06/12/2026
🐾 MEET LEO — THE NEWEST GUARDIAN OF THE RANCH! 🐾
We are so excited to introduce the newest member of the Branch Hill Estate & Ranch family: Leo, our 9-week-old Great Pyrenees puppy!
Our senior livestock guardian dog, Luke, has faithfully watched over the ranch for years and has become a favorite among our campers and guests. At 8 years old, he is aging gracefully, so we decided it was time to bring him a new buddy—and future partner—to help protect all the animals and birds that call the ranch home.
Because it can take one to two years for these incredible dogs to become fully trained, mature, and trustworthy livestock guardians, Leo’s training has already begun—right in the middle of Summer Camp! He is learning the ranch, meeting the animals, following Luke’s lead, and getting plenty of love and socialization from our campers along the way.
Like Luke, Leo’s home is the barn and barnyard. Our livestock guardians live at the barn 365 days a year. Although they are free to roam the entire ranch, they know their primary job is to watch over and defend the barnyard and every animal that calls it home.
Leo has already proven to be an incredible fit. He may be just a little annoying to Luke at times—as puppies tend to be—but we think Luke secretly enjoys having a new friend to follow him around and learn the ropes.
Our Summer Campers helped us choose his name this week, and **Leo** was the winner! We think it is absolutely perfect and love our new Luke and Leo duo here on the ranch.
Coming from the Pyrenees Mountains, the hot and humid Ohio summers can be a little brutal for these thick-coated dogs. Swims in the lake and fans aimed directly at them in the barn help keep them comfortable until their favorite season arrives. Once the glorious winter weather is here, we can hardly convince them to come inside the barn to sleep!
These gentle giants will fearlessly defend the animals in their care while also giving plenty of kisses and soaking up every pet they can get from their human family and friends.
Welcome to the family, Leo! We cannot wait to watch you grow, learn from Luke, and become an incredible guardian of the ranch. 🤍🐶
