Guarding the horses and livestock we love
Submitted by: Erin Pearson
Phone: 540-987-9507
Email Address: Erin(at)truehearthypnosis.com
Date Added: 2/23/2015
Most of us horse people also have other pets and livestock. I myself also have a small farm raising chickens, cattle and sheep.
Due to large amounts of wildlife,(which I love), that are a threat to my animals I have been using livestock guardian dogs for the past 15 years.
We have used a variety of breeds to guard our livestock, from rescued Great Pyrenees, to our current litter of registered Anatolian Shepherds. We only breed every few years, but wanted to continue this line of dogs because they are so extraordinary.
Our livestock guardian dogs live with the animals 24x7 and have protected them from everything from hawks/buzzards to coyotes and local dogs not to mention fox, bear,skunks, etc. We have had mountain lions on the property that our dogs repelled also. I know the official stance is that they aren't here, but ask local Rappahannock residents in my area and you will get a different answer. Recently during the exteme weather, we did bring them into the house to keep them warm, which made for an interesting few days!
I love the dogs because they allow the wildlife to live in peace as long as they don't try to kill our livestock. I do rotational grazing, so at any one time 3/4 of my property isn't being used and the wildlife is free to roam in it and do what it wants. I would rather work with nature than do the poison, trap and shoot method which isn't environmentally friendly or sustainable.
For those with horses who are concerned about rabies, this is also a fantastic method of protecting your horses and your own cats, dogs, etc. from this threat. I keep my guardian dogs up to date on their rabies vaccinations for their protection.
These dogs aren't for everyone. They do require leadership training and good fences. They are bred to be independent and think for themselves and it takes them up to two years to mature and be fully trustworthy-but usually predation slows down or stops when the pup is around 6 months or so. A pair of dogs is ideal especially if there is a large area to cover.
I also encourage people to look into rescue, there are many livestock guardian dog breeds in rescue, in this area many Great Pyrenees are available. With the right setup and patient training many can become reliable livestock guardian dogs. We always have a couple of rescue dogs on our property and I know many people who foster and place rescue livestock guardian dogs. These breeds can also be wonderful pet/guardians in the right home with proper fencing and training.
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