Guardianship Dog are not Livestock Guardian Dogs

Duluth MN

Description

I don't know what a Guardianship dog is, but a Livestock Guardian Dog is one of a dozen breeds that around here are most commonly Anatolians Shepherds and Great Pyreness. They live with their livestock such as sheep, goats, and poultry - sometimes cattle. They bond with them. They are effective at deterring predators from killing the farmers' animals. They usually don't fight them - they deter them, so it saves the wolves, mountain lions, coyotes, etc. They are used worldwide for this very reason. In fact, in Africa, the Anatolian Shepherd is helping to reduce big cat (leopard, cheetah, lion) attacks. The Anatolian/Kangal and Tibetian Mastiff are two of the oldest dog breeds (5000+ years). Interestingly, they have no prey drive - just protective. They don't rush into a fight - they rush to persuade a predator to move on. These dogs, because they live with livestock, are not pets. Many live in barns with their pack (other LGDs). So, don't confuse these necessary dogs' living quarters as puppy mills. Puppy mills have dogs in cages. Livestock Guardian dogs patrol fields - they are among the most free dogs on the planet. I'm not a breeder. I am, however, an owner. These dogs can be great pets but were not designed to be taken for jogs, fetch, swim, or come when you call them...they are working dogs and need something to do. Most people should not have one of these. If you want a protection dog, an LGD is not for you. I just wanted to set that straight.