From the Ground Up: Bonding Guardian Dogs to their livestock

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - From flocks of sheep, to herds of cattle, guardian dogs are bred to protect many different species of livestock, but getting the dogs to bond with their livestock can be challenging.

Whether it be sheep, goats, or even exotic animals, a livestock guardian dog is bonded to a specific species for life, and the process begins from a very early age. Bill Costanzo and the Texas A&M Agrilife Livestock Guardian Dog Program begin establishing bonds within the first month of their dog’s lives. The process varies from dog to dog, and is dependent on the species of livestock, but many involve acclimating the canines to sheep wool and goat meat.

The bonding takes around 10 weeks for most dogs, and requires a specialized approach to ensure each dog is equipped to protect their designated livestock animal from wildlife predators.

Without the confines of a strong bond, livestock guardian dogs will often wander miles from their range, and in turn, become susceptible to predators of their own. Texas A&M Agrilife’s program is working to ensure that the dog’s that come through their program are set up for success. Costanzo says, “our project has been looking at coming up with a set of best management practices for producers to use to correctly bond their dogs and give them the best chance of success as an adult dog”.

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