Livestock Guardian dog rescue can be perhaps one of the most challenging, yet rewarding types of rescue out there.
The variables that a rescuer of LGDs must deal with can be anything from taking a dog that is an adult and has had absolutely no livestock exposure whatsoever (a failed pet), to an adult dog that has had exposure to stock but for one reason or another, has been placed into rescue.
I find that the dog that has had no exposure to be the easiest to transition into a working LGD, than one that has been allowed by its previous owner to develop bad habits in the field, and those bad habits have carried over into adult hood.
Some of those habits can include chasing goats or sheep, pulling wool, or grabbing small hoof stock by the legs or back of neck, all of which can result in injured or killed livestock. Other bad habits can include mauling and killing of poultry.
Many and most of these problem dogs are the result of an inconsistent owner in both handling and correction of the dog. Many farmers or ranchers still believe that they can toss any pup of LGD breed out into a pasture with livestock and its inherent nurturing and protective traits will automatically show up and grow as the dog grows into an adult. This is simply not the case. ALL young dogs of the LGD breeds need structure and timely corrections, and need to be molded into the stock safe adult they are supposed to become.
Due to the high numbers of poor breeding practices and lack of buyer support by those breeders, many young dogs are given up on too soon, as early as their first infraction at 6 months of age, and many as late as 2-3 years of age and older when the inconsistencies of training (or just plain lack of training) have allowed them to grow into dogs that are a danger to the livestock they are supposed to bond with and protect. These dogs end up in shelters nation (and world) wide on death row, and there are precious few rescues who want to take a chance with their own foster network's livestock (if they have any) to save them for retraining.
Along with the few types of what is considered a "failed LGD", there are also the "houdini's" of the LGD world. It is common for new puppy owners to be unwitting encouragers of young dogs learning to escape. One such 'fail' is to play with and enjoy time with these cute fuzzballs outside of their livestock living quarters. When this happens, the pups quickly decide that the human family is WAY more fun and exciting than their livestock family, which most have not had time to bond to yet. It is quite common in rescue to be contacted about people's "Porch guardians" who will not stay in the field with their livestock. This is the sole fault of the owner, and not the dog. Fencing MUST be adequate for containing a pup or young dog, and actions such as petting OVER the top of a fence can lead to climbing out, and inviting young dogs to hang out with the human family just encourages these behaviors. As we say in the LGD world, "ALL GOOD THINGS HAPPEN IN THE PASTURE".
The variables that a rescuer of LGDs must deal with can be anything from taking a dog that is an adult and has had absolutely no livestock exposure whatsoever (a failed pet), to an adult dog that has had exposure to stock but for one reason or another, has been placed into rescue.
I find that the dog that has had no exposure to be the easiest to transition into a working LGD, than one that has been allowed by its previous owner to develop bad habits in the field, and those bad habits have carried over into adult hood.
Some of those habits can include chasing goats or sheep, pulling wool, or grabbing small hoof stock by the legs or back of neck, all of which can result in injured or killed livestock. Other bad habits can include mauling and killing of poultry.
Many and most of these problem dogs are the result of an inconsistent owner in both handling and correction of the dog. Many farmers or ranchers still believe that they can toss any pup of LGD breed out into a pasture with livestock and its inherent nurturing and protective traits will automatically show up and grow as the dog grows into an adult. This is simply not the case. ALL young dogs of the LGD breeds need structure and timely corrections, and need to be molded into the stock safe adult they are supposed to become.
Due to the high numbers of poor breeding practices and lack of buyer support by those breeders, many young dogs are given up on too soon, as early as their first infraction at 6 months of age, and many as late as 2-3 years of age and older when the inconsistencies of training (or just plain lack of training) have allowed them to grow into dogs that are a danger to the livestock they are supposed to bond with and protect. These dogs end up in shelters nation (and world) wide on death row, and there are precious few rescues who want to take a chance with their own foster network's livestock (if they have any) to save them for retraining.
Along with the few types of what is considered a "failed LGD", there are also the "houdini's" of the LGD world. It is common for new puppy owners to be unwitting encouragers of young dogs learning to escape. One such 'fail' is to play with and enjoy time with these cute fuzzballs outside of their livestock living quarters. When this happens, the pups quickly decide that the human family is WAY more fun and exciting than their livestock family, which most have not had time to bond to yet. It is quite common in rescue to be contacted about people's "Porch guardians" who will not stay in the field with their livestock. This is the sole fault of the owner, and not the dog. Fencing MUST be adequate for containing a pup or young dog, and actions such as petting OVER the top of a fence can lead to climbing out, and inviting young dogs to hang out with the human family just encourages these behaviors. As we say in the LGD world, "ALL GOOD THINGS HAPPEN IN THE PASTURE".
The LGD world is extremely short handed when it comes to experienced people who will volunteer to take on failed dogs and successfully retrain or 're-job' them into thriving and productive members of the working LGD world. Because of this, many of these dogs are pulled from shelters by well meaning pet breed rescues and are recycled into yet another situation that can cause them to fail on another level.
When a pet breed rescue takes a "failed LGD", the dog can be put into a situation where its genetic behavioral tendencies do not mesh with close quartered human society (barking, strange dog aggression, extreme shedding, resource protecting, and guarding of the home and family with little to no recall). Because of these problem areas and because most people are ill equipped to take on this task in an urban setting, the dogs are again sent to shelters or recycled into yet another failed pet home situation. |
What are the keys to success and keeping these magnificent breeds out of the shelters?
There are many, but education is perhaps the biggest one. Educate yourself via friends, colleagues, the internet, breed clubs etc. before ever looking for a breeder. You really must educate yourself about breed characteristics and what you need for your livestock operation. Then locate a breeder who has full time working LGD's, is willing to impart wisdom and take time to talk with you at length about their dogs and their chosen breed. To protect your investment of both dog and livestock, your breeder SHOULD do genetic health testing on their breeding pairs, offer life long mentoring for you and the pup you purchase, as well as be willing to assist in rehoming the dog you have bought from them if unavoidable problems arise later and you can no longer keep the dog.
Livestock Guardian dog breeds are probably one of the most complex sectors of the working dog world. Their natural ability to bond with their charges and protect with their lives is what makes the LGD an integral part of the small homestead, as well as the very large ranch. Giving them every opportunity to become what they have been selectively bred to be for thousands of years is the very best gift that you can give them. Please do not be uninformed and be the reason why they end up in shelters. Train them and mold them into successful and thriving members of your flock or herd, and your farm/ranch, so they can do what they do best, be the guardians of your agricultural livelihood.
There are many, but education is perhaps the biggest one. Educate yourself via friends, colleagues, the internet, breed clubs etc. before ever looking for a breeder. You really must educate yourself about breed characteristics and what you need for your livestock operation. Then locate a breeder who has full time working LGD's, is willing to impart wisdom and take time to talk with you at length about their dogs and their chosen breed. To protect your investment of both dog and livestock, your breeder SHOULD do genetic health testing on their breeding pairs, offer life long mentoring for you and the pup you purchase, as well as be willing to assist in rehoming the dog you have bought from them if unavoidable problems arise later and you can no longer keep the dog.
Livestock Guardian dog breeds are probably one of the most complex sectors of the working dog world. Their natural ability to bond with their charges and protect with their lives is what makes the LGD an integral part of the small homestead, as well as the very large ranch. Giving them every opportunity to become what they have been selectively bred to be for thousands of years is the very best gift that you can give them. Please do not be uninformed and be the reason why they end up in shelters. Train them and mold them into successful and thriving members of your flock or herd, and your farm/ranch, so they can do what they do best, be the guardians of your agricultural livelihood.