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Livestock Guardian Dogs (or, LGD’s) are names for an international group of over a dozen breeds of dog that have historically been bred as livestock guardians. While these specialized dogs are not well-known, save for a few, like the Anatolian Shepherd and Great Pyrenees, they have, for centuries, been the fierce and effective guardians of goats, sheep, and cattle in high mountain meadows and pastures all over the world.
If you are struggling with predation on the homestead, and are considering bringing in an LGD to your home, there is quite a lot to consider. Taking on a Livestock Guardian Dog should not be an impulse buy. Think it through and look at the facts, then consider the pros and cons of owning such a breed of dog before you decide.
While there are over 13 different breeds and many crosses of LGD’s, they all have breed characteristics in common.
LGD’s are:
- Large in stature- Reaching from 28 up to 34 inches, and from 90-150 pounds
- Shaggy – With lots of dense fur to keep them warm in cold climates and protect them from predators
- Devoted- They will fight to the death against a predator in order to protect their charges
- Willful and independent- This can be mistaken for stubbornness, but with proper training, these dogs are trustworthy, gentle and devoted to all, except when challenged by a predator
- Alert- Ever vigilant in guarding their flock or herd, LGD’s are sensitive to any changes in the environment, or in the behavior of their animal charges
- Loud – Bred to “sound the alarm,” LGD’s are loud and bark often
- Acclimated – LGD’s are meant to live outdoors with their flock or herd in all sorts of weather
- Camouflage – LGD’s have been bred over the years with certain color genetics that render them either able to blend into the landscape where the breed originated, or to blend in with their animal herd or flock.
The Hungarian Shepherd, or Kormondor, has stringy, curly cords of hair resembling a string mop, instead of fur, which helps him blend right into a flock of sheep. The Akbash, Kuvasz, Maremma, and Great Pyrenees are able to blend easily into a snowy landscape with their white and off-white fur.
What About Temperament?
Aside from all of the breed characteristics these dogs have in common, you have to view each dog as an individual in deciding which LGD is a good fit for you, your homestead, and your family, especially if you have small children.
In the absence of a flock to guard, the dog may transfer that loyalty and devotion to their owner, or their children. They make great family dogs, especially when raised from a puppy with the family. It’s visitors and other small animals that might be problematic. These dogs are naturally wary of strangers, so you will want to give them a great deal of training and obedience work, as well as a ton of socialization.
Without proper training, an LGD may be aggressive towards strangers, and may kill chickens, cats, or other small animals that they see as encroaching upon their territory.
LGD’s as a rule do not do well confined to small dog runs, or kept inside the house. They’re bred to patrol their area and live outdoors with their charges. If you do decide to bring a guardian dog into your home, they need a dog door they can access at all times of the day and night to attend to their duties outside.
As guardians of your goats or sheep, the best way for them to form their attachment to the flock is to have them live outdoors with their charges from an early age. They can still get their training on obedience from you, but they need to be loyal to that flock and protect it above all else.
Studies done on LGD’s state that they will run off most predators with loud barking. They will chase the predator away about 35% of the time, and will fight and kill a predator about 10% of the time if it won’t run away. They will fight to the death if necessary.
Choosing Your Dog
Breeders
If you are looking for the right LGD, talk to reputable breeders, those who do genetic bloodwork on their breeding pairs, and ask to see the results and look for problems like hip dysplasia, eye problems or other genetic flaws. If your breeder is unwilling to share these results with you, they may have something to hide. Ask the breeder for a healthy dog guarantee for up to two years.
Spend time with the puppies and observe the mama dog. You can gain valuable insight into the personality of your pup by repeated visits to the breeders. Talk to the breeder about temperament. A reputable breeder will be testing the puppies at certain growth milestones and have a pretty good idea of each dog’s personality by the time they’re ready to be weaned.
If you’re reading this you probably already know that you should NEVER buy a puppy from a puppy mill! Choose only reputable kennels and breeders. Small home breeders are your best choice for a quality dog with proven bloodlines and health guarantees. If you want a working dog that is a guardian of livestock, the odds of the puppy taking to his vocation are increased if she comes from working parents. Breeders who are raising working dogs, have knowledge of the type of dog you need for your particular situation.
Breed Rescues
Breed rescues are another source of guardian dogs that need homes, but we would caution you that it can be quite risky to get an LGD at a shelter or a breed-specific rescue. While it would definitely help the overpopulation problem, it might create other problems.
You have no way of knowing the situation a shelter dog has come from, whether it has had proper training as a livestock guardian. Some rescues and shelters have histories on their dogs, and others come as a blank slate. It will be a big investment of adoption/rescue, time and training as well as risk of potential health and temperament issues. You need to be sure that it’s not an aggressive dog, that it won’t harm your herd or flock, or kill other critters. This is especially crucial if you have other small animals or children at home.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a crossbred LGD. You definitely can. Many crossbreds carry the best of both breeds, and a Great Pyrenees crossed with an Akbash or Maremma, is a wonderful example of this. This type of cross is liable to behave just like a purebred in the sense of having all of the LGD breed characteristics and guardian instincts that we mentioned above.
Crossbred dogs also have what is known as “Hybrid Vigor.” This means that many of the genetics of crossbred animals can be stronger than their purebred parents. This affects stature, fertility and biomass and is actually desirable. So don’t hesitate to get a crossbred LGD.
Let’s look at some pros and cons of having a LGD on your homestead:
PRO CON
Protection from predators Can be aggressive to small animals
Alert Barks a lot
Lives with flock or herd Not a house dog
Devoted to his work Stubborn and independent
Large in size Expensive to feed
Thick shaggy coat Requires extensive grooming
Gentle with children Requires focused training
Puppies are smart and trainable High cost to purchase from breeder (up to $2300)
A word about the cost of a LGD pup: If your puppy receives proper training and socialization, and they eventually grow up to successfully protect your livestock from predators, then the amount you’ve spent on purchasing, feeding, and training your dog will then be considered a worthwhile investment.
As with all investments, there is risk involved. A dog like this is not something you can treat lightly if you expect them to do the job they’re bred to do. So think it through and consider what your investment of time and money is worth when it comes to protecting your family, and your animals.
Bringing Your Livestock Guardian Home
Your puppy should be introduced to his flock or herd before 16 weeks of age to help him bond with the animals and set him up for success as a guardian. Some owners use bonding pens where they will take a few calm animals from the flock and put them in a separate enclosure to help the puppy bond, and help keep him from being overwhelmed or injured. The first introductions, until the pup is bonded with the stock, should be under your supervision. At the beginning or end of a training session, for example. An LGD puppy will soon learn its job and begin to explore the flock and feel comfortable with them.
Praise the puppy when he sniffs noses with the animals and acts appropriately, and correct him for any signs of aggression. He will understand soon enough what you expect from him. Positive and encouraging training with rewards is always preferable.
These dogs can show independence that is often mistaken for stubbornness, but they will need to make choices in the future without your intervention, so you want to cultivate that through training and not squash it. You want the dog to exhibit basic obedience, and in truth, you want the dog to bond more with the animals than they do with you. Their duty is to protect the stock, and the odds are good that they will protect you and your family members as well.
These dogs are smart and intuitive, there is never a need to be heavy handed or harsh. Give your puppy clear direction, and lots of praise to set her up for success in the future. If you are struggling and don’t feel up to the task, consult a professional that specializes in guardian dogs to assess your dog and your methods and give advice. Again, the investment you make now is going to prove worthwhile in the future when you have a trustworthy and well-trained guardian dog looking after your homestead.
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