The Livestock Protection Blog

Bonding LGDs to Cattle - #3

Bonding works both ways...   Bonding a livestock guardian dog (LGD) to livestock is a critical first step in using dogs to protect livestock from predators. Practically, the bonding process helps ensure that the dog will stay with livestock;...

Explaining LGDs to the Neighbors

I suspect anyone who has used livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) to protect livestock has experienced at least one of the following interactions with non-ranchers: A call or conversation with a neighbor, complaining about the dog barking; An email...

Bonding LGDs to Cattle - #2

Our ongoing journal about our efforts to bond a livestock guardian dog pup with cattle. Funded by the Rustici Rangeland and Cattle Endowment. After spending about a week with a handful of rams in Auburn, we scheduled an afternoon to set up a bonding...

Bonding LGDs to Cattle - #1

Livestock producers from Southern Europe to Central Asia have long used livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) to protect livestock - including cattle - from predators like wolves and European brown bears (the continental version of our grizzly). Here in the...

Catching a Wayward Livestock Guardian Dog

Every rancher dreads getting that phone call - "Your cows [sheep, goats, etc.] are out." And anyone who relies on fences to keep livestock contained has probably received that call at some point. Fences fail, gates are left open, somebody forgets to...

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