About Livestock Guardian Dogs

Reader Contribution by Kirsten Lie-Nielsen and Days Ferry Organics
Published on March 14, 2016
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Livestock Guardian Dogs, or LGDs, have been used by shepherds and farmers for centuries. Bred and trained to instinctively protect their herd from predators, LGDs are an alternative to attempting to hunt or scare off threats to your farmyard.

Dogs have been used for protection since their first domestication. In fact, along with their hunting abilities, protection is probably one of the primary reasons canines became part of human households. Over thousands of years, breeds have developed that specialize in protecting flocks and herds.

The most well known LGD is probably the Great Pyrenees, a large white dog from the mountainous regions of France and Spain. Other popular breeds include the Maremma Sheepdog, the Kuvasz, Akbash, and the corded Komondor. Farmers seek out LGDs as an alternative to fencing, which is not always affective, and arming themselves, which would require constant vigilance.

Unlike alternative methods of protection, LGDs become part of your herd or flock. They are always with the livestock, integrating themselves into the workings of the farm. Some breeds will do routine checks at the perimeters of your property, others keep a watchful eye from high vantage points. These dogs won’t run off after rabbits or other distractions: they will stick to their charges, and even when they chase off predators they will quickly return to the herd.

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