LGD

Q & A

Comment -      It’s easy to make a LGD into a People Guardian Dog if they bond to you instead of the stock.

Comment -      Very thorough review!

Q -       I came late is there a better breed?
A -        Not really a “better breed”. Recommendations to make sure the puppies have been exposed to livestock and working parents.  Check out some of the LGD Facebook pages for recommendations on where to buy. We've spent $250-500 for our pups.  Just a sheep producer perspective on where to get dogs - I only buy pups from other producers. I won't purchase a dog from someone who only has livestock because they raise LGDs

Q -       Any way to predict the dogs that will chase or kill livestock when young?
A -   I haven't been able to find any early signals

Q -       Can you use Border collies as LGD
A -        We use border collies with our LGDs - we can actually herd the dogs along with the sheep.  Border collies are not suitable guardian dogs.

Q -       Any issues with LGDs and impacts to non-target wildlife?
A -        There can be potential impacts‚ not a lot of research quantifying it though. I have heard of LGDs chasing off deer trying to drink from troughs when the LS are there. Will also vary depending upon the dog‚ some may be more inclined to chase wildlife than others. 
A -        RE: non-target wildlife and LGDs - there's been some work done in Africa that suggests there's not much impact. In my own experience, my dogs will go after wildlife like raccoons, skunks, etc. Carolyn and I are hoping to look at the displacement vs disruption question in more detail.