Our Great Pyrenees is best buddies with our farm cat
If you are considering homesteading or farming you are probably wondering about all the necessary things you will need to begin that journey. You have probably considered how much land you would like and what kind of equipment you will need, but have you considered a livestock guardian dog? I believe they can be a wonderful asset for many farms or homesteads. Read on to learn more about how they can help you and the best way to acclimate them to your farm.
The Service They Provide
Livestock Guardian Dogs, or LGD’s for short, live to protect your flocks and herds of animals from predators. Every dog breed has a job woven into their DNA, and for the various breeds of LGD’s their job is to keep coyotes, possums, raccoons, hawks, and owls from making a meal out of your chickens, goats, sheep, or any other animals you may have. Without one you can expect your farm animals to become prey. And once a predator has you on their radar they will keep coming back, treating your barnyard like an all you can eat buffet. I don’t begrudge these animals their natural instincts, they are all useful in their own way(did you know possums can remove 5000 ticks from their environment every year because they groom themselves and eat them?!), and they have to eat too, but a predation problem can be devastating for a farm or homestead. The animals you are raising are meant to help contribute in someway, to your pockets or your freezer. Even if you are a hobby farm and keeping animals for fun, there is the mental and emotional anguish resulting from losing the creatures you have spent time and energy caring for, and sometimes snuggling, especially if there are young children involved. Predators will focus on the most vulnerable members as well which often means they go after young animals. There is really nothing sadder than an adorable, days old, lamb falling victim to a hungry coyote or owl. Also, an LGD will most likely chase off deer, protecting your garden.
How To Choose One
If possible, when you are choosing an LGD go to the farm where it was born to gauge the temperament and health of its parents. What you want is for the parents to be somewhat standoffish, but not aggressive, to humans. What you do not what is an overly friendly dog that tries to lick or jump on you, if the parents do this then so will their puppies. Livestock guardians are incredibly smart and notoriously difficulty to train, they are free thinkers if you will, and you do not want a giant dog jumping on people and knocking children over when they come to your farm. If the dog approaches curiously, standing watchfully, maybe even letting you pet it but not making a pest of itself, this is perfect. Many people choose the most aggressive seeming or liveliest puppy, but in my experience the shyer more timid ones are best. They will become braver and bolder as they get older, and I have found that the ones who are overly friendly and feisty as puppies, or in short, the most adorable pup in the pack, are often trouble when they are older. Look for an animal who is alert and responsive, with clear looking eyes and a healthy coat. Examine skin and coat for “hot spots” where animal has been chewing. Also you want to see that its parent have been kept in the field with the animals they are guarding and that the puppies have been kept with them too, they need to feel an instinct to protect and a bond with the livestock. An LGD that is too human oriented will not want to do their job, they will want to lay on your porch and protect you. I am also partial to female LGD’s. In my experience they have stayed more focused on their job. Hip problems are common among this breed and often passed through genetics so examine the parents for sign of joint issues.
The Cost Of Keeping One (Or Two)
You will want to feed your guardian dog a high quality, preferably grain free, food. This will cost approximately $60 per month if you are feeding it only dog food. We like to supplement the diet of ours with bones, raw meat (from the animals that we raise for meat), organs, and raw eggs. We use a flea and tick preventative pill once a year (the only “chemicals” we use on our homestead but otherwise our dogs get covered, and I do mean COVERED with ticks, it is a necessary evil) and herbal worm prevention in the form of a treat every couple of weeks. A glucosamine supplement is a good idea for these animals too, as they can be prone to hip problems as they age. All in all it costs us just under $1000 per year to keep one dog. With an area of about 5 acres for her to guard (we have about 44 total but rotate the animals through smaller spaces at a time) we only need one dog. If you have more than 20 acres to be guarded (at one time, not total, for example if you are doing rotational grazing in a total of 40 acres but you use less than 10 acres at one time then you just need one dog) or if you plan on keeping some animals penned and the rest roaming (you have chickens inside electronetting and the goats outside of it for example) you may want to consider more than one dog. They will each guard their own area and communicate with each other.
I have seen LGD’s being sold for anywhere from $100 to $1000, and honestly, I do not think the higher priced animals are necessarily better. Each animal has its own genetics and temperament. Also I believe it is important to not skimp on their diet. They use a lot of energy and they need a high protein grain free food. We have noticed itching and chewing when we have tried to feed ours a lower quality dog food. The food will cost more, but it will pay for itself in the avoided veterinary costs.
Acclimating Them To Your Homestead Or Farm
First of all these dogs are ADORABLE when they are puppies and you will want to bring them in the house and play with them. Resist this urge. They need to be put out in the barnyard or pasture. Not directly with the livestock at first without your supervision, but near them, perhaps sharing a fence line so that they will begin to form a bond. They can be introduced to your other LGD’s this way too, through a fence line. Do this for a couple of days, then bring them into direct contact with the other animals under your supervision, try to do this at least an hour a day. Again I have to stress you need to resist the urge, especially while the dog is young and they haven’t formed an attachment with the animals yet, to dote on these pups too much. Remember, you brought this animal into your life to do a job, but making them feel more bonded to you than your livestock will guarantee they do not do a great job at it. This is especially difficult to do with young children because they will want to cuddle and love on your pup and the dog will eat up this attention. Even though it will be challenging, I recommend waiting to introduce your new LGD to your child for a couple of weeks, unless your child has a strong sense of self control. On the flipside, you should not bring them home and ignore them entirely. Spend time near them every day, give them a pat, bring them a treat, speak to them. You want them to be friendly and trusting toward you, and when they get a little older and begin doing their job you can a develop a closer relationship with them. We can love on our LGD now with now problem because she has completely bonded with our animals and they are her first priority. Do not tolerate any chasing of the animals from them. Firmly tell them no, although finding a word that means no only for them is less confusing to them than simply using the word no because they won’t be mistaken and think they are dong something wrong whenever they hear it. I suggest using the word no in another language or the less commonly used “stop” or “quit”. When they are still divided by fence and the puppy’s interaction with the animals are being supervised by you, put them back on their side of the fence if they chase the animals at all. Lesson over. They are smart and if you are consistent with them they will learn quickly. You do not want a dog that chases and stresses your animals. Stress inhibits animal growth and productivity and can increase illness. Your LGD should never be a source of stress to your animals. Praise them if they are well behaved and exhibit a behavior you like. Treats are great to reinforce positive behavior. Also try to train them on simple commands when they are very young, like sit, stay, responding when called, etc. When they are able to behave completely in your presence with the animals they are ready to live with them. This process could be immediate (although I recommend at least two days to let them get used to each other through fence) but it should not take more than a couple of weeks. It is very important to be consistent with your livestock guardian puppy. These animals are not pets, they are workers. If they are treated like a pet they will develop the wrong behaviors and become more of a nuisance than a help.
When You Might Not Need One
If predation is not a problem where you live you many not need a livestock guardian. You can research this by talking to other local farmers and homesteaders. Full disclosure: most LGD’s will bark. A lot. All night. This has never been a problem for us because our residence is far enough away from where our animals are kept, we never hear our dogs. If you are a light sleeper or have a small property, the barking may be something to consider.
Some animal lovers have a hard time understanding that an LGD, when properly bonded to the animals they are protecting, would rather be with them than with you. They are not sad about about being out in the field with them instead of in your cozy house. This is a human projection. They have high anxiety when they are away from their flock, just like your house dog is anxious about being away from you. We had an LGD who followed our herd of goats for miles once when they escaped our property (we were borrowing a buck to breed our does and we believe that buck was trying to find his way home), refusing to leave them. When new lambs or kids are born she prances around like a puppy, so excited for new babies. We have found her napping with a pile of goat kids on her. She is like a mama to all of them. She loves us too, but with them is where she belongs. She was born with the instinct to protect them, it is just what she does.
Also if remember that this type of dog is a 12-15 year commitment. Be sure that this is the right type of dog for you and your farm or homestead, a dog, or any animal, should never be purchased on a whim. There are many livestock guardian dog rescue organizations that exist because people get these animals and then change their minds. Also, as stated before, if they are improperly acclimated they will become a problem for you. If you don’t think you will be able to remain a bit aloof toward them as they bond with your animals, then this may not be the right solution for you. Maybe a livestock guardian donkey would be a better choice. I have never personally owned one but I have heard they are very effective.
I hope this was helpful to you in your decision making process, in case you can’t tell, I am for Livestock guardian dogs. I believe they are an integral part of any homestead that includes animals. They will even protect your garden if you do not have livestock. Try Craigslist, or ask around where you buy your feed or hay. Good luck!
What are your thoughts on LGD’s? What is your favorite breed? Do you have any awesome stories of their heroics? We would love to hear from you!
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