Let's chit chat about Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD's)! People ask me about our dogs constantly: What do they do with the other animals? Aren't they bored? Don't you feel bad that they're cold??

All wonderful questions. A few years ago I had never heard of an LGD. But now I know that on a farm with livestock, LGD's are a critical part of a successful operation.

Luna and Pepper are our not-so-little puppies in-training. They come from a line of dogs who have been bred to work on farms. Both their parents and grandparents lived and worked on livestock farms their entire lives. They are a mix of Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd and Kangal Shepherd.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

LGD's perform the function of protecting the animals that belong on the farm, from animals who could harm it. They fill the role of protector from predators.

Herding dogs control the movement of livestock, while LGD's blend in with the herd, waiting for intruders. LGD's bark, snarl or even attack predators. The main threats to our animals are hawks, coyotes, and rogue neighbor dogs. Our pups are predominantly nocturnal. They spend most of their days snoozing or doing some yard patrol, but they know there are fewer potential intruders in the daytime, and they're able to rest. Night time is when they jump into action, patrolling the fence line (and barking) for hours on end.

HISTORY of LGD's:

Herding dogs and LGD's date back to when humans first began breeding and caring for livestock. Ancient shepherds did not have horses or equipment to manage their sheep flocks, and instead managed them on foot. Dogs were the first animals that these ancient farmers trained and domesticated to help with hunting and animal management. There is evidence of Livestock Guardian Dogs in archaeological findings near Turkey that depict sheep and dogs working together as early as 6000 BC!

BUT AREN'T THEY COLD??

Just as Bubba and Poppy (our house dogs) would struggle to thrive outside all the time, Luna and Pepper would struggle inside. Our working dogs have a "double coat". Unlike other domesticated breeds, they have a soft fluffy undercoat that plays a crucial role in ventilation. It keeps them warm in the winter and cooler in the summer. The top coat is what serves as a built in raincoat, protecting them from the elements. Come give our puppies some scratches some time to see what I mean- their fur is DENSE. They LOVE the cold. Oftentimes on chilly days, I'll look out on them and they will be rough housing, exploring or snoozing, instead of being in their dog house.

The Takeaway:

Our main goal for our LGD's is for them to be able to live directly with our chickens, since chickens are our most vulnerable animal. At this point, their puppy instincts are telling them to play with the chickens more than protect them, but we'll keep working ;) We currently have them living directly next to the chickens in the same paddock, but divided by a small, moveable fence. Hopefully in the next month, they’ll be able to stay directly in the same paddock as the chickens. All in all, they're right on track for their age, as most LGD's aren't completely ready to be full-time working dogs until about 2 years old. Nonetheless, they exhibit excellent protector qualities, yet still love a good snuggle from mom.

Thanks Luney-Toons and Pepperoni, you two are the BEST!

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