Is This Breed a Livestock Guardian Dog?

Reader Contribution by Jan Dohner
Published on August 10, 2020
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I hear these questions nearly every day on LGD forums and Facebook pages, and they go something like this: Can I use a Great Dane or a St. Bernard as a livestock guardian dog? How about a heeler and Golden cross-breed? My neighbor has some great pups that are a cross between a Great Pyrenees and an Aussie, so would they make a good LGD? We also see lots of dogs advertised as LGDs, but they aren’t.

Livestock guardian dogs, or LGDs, are a group of similar dog breeds, just like herding dogs or hunting dogs belong in their own groups. Being an LGD isn’t a job you can train any other breed to perform. Developed over centuries by working shepherds, livestock guardian dog breeds possess a specific set of qualities and behaviors that make them excel at this very special work.

North American Livestock Guardian Dog Breeds

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 in North America as well.

  • Akbash
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