LGD FAQ
Here is a listing of some common questions asked about LGDs.
Q. What is the most important thing about a LGD that must be completely understood by anyone considering getting one?
A: The LGD will guard and defend his family (pack) and his property (territory), even if his owner does not want him to. LGDs have an inborn sense of responsibility for what they have to do: which is the guarding and defense of their property, be this a herd, people, territory or a home.
LGDs are strong-willed, very independent, and are free-thinkers - and are typically not very obedient or subservient. They are intelligent dogs and are good at problem solving - which can pose an issue to some owners. Understanding the behavior of the LGD is the key to success in raising a puppy to be an effective livestock guardian, or to integrating a LGD into your family, and dealing with issues that can arise as a puppy matures. LGDs are large and powerful dogs. Any dog that weighs a 80-100+ pounds at maturity is likely to present behavioral problems to those who don't know how to raise and train a dog, maintaining fair and firm discipline. This is true of all breeds, but is amplified in guardian breeds. The bottom line is, you've got to know what you are doing if you decide to get a livestock guardian breed. |
Q. How is a LGD breed different from other (non-LGD) breeds?
A: These dogs have a unique temperament - and it is not so much that they display behaviors that are different to other breeds of dogs - as it is that they DO NOT display behaviors that so many other breeds of dogs do.
They were developed to be a partner, not a servant or a pet, of man. To perform their duty of protecting the flock from a variety of predators, and at times alone and without human guidance or instruction, a LGD had to be able to make decisions on his own, to be a "self thinker". This required the dog to be extremely intelligent, but also very independent. Most other breeds of dogs were bred and selected to perform tasks for their owners - from herding dogs which helped move herds where the owner wanted them moved, to hunting dogs that flushed, chased and retrieved at the owners command. All of these tasks, or jobs, required the dog to do what the owner wanted, to pay attention to the owner and look to the owner for directions and respond to commands. |
Q. Is there a difference between LGD breeds?
A: Other than a breeds physical appearance (coat, color, etc), a range of temperaments can also be found within LGD breeds, and within individuals of a breed as well. Some are better suited as remote pasture guardians where a daily routine is very constant, while others are good in situations where there is a high degree of activity and variety.
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Q. Can any breed of dog, if raised with livestock from puppy-hood, make a trustworthy LGD?
A: LGD breeds have been bred for hundreds of years, in some cases millennia, to have a particular set of traits that predispose them, genetically and instinctively, to be good at the specific task of living with and protecting livestock 24/7, without immediate human direction.
Livestock Guardian Dog traits are what make up a good working livestock guardian dog. Plenty of other breeds may have some of these traits, but they either do not have the whole package, or do not have the right degree of them in order to do the work. Most dogs bred for work are high prey drive animals which were developed to work directly for humans, such as herding dogs, or high prey drive animals which were developed to chase, hold and/or kill game. While herders may occasionally make decisions for themselves, they are mostly meant to take orders directly from a supervising human. And dogs bred for hunting obviously have no business being left unsupervised with livestock 24/7. When non-LGD breed/s are crossed with LGD, there is no telling which instincts will be dominant, and, consequently, at best you generally end up with a dog who just will not stay with the livestock, preferring human companionship, or at worst a world class livestock killer due to the combination of LGD power with herding or hunting dog prey drive. There is a class of dogs known as farm dogs or farm guardians which have some guarding ability but which are still not LGDs, because they lack one or more of the traits above. If the dog has any breeds in its recent lineage which are not LGD breeds, it is NOT a LGD, and the likelihood that it will work out as a working livestock guardian is much lower than if you acquire a dog from known LGD lineage. |
Q. Do all LGDs require a fence?
A: Yes, ALL LGD breeds require secure fencing to safely contain the dog. Most LGDs will expand their territory and roam given the opportunity. This can be a risk to the health and safety of the dog, as well as a liability should the dog hurt anyone. A free-roaming guardian, working or pet, is not an option, ever! Good fencing is a requirement for a LGD breed.
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Q. Do LGDs make good pets?
A: Some individual dogs can be a good family pet, however, they may be very protective of your home and family.
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Q. Are LGDs good with children?
A: Most LGDs are great with children they are raised with, however, no child should ever be left unsupervised with any dog.
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Q. Do all LGD breeds bark?
A: Yes, all LGD breeds bark - barking is one of the integral techniques a LGD uses to let predators know that they are on duty. Some breeds bark more, some less, but usually barking more/less is an individual dog trait. LGDs will bark at anything they sense that is out of place or a threat. Many LGD bark more at certain times, such as dusk and dawn when predators are most active, and/or at intervals during the night.
If you are worried about how neighbors will react to your livestock guardian dog's barking, you may want to help them understand how LGDs work and the job the dog is doing. |
Q. Do LGDs dig?
A: Yes, most LGDs dig to make cooling holes in the ground to lay in during the summer heat.
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Q. Do LGDs need training?
A: Yes! ALL dogs need training. The best herding dogs in the world come with incredible natural ability which is then NURTURED to develop it to its highest potential. Ditto for hunting dogs, service dogs, police dogs, sled dogs, even show dogs & pet dogs. There is no dog job which exists that does not also include training.
Getting a LGD puppy and just tossing it out with the stock is equivalent to taking a 3 year old child and expecting it to run an office. A young dog is nothing more than a collection of potential abilities which have to be guided and shaped. Like any growing animal (or human) it will make mistakes, do stupid stuff, and have to be corrected and pointed back at the correct path, probably multiple times. It is always helpful for young dogs to have adult dogs who will teach them the ropes but even then you will need to help them by using management tools like escape-proof pens or kennels, tethers, long lines, supervised time with the stock, praise and treats, and if necessary, judicious use of corrections. It is helpful to understand that LGDs will normally go through periods of stock chasing and rough play as they mature, and these phases are NOT indicative of a dog that is not going to work out as a guardian. If properly controlled and corrected, the dog will outgrow these phases and will mature into a trustworthy guardian. |
Q. Can I just leave my LGD puppy in with the stock from the time I bring him/her home?
A: It is highly suggested that BEFORE you bring the puppy home you have a safe enclosure for the puppy in with, or next to, the livestock you want the puppy to bond with. The puppy should have access to an appropriate shelter and fresh water at all times. This will prevent bad habits from forming (like play and chase behavior) while keeping the puppy safe from harm. As many times a day as possible, bring the puppy in with the livestock under supervision. This way you can reward correct behavior (like calmness) and correct unwanted behavior. All good things should happen with the livestock, so take the time to pet, groom and train the puppy every day while in with the livestock.
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Q. At what age will my LGD puppy become an effective guardian?
A: As with any animal, even the most talented LGD can't be expected to work as a full grown, mature guardian until it is, in fact, actually full grown and mature. In most LGDs this is around 2 years of age, with some breeds and/or individuals maturing more or less quickly, and males typically taking a bit longer than females.
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Q. Do all LGD breeds have genetic health problems?
A: Yes, all LGD breeds have heritable diseases because they are dogs and all dogs are subject to certain health problems. LGDs are large dogs so they can have a predisposition to Canine Hip and Elbow Dysplasia. All dogs intended for breeding should have their hips tested, and only those that do not have hip dysplasia should be used for breeding. Some breeds are known to have more incidence of certain diseases.
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Q. Are LGDs good with other dogs?
A: They are generally good with other dogs they have been raised with, however, they can be canine aggressive to strange dogs. Also, issues can be common between intact adult dogs.
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Q. Should you handle your LGD?
A: The misinformation about NOT handling your LGD is one of the main causes of failures in LGDs. It arises from the fact that a working dog is, of course, expected to work, which means it needs to live outside with the stock. Obviously a livestock guardian can't guard the livestock while lying on the sofa in the living room. But just because a dog is not a pet does not mean it should never have any human contact, or even minimal human interaction.
In no other job in which dogs are employed will you ever hear this advice, and that is because with ANY job, the dog is doing it for the benefit of a HUMAN, not for itself. ALL working dogs should be handled daily from puppyhood, and, depending on the breed, should have some level of manners and obedience training. Coming when called and walking on a leash are incredibly useful skills for a working LGD, as is accepting restraint calmly. This allows dogs to be easily moved from pasture to pasture, examined & treated for any injuries, and just generally makes them easier to live with. An LGD who knows how to ride quietly in a car and relax in a confined space like a crate will make the farmer's life infinitely easier should the dog ever need to visit the vet, or if the farmer decides to move and has to transport the dog as well as the stock. Handling pups daily also helps breeders determine which dogs have the best temperaments, as shyness can be the result of lack of handling OR it can be genetic. Genetically shy dogs should be culled from a breeding program as they will run from danger rather than confront it. Poorly socialized dogs can also be so shy they will run instead of fight. A fearful guardian dog is a useless guardian dog. Confidence is ALWAYS superior to shyness. Appropriate handling, done in the pasture where the dog is expected to stay, only makes the dog better at his job, and in no way turns him into a pet. |
Q. What is the best age to get a LGD puppy?
A: Many states require by law that you cannot sell/place a puppy until they are at least 8 weeks of age, which is the minimum age suggested for livestock guardian dog puppies - the longer the puppy gets to stay in the litter environment with the dam, the better. This way the puppy learns appropriate dog manners (which will translate into livestock/human manners as the puppy matures), bite inhibition and livestock manners and guarding behavior from its dam. Some breeders keep LGD puppies up to 12-16 weeks of age for maximum learning benefit.
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