Livestock guard dogs or LGDs are a group of similar dog
breeds just like herding dogs or hunting dogs belong in their own groups. Being
a LGD is not a job you can train any other breed to perform. Developed over
centuries by working shepherds, livestock guard dog breeds possess a specific
set of qualities and behaviors that make them excel at this very special work.
These are the only breeds of livestock guardians readily
available in North America. Other breeds are used in different countries and may
occasionally be found here as well. Nothing else is truly a livestock guard dog.
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Akbash Dog
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Anatolian Shepherd Dog
·
Caucasian Mountain Dog
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Central Asian Shepherd
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Estrela Mountain Dog
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Gampr
·
Great Pyrenees
·
Kangal Dog
·
Karakachan or Bulgarian Shepherd Dog
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Komondor
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Kuvasz
·
Maremma Sheepdog
·
Polish Tatra Sheepdog
·
Pyrenean Mastiff
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Sarplaninac
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Slovak Cuvac
·
Spanish Mastiff
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Tibetan Mastiff
·
Tornjak
This is what is
crucially important to remember – the livestock guard dog breeds have been
selected for a very low or non-existent prey drive, a longer period of social
bonding than many other breeds, and a physical appearance that suggests
“friend.” They have also been selected for the essential traits of attentiveness,
trustworthiness, and protection of their stock. When a good LGD is aggressive
with outsiders or predators, it is not hunting for prey but protecting its pack
mates, which might be sheep or goats. Neither are they are protecting
themselves when they attack or chase a large predator – they are protecting
their stock. LGDs also possess
instinctual responses to first warn off threats rather than immediately attack.
Successful owners take these natural LGD behaviors and carefully monitor and
develop them as their pup grows. These inborn traits can be so strong that some
adult LGDs, who were never socialized with stock as puppies, will still make
outstanding guardians – because of the strong and correct instinctual behaviors
they possess.
Due to their size
and appearance, members of the public sometimes confuse LGDs with protection
breed dogs. However, many LGD breeds have been tested by police, military and schutzhund trainers, who have
repeatedly found them unsuitable because of their important lack of strong predatory behaviors. Conversely,
this is why protection breeds do not make good LGDs – they have a strong
predatory instinct.
The inherited LGD traits are the reason why you can’t take a
Lab or a Border collie or another non-LGD breed and easily train it to behave
properly as a livestock guard. The prey or chase drives in many breeds are just
too high to make them reliable guardians. Some breeds are excellent watchdogs
but lack the nurturing instincts a LGD exhibits towards its charges. Other
breeds lack the size or the coat to work outside in difficult weather. Still
others do not possess the size, agility, or sense of responsibility to take on
serious predators. These are also the reasons that crosses with a LGD and a
non-LGD breed are just not reliable as working livestock guardians. Many breeds
make great all round farm dogs, but they should not be trusted or expected to
live reliably with stock 24 hours a day.
If you are looking for a real livestock guard dog, which
possesses ALL of these valuable traits, choose one of the recognized breeds or
a cross between two LGD breeds. There is no better guardian of your flock or
herd.
A big thank you to the Facebook communities Learning About LGDs and Big White
Dog Working LGD Forum for their patient support of newbies and others to
the wonderful world of livestock guard dogs!
