livestock guardian dogs

Blog Posts and Articles

What is a Landrace Dog Breed?

To begin with, what is a dog breed? We often answer this question with a list of breeds recognized by an organization such as the AKC. ...

The Challenges of an LGD Breed as a Companion Dog

I often see folks suggesting one of the livestock guardian dog breeds or LGDs to people who want a companion dog for their suburban...

Preserving the Essential Traits and Behaviors of Livestock Guardian Dogs

Kangal Dogs belong to the larger group of LGDs or livestock guardian dogs. As long time owners and board officers of the Kangal Dog Club...

Extremely Cold Weather and Working Livestock Guardian Dogs.

As an important tool for coexistence, the use of livestock guardian dogs can be essential to a farm’s protection of its stock from...

How to React to a Working Livestock Guardian Dog

Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) are one of the most effective means of predator control. This very old method of protecting sheep, goats,...

Raising Livestock Guardian Puppies

It is common to receive conflicting advice on how to raise a full time working LGD. There are slightly different ways to introduce a LGD...

Talking with Animals

Last week I spoke with Duncan Strauss from the NPR radio program Talking Animals about my new book The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators....

What is a Farm Dog? Making the Best Choices for Working Partners on the Farm or Ranch.

Quick answer – a dog that lives on a farm. A more complete answer would describe the breeds that traditionally worked on farms or ranches...

Is This Dog a Livestock Guardian?

So we hear these questions nearly every day on LGD forums and Facebook pages and they go something like this - Can I use a Great Dane as...

Adopting an Adult or Rescue LGD

Re-homed adult or rescue LGDs are another option when you are looking for a working dog for your farm. The genetic traits LGDs inherit...

What is the Difference Between a Livestock Guard Dog and a Family Companion?

The first step in selecting a LGD, is determining what role you expect him to perform. This decision can determine which puppy you choose...

Selecting a Working Livestock Guard Dog Puppy

You’ve done your homework – examining your needs, situation, and breed preferences – and now you are ready to select your LGD. This is an...

Before You Buy a Livestock Guardian Dog or Puppy

With the increasing use of livestock guardian dogs, we are seeing more inappropriate breeds or crossbred dogs being offered for sale as...

How Livestock Guardian Dogs Work

In a previous post, “What Exactly is a Livestock Guard Dog?,” I described what livestock guard dogs do but it is exceptionally important...

What Exactly is a Livestock Guardian Dog?

What Exactly is a Livestock Guard Dog? This is Fistik sharing a moment with her Shetland sheep and Bourbon Red turkeys. Since this...