Many livestock guard dog breeds are aggressive towards other large dogs that they do not know. Instead, allow the dogs to get used to each other through a secure fence for several days or more. Depending on their individual natures, it may take several days or even weeks for dogs to become comfortable with each other.
Full Answer
Is it hard to train a livestock guardian dog?
Also, if you are new to livestock guardian dogs, keep in mind that starting out is always the hardest. Once you have trained livestock guardian dogs working with livestock, introducing and training new puppies is much easier.
Will a livestock guardian dog protect your livestock?
By now you’ve learned that livestock guardian dogs are big, loyal, and always have a watchful eye out for threats, even through the night. These dogs, when trained and socialized well at a young age, will protect not only your livestock but also your family when needed.
How to make your livestock guardian dogs listen to you?
If you want your livestock guardian dogs to listen to your commands, you absolutely need to have a close relationship with them. You need to be your dogs’ partner and their champion.
Can I introduce new livestock to my livestock guardian dog?
Once your livestock guardian dogs have been trained and are living happily with their herd or flock, you will need to be very careful introducing new livestock into their family. As long time Maremma owner, trainer, and breeder, Jackie Church, says in her LGD training manual:
Do livestock guardian dogs work better in pairs?
Also, even for small acreages, LGDs are more effective in pairs or groups than alone. It would be great if we could plug a couple numbers into a formula to decide how many livestock guardian dogs to run.
How long does it take to train a livestock guardian dog?
At around 16 weeks, these LGDs-in-training can be released with their bonded livestock into larger pens or small pastures. They should be monitored closely for the following couple of weeks.
How do you introduce a livestock guardian dog?
Place a few calm and gentle ewes, goats or cows into a pen, with a protected area for the pup where he can see the livestock, but can escape to safety. Present the pup to the livestock under your supervision, but give the pup some quiet time where it can watch its new friends.
How do livestock guardian dogs work?
Livestock guardian dogs stay with the group of animals they protect as a full-time member of the flock or herd. Their ability to guard their herd is mainly instinctive, as the dog is bonded to the herd from an early age.
Are livestock guardian dogs aggressive?
Dogs make great livestock guardian animals; they can be incredibly aggressive towards predators, yet extremely gentle with people and small or young livestock. Livestock guardian dogs can be considered an upgrade to just “any old” farm dog, companion dog, or herding dog.
Are male or female livestock guardian dogs better?
The biggest advantage to having female livestock guardian dogs is that they are likely faster to mature. Some also claim that they tend to be more willingly obedient. If true, this would mean less training time for you and more time for your dogs to work as reliable guardians.
Do livestock guardian dogs make good pets?
Yes, livestock guardian dog breeds make great pets for the right families. These dogs love human companionship, and many are particularly good with children. LGD breed dogs need extensive training, plenty of exercise, and lots of mental stimulation.
Why do livestock guardian dogs bark?
Barking is how livestock guardian dogs communicate with you, other livestock guardian dogs, charges, and active or potential threats to the flock/herd. LGDs will bark when they see, hear, smell, or otherwise sense that predators are in the area, whether those predators are close by or not.
What is the best livestock guardian dog?
Best Livestock Guardian DogsAnatolian Shepherd. Anatolian shepherds originated in Turkey and are known for being very strong and rugged. ... Kangal. ... Great Pyrenees. ... Komondor. ... Tibetan Mastiff. ... Kuvasz. ... Pyrenean Mastiff. ... Akbash.More items...
Do livestock guardian dogs need a companion?
They need a dog who can care for the flock when they are away and at night, when the flock is especially vulnerable. But they also want a dog who is a companion to the family, good with children, and a guard for the farm as a whole.
Do livestock guardian dogs live outside?
Livestock guardian dogs were born and bred to live outdoors in all sorts of weather conditions and are well-equipped to handle cold temperatures. Some LGDs will burrow into the middle of their flocks or herds (who often use each other for shelter and heat) to keep warm and find relief from the wind.
Do livestock guardian dogs bark a lot?
Many livestock guardian dogs (LGDs), such as Great Pyrenees, are known to bark a lot. And I mean A LOT. Some owners would say “excessively.” In truth, their frequent barking is one of the many ways they protect their livestock and loved ones from potential predators.
Puppy Talk and Livestock Guardian Dogs by Louise Liebenberg
Nothing is more endearing than a sweet, fluffy puppy. They melt your heart and the desire to go in and hug it, and mother it, and baby it, seems to take over. The problem that arises from following the heart and not the mind is that we potentially set the pup up for failure before it even has a chance to work.
Potential Problems
Too often, we see that pups are removed from their moms at 5 to 6 weeks of age and this is simply too young. Some of the behavioral problems exhibited by pups removed from their mom and siblings under 8 weeks old are:
Livestock Guardian Dog Characteristics
LGDs have their pros and cons. They are excellent, of course, at guarding things. These dog breeds are independent dogs who think quickly on their feet. There’s no need to tell these dogs to attack; it’s in their DNA to ward off predators with a nasty bark or a charge and attack.
Livestock Dog Temperament: Aggressive or Friendly?
With that being said, some people worry that these dogs may be too aggressive for their families or their small animals. In fact, most of these dogs are usually docile towards livestock and their owners.
Do Livestock Dogs Bark a Lot?
Yes, livestock dogs tend to bark a lot. It makes sense: their entire aim is to ward off any threat to the animals they protect, so they are likely to bark at anything they sense is threatening.
Dog Vs. Wild Animal: Can Livestock Dogs Kill?
Livestock guardian dogs can definitely kill predators. Research by The Conversation reveals that, out of the scientific reports about livestock dogs that they studied, 34% of livestock dogs chased away predators, and 10% of the time the dogs killed them.
Final Thoughts
By now you’ve learned that livestock guardian dogs are big, loyal, and always have a watchful eye out for threats, even through the night. These dogs, when trained and socialized well at a young age, will protect not only your livestock but also your family when needed.
What is a guardian dog?
But livestock guardian dogs, commonly referred to as LGDs, can help protect your animals and reduce the risk of predation. LGDs have been used all around the world for centuries to fend off predators and protect various farm animals.
Why are sheepdogs important in Poland?
Polish Tatra sheepdogs were initially developed to protect livestock of farmers living in the Tatra Mountains of southern Po land. Many years later, they still make excellent LGDs, thanks in part to their loyal and hard-working nature.
What breed of dog is good for guarding sheep?
This Italian sheepdog is known for its alert instincts and loyal attitude, making the breed an excellent choice for livestock guardian dogs. In fact, this is another LGD breed that is well-suited for guarding a variety of different farm animals, ranging from sheep to chicken to ducks.
What is a Kangal?
Assuming that you consider the breed distinct from the Anatolian shepherd, the Kangal is a super protective, alert, and independent dog, which is well-suited for a life spent protecting livestock. They reach similar sizes and ages as Anatolian shepherds. 3.
What do dogs use to mark their territory?
They typically do so in three primary ways: Marking Their Territory — Dogs naturally use their scent to mark their territory. Wolves, coyotes, and other species can recognize these boundaries and are less likely to attack upon discovering these markings.
Where did the Akbash dog come from?
The sweet-faced akbash is originally from Turkey and has been used as a livestock guardian dog for centuries. Their name comes from the Turkish work akbas, which means “white head.”
What is a sweet dog?
These sweet, intelligent dogs are huge and generally very gentle with humans and other dogs. They are great at protecting flocks, and their independent nature makes them excellent LGDs, as they often excel at making decisions and solving problems without human help.
How to protect livestock from dogs?
Just for the sake of reinforcement, though, here are a few important takeaways from the story. 1. Assume All Dogs Want to Kill Your Livestock. Be prepared to protect your livestock from your dog until you are sure the dog understands his or her duties and responsibilities. Even then, know that accidents happen.
How to train a dog to be a good dog?
2. Positive Modeling is a Must 1 Reward the behaviors you want with treats and love. 2 Give much more attention to the correct behaviors than the inappropriate behaviors. 3 Replace incorrect behaviors with correct behaviors (e.g., swap a chew for a shoe or chasing a ball for chasing a chicken). 4 Create positive training experiences where your dog will succeed.
How to train a dog to not kill?
Start with Assertive Livestock. Train your dog using livestock animals that are less likely to show fear. Strong males or herd/flock leaders make good choices for first introductions. Livestock that are naturally fearful of dogs, like poultry, are more difficult to train your dog not to kill.
How to tell if your dog is a prey?
Observe their reactions to your livestock. Look for physical signs like ears perking up, tails standing erect, tightening around the mouth, and excessive alertness. These are all clear signs that your dog sees your livestock as prey.
When should I start acclimating my dog to livestock?
If you can start acclimating your dog to livestock at a young age, it’s easier to convince your puppy that livestock are to be respected. Generally, it’s believed that puppies have better bonding ability before 4 months of age. However, I know from experience that dogs can learn later in life, too.
How to reward behaviors?
Reward the behaviors you want with treats and love. Give much more attention to the correct behaviors than the inappropriate behaviors. Replace incorrect behaviors with correct behaviors (e.g., swap a chew for a shoe or chasing a ball for chasing a chicken).
Why do we need dogs on our farm?
Dogs can help keep your farm safe from external predators. They can provide companionship to you and your other animals. They can also be endlessly entertaining. Personally, I can’t imagine life without them.
What is the most challenging stage for a puppy?
The puppy stage is the most challenging; it’s like teenage years for canines. This is when the dogs are learning the ropes about the world. They have lots of energy and lots of play, and like any teenager they also start to push boundaries. This is not such a big deal if you’re raising a chihuahua, but when the puppy has a job it must learn, and is also much larger than a chihuahua, navigating puppyhood is a bit more challenging.
Can a guardian dog work with another dog?
It’s easy to assume that what works with one dog will work with another, but that just isn’t the case. There are big differences even just between breed characteristics, and likewise two dogs (even of the same breed) can be very different as well just like any other dogs. Even though there are common traits that carry across all the guardian breeds — they all have the same job, after all — some individuals will be more prone to certain behaviors.
Can a LGD be left alone?
This one is really important. An LGD puppy should never be left alone with poultry without human supervision. LGD breeds developed initially to guard larger livestock — mainly sheep. The historical ancestors of our modern livestock guardians were not expected or trained to guard small animals like poultry or rabbits. Those types of bite sized stock were more likely to be a snack than something to guard. It’s unfair to expect an LGD to naturally guard a flock of chickens, turkeys, ducks, or anything similar. In fact, it’s common for them to attack and kill small stock if it ventures into their living area.
Can dogs live with livestock?
This goes along with not making them become overly attached to humans. I’ve seen some advice floating around to not allow the dogs with livestock unsupervised until they’re an adult, but I strongly disagree with that advice. The puppy needs to grow up in a working environment where they learn to bond with the livestock they’ll be guarding. In order to do so, they must live with livestock 24/7. It’s important that the puppy be placed with confident adult livestock. This helps to teach the puppy to respect the livestock from a young age.
Can a LGD pup be guarded?
Every now and then a pup will be born who simply isn’t suited to guarding. While I strongly believe that the vast majority of LGD pups who start out from working parents and are raised with livestock from the beginning will succeed if raised correctly through to adulthood, there are always exceptions. Sometimes every circumstance can be right and things still won’t work out for whatever reason. If you are struggling with a pup, seek council from experienced LGD owners, research, try new methods, and give it your best shot, but if in the end it doesn’t work out don’t beat yourself up and don’t assume that it’s a reflection of all LGD dogs or a specific breed. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
Why should you have more than one livestock guardian dog?
Why You Should Have More Than One Livestock Guardian Dog. Livestock guardian dogs were born and bred to work in partners or packs. By isolating them , you are increasing their risk of attack and injury. Most solo LGDs cannot take on a mountain lion, bear, pack of coyotes, or pack of wolves by themselves.
How do livestock guardians work?
Your older livestock guardian dogs will do much of the training work for you by modeling appropriate behavior towards the livestock and stopping the puppies’ unwanted behavior. Mentor dogs can also teach puppies how to patrol for predators and what the proper protocols are in various situations.
Do livestock guard dogs need fencing?
Fencing not only keeps livestock contained ( and easier for your dogs to guard), but also provides a deterrent to some predators.
Do LGDs bond with livestock?
LGDs are pack animals. Yes, they bond to your livestock and have meaningful relationships with them, but they have been bred to spend their days with other dogs. Even if you feel certain you only need one dog for your own needs, your dog will have a much more fulfilled life with a partner.
Do you need a couple of dogs for chickens?
If your dogs are defending chickens against birds of prey, their presence may be all the deterrent needed and you may, therefore, only need a couple of dogs. On the other hand, if your livestock are at risk from larger predators, such as mountain lions, wolves, bears, or packs of feral dogs, you will want a much larger pack ...
Can predators penetrate the fence?
Essentially, if predators can penetrate the fencing, it is important to up the number of LGDs you are running. For more information in fencing LGDs with livestock, see my article, How to Keep Your LGD in the Yard or Pasture. Livestock Guardian Dog Behavior.