The Great Protectors: Livestock Guardian Dogs

Have you ever seen a big fluffy dog living among sheep, alpacas, or other livestock animals on a farm? Then you’ve seen a livestock guardian dog. These large, devoted working dogs have been bred to protect livestock from predators for many centuries, beginning in Europe and Asia, and now they are often found in the U.S. as well.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) describes how they work this way: “Livestock protection dogs live with the sheep, patrolling the perimeters of sheep grazing areas to ward off potential predators.”

What a Livestock Guardian Dog Does

The USDA says livestock protection dogs “have been used around the world for centuries and are an essential management tool in the United States.” An APHIS blog post describes them as “Generally large and white with shaggy hair” and says they “are trained to respond aggressively to predators such as wolves, bears, and coyotes.”

Oregon State University Extension says successful training produces “an adult that’s trustworthy with sheep, attentive to sheep, and protective of sheep.” It adds: “These factors build on one another: protective behavior is mainly the result of trustworthy and attentive behavior.”

South Dakota State University Extension says: “Some dogs stick with the flock, while others patrol the perimeter.”

The same APHIS blog post reports a 2010 American Sheep Industry survey: “90% of survey respondents who utilize guard dogs reported an average decrease of 62% in sheep depredation after starting to use them.” The USDA brochure on these dogs says “Predators account for more than 30 percent of sheep and lamb losses.”

Livestock Guardian Dog Breeds

What are the most common breeds of livestock guardian dogs? According to the Livestock Guardian Dogs Association, they include Akbash, Anatolian Shepherd, Great Pyrenees, Komondor, Kuvasz, Maremma, and Tibetan Mastiff. The association also links to breeds that are rare in the United States.

The association says: “The most well-known of these breeds in the United States are the Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherds, Akbash and Maremma.” South Dakota State University Extension says: “Commonly used breeds are: Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd and Akbash with many crosses and other breeds growing in popularity.” It also says: “There has been limited investigation on differences in characteristics between breeds.”

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has breed pages for five of the breeds on the list. Its published standards give these sizes.

The AKC lists a life expectancy of 10-12 years for the Great Pyrenees, Komondor, Kuvasz, and Tibetan Mastiff, and 11-13 years for the Anatolian Shepherd Dog.

Great Pyrenees

The AKC calls the Great Pyrenees “a large, thickly coated, and immensely powerful working dog bred to deter sheep-stealing wolves and other predators on snowy mountaintops.” It says: “Pyrs were bred to be independent thinkers, to work without guidance watching and protecting their flock.”

Anatolian Shepherd Dog

The AKC describes “Anatolian Shepherds, who would rather intimidate predators than fight them”. It says: “Under no circumstances should an Anatolian receive protection or guard-dog training.”

Komondor

The AKC says of the Komondor’s corded coat: “The cords also let Koms blend in with the sheep, giving them the element of surprise.”

Kuvasz

The AKC says: “As livestock guardians, they had the patience to keep a close eye on their flock for days on end, and also the courage to take on wolves or armed rustlers when duty called.”

Tibetan Mastiff

The AKC says “for millennia they were the mighty guardians of the Himalayas”.

How a Guardian Puppy Is Raised With the Stock

Many livestock guardian dogs are raised side by side with the animals they will protect as adults, beginning as very young puppies. Ideally, working guardian dogs will form closer bonds with the flock than with humans.

Oregon State University Extension says: “Training a livestock-guarding dog is primarily a matter of raising the dog with sheep to establish a social bond between sheep and dog.” It also says: “Young pups confined with sheep are more likely as adults to prefer sheep to people or other dogs.”

South Dakota State University Extension says: “bonding these dogs as young puppies (8 to 20 weeks-old) to sheep is crucial in ensuring their success.” It adds: “If possible, it also helps when those puppies are whelped (born) in an area where they can hear and smell livestock.”

Oregon State University Extension gives these steps for a pup raised with sheep.

Oregon State University Extension also says: “Supervision is required during your dog’s first exposure to lambs.” It says: “It may be a mistake to leave a 4- or 5-month-old pup alone in a distant pasture, even if the pup is trustworthy and attentive”.

On when a guardian dog is fully grown, the sources differ. Oregon State University Extension puts maturity at 1½ to 2 years. The Livestock Guardian Dogs Association says: “They have a long puppy-hood and adolescence, often not reaching maturity until 2-1/2 or 3 years of age.”

Training and Handling

Oregon State University Extension says: “Training a guarding dog uses techniques that are much different from those used in training a dog for obedience, hunting, or herding.” It also says: “Keep the duties of your herding or pet dogs separate from those of your guarding dogs.”

The AKC’s Anatolian Shepherd page says: “Obedience training is a must with the breed.” Oregon State University Extension says guarding dog training is much different from obedience training.

What Guardian Dogs Need

The Livestock Guardian Dogs Association says: “They need daily exercise and the daily discipline of a job to do.”

South Dakota State University Extension says: “Feed is the largest cost associated with LGD, and different feeding methods work for different operations. Hand feeding reduces waste but adds an additional daily chore, while free choice feeding (self-feeder) can create food aggression and increase wasted dog food.” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says: “The LGD nutrition program is crucial to keeping dogs healthy and capable to perform their roles.”

Oregon State University Extension says: “Large dogs, especially if they haven’t shed their winter coats, may have difficulty dissipating excess heat during summer months.” It says: “Provide plenty of cool water. Seek veterinary assistance if the dog’s temperature rises above 102°F.”

The AKC’s Komondor page says: “As with many large dogs, the Komondor can develop bloat, a sudden, life-threatening enlargement of the stomach sometimes accompanied by twisting.”

Guardian Dogs as Family Pets and Assistance Dogs

The Livestock Guardian Dogs Association says many “also work as family and home guardians, and several are assistance dogs”. It says: “With the right socialization, training and physical environment, LGDs can be successful family pets and home protectors.” It adds: “They are generally aloof toward strangers and their size alone is rather intimidating. Though strong, independent-minded and protective, they are normally gentle with children and livestock alike.”

The AKC says of the Great Pyrenees: “Pyrs today are mellow companions and vigilant guardians of home and family.”

The USDA takes a different view of dogs that work on sheep ranges. Its brochure says: “Livestock protection dogs are not pets; they are trained working dogs. Feeding or petting them will distract them from their job of protecting sheep”.

Interested in learning more about these gentle giants? Check out the Livestock Guardian Dogs Association website for lots of great information.

Meeting a Guardian Dog on Public Land

The USDA brochure says: “If you encounter a band of sheep while visiting America’s public lands, it is best to alter your route to minimize any contact.” It says: “An unleashed dog encountering sheep likely will be perceived as a predator, which could cause an aggressive confrontation with the livestock protection dog.”

Its Do list says: “Remain calm if a livestock protection dog approaches you.” and “Keep your dog leashed.” Its Do Not list says: “Attempt to befriend, pet, or feed the dog(s).”

Livestock Guardian Dog FAQ

Is a livestock guardian dog the same as a herding dog?

Oregon State University Extension says: “Stalking behavior is virtually nonexistent in the Old World guarding dogs.” It also says guarding dog training uses techniques “much different from those used in training a dog for obedience, hunting, or herding.”

Which animals can a guardian dog protect?

The USDA brochure is about sheep. The AKC says: “Many Anatolian Shepherds are still working ranch dogs today, protecting everything from sheep and goats to ostriches and llamas.”

Do guardian dogs stay awake all day?

Oregon State University Extension says: “Very few dogs are attentive 100 percent of the time, and most of them sleep during the day.”

How many guardian dogs does a flock need?

South Dakota State University Extension says: “Additionally, utilization of multiple LGD is encouraged to ensure greater protection.” Oregon State University Extension says: “A single dog may have difficulty protecting large numbers of widely scattered sheep, especially where predator densities are high.” It adds: “Adjusting the number of dogs in a sheep operation must be done on a case-by-case basis.”

Can guardian dogs handle large predators?

The USDA APHIS blog says that against larger predators “traditional dog breeds may not be able to meet the challenge.” It says Dr. Julie Young at the APHIS Predator Research Facility is researching larger European breeds.

Sources

• USDA APHIS. Dogs Help Protect Livestock Against Predators, Wayback copy.
• USDA APHIS Wildlife Services. Livestock Protection Dogs: Protecting Sheep From Predators, Program Aid No. 2051, Wayback copy.
• Oregon State University Extension. Raising and Training a Livestock-guarding Dog, EC 1238, by Lorenz and Coppinger.
• South Dakota State University Extension. Livestock Guardian Dogs for Improved Protection.
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Livestock Guardian Dog Feeding Stations.
• Livestock Guardian Dogs Association. Home page, Wayback copy.
• American Kennel Club breed pages: Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Komondor, Kuvasz, and Tibetan Mastiff.

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