From the Ground Up: Proactively protecting livestock

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - Unlike reactive practices like hunting and snaring, livestock guardian dogs can proactively prevent predation before it begins.

Texas ranches are plagued by a variety of predator species, from feral hogs to coyotes. Guardian dogs are trained to manage all types of wildlife conflict, but their defensive tactics deter some animals more so than others.

Costanzo says that the “first thing [the guardian dogs] do is set up a territory and they monitor that territory very regularly”. This tactic often works best again other canine species.

Similar to domestic dogs, canine predators use scent markers to define the boundaries of their territory. Canines of all different species have the ability to recognize these boundaries and are typically deterred from invading another dog’s territory. Most wildlife in fact, is respectful of territorial boundaries, but some animals test the limits and prowl into protected ranges.

In addition to territorial exclusion, guardian dogs work to reduce predation with two other tactics; disruption and confrontation.

If a predator invades a guardian dog’s territory, the canine will first use a disruption tactic, such as barking, to make their presence known. If the situation escalates, however, the predator will be physically confronted.

This is a last resort for guardian dogs, as physical confrontation “is not their purpose nor their goal”, and they are designed to be “non-lethal means of protecting livestock”.

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