         mikey

Doc , Guard dogs are companion especially when goats are in pasture.Helping the Shepherd guarding the flocks.
 thank you  and good day!
                                                victor

We got a female native puppy 2 weeks ago,the dog lives in the goat barn and sleeps with the baby goats at night.The caretakers do spend some time with her as not to make her too wild,so far so good.Hard to tell at this early stage if the dog will be a good goat guard dog.It might work out.
Over the coming year,we will have to see if it works out or not.Just an idea we are working on.