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FAQ's About LGDsDo you have questions about livestock guardian dogs (also known as livestock protection dogs)? See our list of frequently asked questions below. If you don't see an answer to your question here, please contact us with your question.
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Are LGD's the same as herding dogs? |
Both types of dogs work with livestock, but other than that, they are QUITE different. Herding dogs are used to round up and move livestock. They are usually used when you have a large number of animals that need to be moved over substantial distances or very precisely. For flocks and herds of 20-30 or fewer being moved mostly between adjacent pastures, you can generally get the animals to follow you if you are carrying something tasty, and often they will move readily just at the sight of fresher pasture. So you may or may not need a herding dog. But if you have any livestock at all, you will likely need just a livestock guardian dog or a LGD in addition to your herding dog (who is not bred to remain with a flock alone and protect it).
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What does
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As the name would suggest, a LGD guards livestock from predators and generally looks after them and keeps them calm. Most people I know who raise livestock of any kind have lost animals to predators, often local dogs on the loose, but sometimes to coyotes, wolves, foxes, birds of prey, or snakes. I've known people to lose entire flocks. LGD's are dogs who have been bred for centuries (and probably millennia) to protect against this. And while a good LGD can be expensive, in the long run they can save a great deal of money while also serving as a terrific companion to you. You want an amazingly talented dog anyway, why not have one who can also help you care for your farm?
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Can any breed make a good LGD? |
NO. Only a few breeds of dog have been bred over time to have the innate ability to effectively guard livestock. If you want your livestock to be in capable hands (paws?), you need one of these breeds or a mix of two of them. Really, only a little bit of the job of a LGD is taught, the vast majority is innate. This is an interesting article on livestock guardian dogs in general, although some of what it says doesn't necessarily apply to Pyrenean Mastiffs or Great Pyrenees.
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Which breed is
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Most LGD breeds are, as the above article suggests, "...stubborn, single-minded, and focused solely on its herd and its protection. Livestock Guardian Dogs are often not especially social animals, tending instead to stay with the herd." This is true of nearly all the LGD breeds, and these characteristics are excellent for dogs who will be with flocks or herds who don't have a lot of human contact. But small farms often keep flocks near the house and interact with them regularly. 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. For those who want a more friendly, social, and multi-purpose dog, the Great Pyrenees or the Pyrenean Mastiff may be a better fit. Furthemore, Green and Woodruff (1983 and 1990) report that Great Pyrenees were significantly more successful than Anatolians, Komondors and Akbash to deter predation and less likely to harm livestock, and the Pyrenean breeds also are capable of protecting a flock 6 to 12 months earlier, on average, than most of the other LGD breeds.
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How much training is involved? |
When you purchase a breed of dog who has been bred for centuries to guard livestock, he or she will arrive with very strong guarding instincts. However, there will be some training involved, and you will have to read up on how to train these dogs. If you have an older dog who can train a younger one, that is ideal, but if you don't, the job of slowly introducing the pup to the livestock and correcting any issues will fall to you. You may wish to find an adult who is already trained if this is your first experience with livestock guardians, although such dogs are expensive and hard to come by (but worth it). Purchasing or adopting a LGD who has never worked with livestock before can be an option, but sometimes an adult who hasn't had experience with livestock will harass or even harm them.
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What about a
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Many donkeys and llamas naturally detest canines of all kinds - dogs, coyotes, wolves, etc. and will actively drive them off. Sometimes they work well as protectors, but there are many donkeys and llamas who are fearful of predators. Another issue is that donkeys and llamas are rarely capable of dealing intelligently with more than one predator at a time, and they often pay no attention whatsoever to predators who aren't canines. Furthermore, they may or may not alert you to the danger, and they may not notice an intruder at night because they rely on sight rather than smell. Do you own pet dogs? A donkey or llama may attack them as well, whereas a LGD knows the difference between your other pet dogs and a dog who is endangering the flock.
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Do I need a pair
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The Pyrenean breeds can do well alone with a flock up to 20 or perhaps even 30. However, it can be wise to have one dog who is a few years older than the other so that the older one can initiate the younger one. This will also provide some extra insurance in case something happens to one of your dogs. Purchasing a puppy is much less expensive than a trained adult, but a puppy isn't going to be effective until he or she is at least a year old. If you have two, you won't have that worry. Furthermore, a puppy is much easier to train when he or she has an adult dog to imitate. The ideal would be one male and one female, both spayed or neutered.
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What else should
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Green et al reported the greatest benefit of LGDs was in reducing predation, but 87% of producers also felt greater peace of mind with their dogs present, 53% said they reduced reliance on other forms of predator control, and 47% said they eliminated the need for night confinement.
Check out these wonderful resources: - Livestock Protection Dogs - Livestock Guardians |
