Introducing Livestock-Guarding Dogs USDA/APHIS/ADC "Livestock-Guarding Dogs That Wear J

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States as part of their predator-control State University, Administrative 500 responsibilities. Services Bldg. 422, Corvallis, OR In addition, many breed clubs offer 97331-2119. Please add 25C shipping educational assistance. and handling for orders up to $2.50. For educational materials and For orders between $2.50 and $100, add information on how to contact breeders 15% shipping and handling. For orders or breed clubs, write or phone one of of $100 or more, please call (503) the following: 737-2513 for a price quote. 9-/B-& Extension Wildlife Specialist Lorenz, Jay R., and Lorna Coppinger, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife Raising and Training a Livestock- Nash Hall 104 Guarding Dog, Oregon State Oregon State University University Extension Circular 1238 Corvallis, OR 97331-3803 (Corvallis, revised 1989). 75C phone (503) 737-4531 Other publications Guarding Dog Project Coppinger, L., and R. Coppinger, Introducing Livestock-Guarding Dogs USDA/APHIS/ADC "Livestock-guarding dogs that wear J. R. Lorenz Sheep Experiment Station sheep's clothing," Smithsonian, DATE. Dubois, ID 83423 April 1982, pp. 64-73. phone (208) 374-5506 Coppinger, R., L. Coppinger, G. Livestock-guarding dogs are one of a Langeloh, L. Gettler, and J. Lorenz, Livestock Guarding Dog Project variety of tools that sheep and goat "A decade of use of livestock- OF Hamshire College producers are finding effective for guarding dogs," in Proceedings 13th BoxFC preventing livestock losses to predators. Amherst, MA 02001 Vertebrate Pest Conference, Guarding dogs are used alone or in phone (413) 253-7065 Monterey, CA, 1988, pp. 209-214. combination with other controls to Green, J., R. Woodruff, and T. keep predators out of flocks and herds. For further reading Tueller, "Livestock-guarding dogs Producers are attracted to this system OUT for predator control: Costs, benefits, because it allows them to take charge of OSU publications. This publication and practicality,'' Wildlife Society what happens on their farms. Dogs are is available from Publications Orders, Bulletin \9M{\2-M-50). a good alternative to consider where IS Agricultural Communications, Oregon there are liabilities associated with lethal control methods. These floppy-eared, sheep-sized, sheep-shaped dogs live with the flock day and night. Rarely will a coyote challenge the presence of a dog three times its own size. information: For centuries, dogs have been the method of choice for guarding flocks Forming a social bond between sheep and dog is a two-way process. Here a week-old from wolves, bears, and wildcats in lamb investigates a resting Anatolian Shepherd. Young lambs will often show more southern Europe and Eurasia. Now, curiosity toward a new guarding dog than older ewes will show. this Old World concept in predator control is being adopted by livestock growers across the United States. In the United States, guarding dogscurrent potential of this technique with cattle rated the behavior of two-thirds of their are used primarilyPUBLICATION with livestock that and other livestock appears positive. guardians as excellent or good. High have high rates of predation—sheep ratings translated into fewer losses. The Oregon State University Extension Service provides education and information based and goats. Field-testing results group Researchers at Hampshire College, on timely research to help Oregonians solve problems and develop skills related to youth, sheep and goats together, and examples Positive results in field trials Amherst, Massachusetts, tabulated family, community, farm, forest, energy, and marine resources. that refer to sheep also apply to goats. Controlled field-testing of traditional reductions in losses from 1,157 reports A new applicationmost is the use of dogs guarding breeds dates from the late Extension's agriculture program provides education, training, and technical assistance to people with agriculturally related needs and interests. Major program emphases include to THISguard cattle from the endangered I970's. Results of several studies were Jay R. Lorenz, former Extension wildlife food and fiber production, business management, marketing and processing, and resource timber wolf in northern Minnesota. The impressive as sheep and goat producers specialist, Oregon State University. use and conservation. For Extension Service, Oregon State University, Corvallis, O.E. Smith, director. This publication was produced and distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30,1914. Extension work is a cooperative program of Oregon State University, the http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Oregon counties. Extension Circular 1224 / Revised September 1989 Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials—without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability—as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Oregon State University Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE from 1980 to 1986. For that 7-year Guarding dogs are docile and Estimating costs period, 64% of dogs were at farms with inquisitive when approaching livestock. The cost of a dog depends on your reduced predation; 20% were at farms They form social attachments with initial acquisition costs (purchase price with no predation; and 16% were at sheep that are similar to those they and delivery), annual maintenance farms with no change or increased formed with littermates. (food and health), and its longevity. In predation. They react to changes in routine, 1989, breeders were asking $250 to $600 Livestock growers in at least 37 states alternately rushing out with threatening for puppies and $500 or more for are using these dogs, and they report barks and then retreating to the flock. adults. Typical maintenance ranged them to be working equally well with Only rarely does a protecting dog fight between $175 and $200 a year. large flocks (1,000 or more) and small with a predator. You can figure your own costs by ones (100 or less). They work in range The behavior of the well-known adding acquisition costs to maintenance operations and within fenced pastures. herding dogs varies greatly from that of costs; then divide that total by the Researchers at the USDA Sheep guarding dogs. Herding dogs display a number of years of useful service the Experiment Station reported benefits in predatory pattern of stalking and dog should give you. addition to reducing predator losses. In chasing sheep. A handler moves the Dogs are expected to begin working a survey of 40 producers, 39 said their livestock by controlling the direction of at about 1 year of age; so years of useful dog brought them peace of mind; 24 the chase. service generally equals actual age said they relied less on other forms of The two types of sheepdogs—with Herding dogs, like this Border Collie, stalk sheep DATE. minus 1. Figure your cost this way: predator control; and 21 said the dog two different behaviors—can both be in a crouched position. Sheep react by moving eliminated the need for night valuable assets on the same farm or 1. Add your purchase cost, your puppy away from this predatory behavior. Shepherds year costs, and the total adult cost. confinement. ranch. They have separate jobs; you use control the direction of the stalking movements to Many ranchers in the Southwest are using guarding dogs to protect their Angora them in different ways. guide sheep from one location to another. Photo goats. TwoOF or more dogs may work together where predation is severe. These Shar 2. Divide this total by the number of Choosing a dog Training a guarding dog is largely a courtesy Lorna Coppinger. Planinetz-Maremma crosses enabled this rancher to increase the size of his flock. years of useful service. matter of raising a pup with the stock Producers in the United States can (see EC 1238). Keep in mind that you From this formula, you can see the select dogs from several Old World don't want to make a pet out of a dog annual cost will decrease with each breeds, including Anatolian Shepherd you expect to stay out with the flock. additional year of ownership. Barring (Turkey), Castro Laboreiro (Portugal), OUT accident or illness, you can expect a You can start a pup in the lambing lifespan of 10-12 years. However, Great Pyrenees (Spain, France), barn, or out in a pasture with older Komondor and Kuvasz (Hungary), stock. The goal of training is that dog untimely deaths take their toll during the early years, primarily because of Maremma (Italy), Polish Tatra (Po- and sheep will form a social attachment IS accidents. land), Shar Planinetz (Yugoslavia), and to one another. Tibetan Mastiff (Tibet). Sometimes, this means confining dog Through age 2.5, 2 of every 10 dogs Good dogs can be found within any and sheep in a pen where they can get to on the range, and 1 of every 10 used of these breeds because basic behaviors know one another on friendly terms. A away from the range, die each year. After age 2.5,1 of every 20 dogs dies are the same among them. However, pup that sleeps with sheep and barks at differences in temperament can be strange activity is on its way to each year. About 25% of dogs can be found between individuals of the same becoming an effective guardian. information: expected to live a full lifespan. breed—and these differences are Remember this motto: "If the dog Given the high rate of mortality, especially among young dogs, and the greater than those between dogs of isn't with the sheep, it's not where it's different breeds. supposed to be." fact that guarding dogs take 1.5 to 2 When you choose a dog, it's better to The number of dogs needed on a years to mature, it's a good idea to plan ask about bloodlines than to rely on the farm depends more on sheep for a replacement before it's needed. general reputation of any particular management and severity of predation Starting a replacement pup when breed. Purchasing a dog from a than on flock size. A single dog can be your first dog reaches 3 or 4 years of age working line is preferred to selecting effective with a range band of 500 or current will help ensure the availability of a working dog at all times. Good one from a show line. Some breeders more sheep that are flocked. Additional PUBLICATION advertise in trade magazines; some management is critical for ensuring a dogs may be needed in any flock where long life for your flock guardian. offer guarantees. Contact one of the sheep are scattered or where predation programs listed under "Additional is severe. information" if you need assistance In fenced pastures, some producers Additional information with locating breeders. use one dog per flock per pasture. most Many articles on the breeds, Replacement needs (see "EstimatingTHIS behavior, and management of Behavior and management costs") are another factor to consider livestock-guarding dogs have appeared A guarding dog must show three when you assess the number of dogs in trade and technical journals. basic behaviors to be effective: needed on your farm. For Hampshire College supplies additional 1. It must be trustworthy—it must not literature, maintains a registry of injure livestock or interfere with http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog working dogs, and offers assistance in routines of feeding, breeding, and locating dogs. Small fees may be lambing. charged for some services. 2. It must be attentive—it must stay Staff members of the USDA Animal close to its charges. Damage Control Program offer 3. It must be protective—it must bark assistance with guarding dogs in An Anatolian Shepherd stands alert with his flock of sheep. The rounded head and floppy ears are char- Oregon and several other Western whenever a predator shows up. acteristic of all the traditional guardian breeds. Males weigh 90 to 110 pounds; females 75 to 95 pounds. £0X15