The colors and markings of Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) do not significantly impact their ability to fulfill their primary role as guardians of livestock. While the appearance of LGDs varies widely among different breeds and individual dogs, their working capabilities are generally determined by traits such as temperament, intelligence, and protective instincts rather than their physical appearance. *Important note on […]
Read MoreWe have gotten a lot of questions about our fencing and how we keep our dogs contained. We have 47″ tall woven wire steel field fence that makes up our pens. The fence is perfectly adequate for our Kunekune pigs, hair sheep, Jersey cow, and puppies. However, our older livestock guardian dogs could easily hop out of our fences at […]
Read MoreI’m sure you have heard when talking to a dog breeder, owner, or handler – “He’s a good dog!” “Her hips are good.” or “He’s from good lines.” Did you understand what that person meant when you heard these statements? Because I usually don’t. Northwest Guardians Gratuity - 2019 Sarplaninac So what does “GOOD” really mean? Is the definition of […]
Read MoreAs 2020 comes to a close, I am looking back on a year that I don’t think any of us saw coming. If you know me well, you know I’m a planner. I like to have at least a framework plan of how things will go; deviations from the plan aren’t my favorite. This year has taught me just how […]
Read MoreWith all the noise online today, it can be tough to remember to start at the basics… I want to address our responsibilities and expectations as LGD owners, since the opinion extremes flow so freely elsewhere. Let’s just start with some simple facts, shall we? When you purchase an animal, you as the human owner take on certain responsibilities to […]
Read MoreAlright, let’s do this. Why do people crossbreed LGD x LGD? (Because outcrossing is a whole different topic for another day. Maybe later in the day. Past 5 PM when drinking is socially acceptable.) 1. “Availability” This was more of an issue 10 years ago when I was searching for a working line LGD around Montana and simply couldn’t find […]
Read MoreWe have received multiple inquiries from our clients and friends in the last few days regarding the DNA panels our dogs participate in. Many of the same questions and concerns repeated by multiple parties. This post will serve as our official position statement on Health Testing (DNA and beyond) in canines so it is all in one convenient place going […]
Read MoreLivestock Guardian Dogs Predators
Please read the first post, Born to be Wild: Predator where I gave my take on an adult LGD and her puppies being killed by wolves. Today, let’s look at preventative measures that producers can use to mitigate our losses and set our animals up for success. I mentioned the two primary characteristics that govern a wolf’s behavior: Opportunistic and Territorial. […]
Read MoreLivestock Guardian Dogs Predators
A 3 year-old post has resurfaced in the livestock guardian dog circles across the internet recently. Normally, this is something I don’t even notice, much less give a second thought to. Who cares if something that happened a few years ago is being brought up? It’s probably still relevant… right? Not always. So you can read it for yourself, here […]
Read MoreAKA: Illyrian Shepherd, Macedonian ShepherdNicknames: Shar, Sar, Sarpla The Šarplaninac land race/breed originates in the Balkans, dating well before the Holy Roman Empire. Back when the region was called “Illyria,” these dogs roamed with their owners and their flocks of sheep. Traditional shepherd’s dogs, the Shars were selectively bred to perform guardian work integral to the lifestyle of their shepherds. […]
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