Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo

I finally completed my thesis paper, and I passed my defense at the end of July. I will officially graduate in the fall with my Master of Science degree in animal science from Texas A&M. I’m looking forward to getting my Aggie ring in the fall too. A journal is reviewing the literature review, and we will send the research paper off for publication next. This degree was something I had always wanted to achieve when I was teaching. However, life got in the way, and I never returned to school after my Bachelor of Science.

I wish I had completed my degree years ago. It’s been an adjustment for sure, working full time, going to school, running my LGD consulting business, and our small ranch/LGD breeding operation. Achieving this degree and completing research focused on LGDs has already deepened my understanding of best practices for their management and care. I am excited to use what I have learned to bring updated information, evidence-based techniques, and new opportunities for the LGD community going forward.

It seems like El Niño is in full effect at this point. Lots of rain fell across the state in July. Hopefully we will continue to get rain spread out across the state in frequent showers that don’t create flooding in August. There is a prediction of high heat levels for August, so we will see what happens. There’s one thing for sure in Texas: if you don’t like the weather, wait an hour, and it will likely change.  

During these hot summer months, make sure to keep plenty of cool, clean water available for your LGDs. Also provide lots of shade out in the field. Placing frozen gallon water jugs in water troughs will help keep your LGDs cool. You can also purchase kiddie pools, place them under shade, and fill them with water and frozen jugs. Be extra mindful to watch for signs of heat stress, such as excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, rapid heartbeat, or vomiting. If you see any of these warning signs, move your dog to a cooler area and contact your veterinarian right away.

It’s very important to groom your long-haired dogs well to help them dissipate heat on hot days. Regular brushing with a slicker brush or undercoat rake can help remove excess undercoat and mats that trap heat. Clipping or shaving is not recommended for most LGDs. Their double coat also serves to insulate them from both heat and sunburn. You can clip the dogs’ bellies, lower chest, and inner legs to remove extra hair to cool them. Manually checking paws for burns after walks on hot surfaces and avoiding exercise during the hottest part of the day are helpful summer care steps for younger dogs in training.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

New Virtual Fence Collar

Thanks to a producer on Facebook, I discovered a new virtual fence collar that shows a lot of promise for LGDs. The new StayTrack collar is from HerdStreet and is designed specifically for LGDs. The collar resembles the Nofence units but has three solar panels instead of just two. The company claims that the addition of the third panel creates a collar that never needs to be recharged. They also have a built-in e-collar function. The company is using advanced AI programs to develop software that can tell when an LGD is chasing livestock and automatically correct the dog’s behavior.

I have ordered a collar already to test. The collars will not be ready for shipping until November. So we will not be able to start testing until then. The cost of the collars is $350 with a $15.00 monthly service fee. If the units work, they will change the game for roaming and adolescent LGD training.

Grant Funding

I will continue to work at PVAMU in 2026-27. I am in the process of finalizing a very large grant application for PVAMU for a five-year project to establish a program there fully. If we receive the grant, it will be over $1.6 million to fully build a program on the campus at the International Goat Research Center (IGRC). The program will conduct both research and extension outreach. There is funding for both student workers and an assistant for me as well. That will be very helpful and allow me to work on other projects. I have been wanting to develop a new course to teach in LGD Management! We are expecting to hear about the results of the grant application by November. I will share updates on the decision as soon as we receive them. So please stay tuned for more information in upcoming newsletters.

Texas LGD Association Event

The Texas LGD Association will host its annual LGD Field Day on October 10th. It will be held at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco. The event will run from 9 am to 4 pm and will feature workshops, vendors, and on-site LGD breeders. Attendees can look forward to interactive sessions with experienced breeders. There will also be Q&A sessions with experts so participants can get answers to their specific questions, as well as plenty of time to set aside for networking with others in the LGD community. Last year’s event attracted more than 40 attendees and featured several excellent workshops conducted by industry experts. An association meeting will also be held during the event. For more information, check the Texas LGD Association’s Facebook page and website. If you or your company are interested in sponsoring the event, please get in touch with Debbie Clifton at [email protected]

PVAMU Bonding & Aerial Predator Training Project

The pups were supposed to get out of the bonding pens in late July. However, the fence crew finally showed up and delayed that for a couple of weeks. Hopefully the pups will all be out of the pens by August 1^st. If not, it will delay the delivery of the pups until late November. If you are a medium to large producer with aerial predation issues and want to participate in the project, contact me at [email protected] or call 325-657-7311.

We have decided to finally do a tethering study as part of this project as well. We trained all the pups as normal. One set will continue to be tether trained for up to several hours to simulate being trapped or snared. The goal of this study is to better understand how young LGDs respond to restraint and whether specific early experiences with tethering can help them remain calm and safe if they ever encounter similar situations in the field. The results could provide helpful guidance for LGD owners about best practices for preparing dogs for unexpected events. It may inform future management recommendations for stress reduction and welfare. So far, the continued tethering has gone well. We will keep you posted.

PVAMU Adult Dogs

The adult dogs are all progressing well. Thelma and Louise have officially turned into long yearlings at this point and have overall been good teenagers. Louise is much calmer than Thelma. Somehow Thelma decided to chew on her Nofence collar and broke the solar panel connection, so it stopped working. I wasn’t too happy with her that day. It’s all part of the testing process though, and the company appreciated the feedback. So far, Maverick’s collar still has not had to be recharged since placing it on December 5, 2025! He also has not left the geofence either. I have four collars on a ranch in Del Rio. So far, it seems to be going well for that producer. We will update you again on this great virtual fence option for LGDs next month.

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please remember to subscribe using this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

Do you have any feedback about this article, or would you like to propose topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops? Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 325-657-7311.

Are you seeking information on LGDs? Please visit our website, which features factsheets, global research on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

Follow us on our social media platforms and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: TAMUlivestockguarddog

Be sure to visit the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube under @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Texas A&M AgriLife provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

As of this writing, we have 17 active counties in Texas under quarantine for New World Screwworm infestations. There is also a case reported in a dog in New Mexico. The total is 37 reported cases in the US at this point, but there are likely more that have not been identified or reported for fear of livestock quarantines. It’s important that producers report any issues with NWS, as this will increase sterile fly drops in their area, which will hopefully contain the infestation. I have seen backorders and out-of-stock posts for some products online, but hopefully that doesn’t last long. Products approved for LGDs are the different versions of Credelio and NexGard. Other products containing the active ingredients lotilaner or afoxolaner should also protect your LGD from NWS.  

Hopefully, people don’t panic-buy products right now, as they are needed in quarantine zones. Please don’t overstock yourself on these products so there’s enough for everyone who currently needs them!  These are great sites for checking on NSW issues and cases: New World Screwworm and  Confirmed Detections of New World Screwworm | APHIS.

All Animal Science Department Specialists in AgriLife have been asked to become certified in NWS identification and to be approved by the TAHC as certified inspectors, should the need arise. The course is fairly simple and takes about four hours to complete. There is a test for each section, followed by an overall test to complete for your certificate.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

5^th Annual AgriLife LGD Photo Contest

Our 5^th Annual AgriLife LGD Photo Contest ran June 21-27. We had over 310 participants this year, each entering up to 10 photos. This year’s categories were artistic, publication worthy, dogs at work, puppies at work, and cuteness. We have five subcategories of sheep, goats, poultry, other livestock, and dog/puppy only. We would like to thank our contest sponsors: Diamond Pet Foods, SpotOn Fence, NoFence, Gun Dog Supply, and the Texas LGD Association. Winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions all received prizes this year thanks to our sponsors!

Results will be posted on our Facebook page. If you missed the contest, start taking pictures now for the 2027 contest!

July Webinar

Our webinar on the Komondor breed on  June 23rd at 3 pm went well. Ms. Dalton, a breeder who uses Komondors on her ranch in Illinois, gave a workshop on the breed. Komondors are a breed of LGD from Hungary. We used three Komondor pups (Mabel, Bell, and Pearl) in our bonding project during round 5. The breed tends to stay close to its livestock. We will not hold a webinar in August. The next event will be on November 19, 2026, at 3 pm CST.

Texas LGD Association Event

The Texas LGD Association will host its annual LGD Field Day on October 10th at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco. The event will run from 9 am to 4 pm and feature workshops, vendors, and on-site LGD breeders. Last year’s event drew more than 40 attendees and featured several excellent workshops led by industry experts. An association meeting will also be held during the event. For more information, check the Texas LGD Association’s Facebook page and website.

PVAMU Bonding Project

The puppies will also be testing the new NoFence collars to see how well they work on younger dogs during their time at the PVAMU International Goat Research Center. The pups are scheduled to go out to cooperating producers in mid-November of 2026.

Training the puppies to respond to aerial predator threats has remained difficult, given the weather we have had over the last couple of months. Between the rain and the wind, we can’t seem to have a calm day to fly the remote-controlled eagle kites we have. The puppies will be six months old this month and will be released from the bonding pens to join their siblings and other livestock. We will continue the aerial threat training as the weather allows.

Adult Dogs and Bonding Project Update

PVAMU Adult Dogs

We are continuing to test the NoFence collars on dogs at PV and in West Texas. Maverick’s collar still holds a good charge at 80%, but Thelma and Louise’s collars are dropping faster. Their collars are down to 25% and 55%. They are both in smaller areas, which causes more notifications to the dogs, decreasing battery life. We have had lots of cloudy days, and the dogs have been in the shelter a lot, which could also be affecting their battery life. None of the dogs has left since they got the collars on. We will be sending more collars to other test locations this month. We will keep you updated on how the collar testing is going.

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please remember to subscribe using this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

Do you have any feedback about this article, or would you like to propose topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops? Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 325-657-7311.

Are you seeking information on LGDs? Please visit our website, which features factsheets, global research on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

Follow us on our social media platforms and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Be sure to visit the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube under @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Texas A&M AgriLife provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

As of this writing, several cases of New World Screwworm (NWS) have been detected in Texas. Although no products are specifically approved for LGDs to treat NWS infections, Catron IV, F10, or Negasunt Powder would likely be effective. Ivermectin and Doramectin could also be used, but the correct dosage for a dog must be calculated accurately, or it could kill the dog. However, we strongly recommend checking with your local vet before using any of these products on a dog!

Canine flea and tick products such as Credelio, Credelio Quatro, and Nexgard Spectra or Plus should help prevent and control NSW in your dogs. Canine products containing afoxolaner, lotilaner, or sarolaner should all help control NSW in your LGDs. We encourage you to notify your local vet if you suspect any NWS infections in your LGDs or livestock.

Below is a list of products approved for use on sheep and goats by the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association.

If your LGD develops any open wounds, we strongly recommend penning them and applying a fly-repellent wound medication to prevent NSW infections, regardless of how small the wound is. Keep the dog penned until the wound is fully healed.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

May Webinar
If you missed our May 21st webinar with Australian Professor Dr. Linda Van Bommel, you can view it on our YouTube channel @TAMUlivestockguarddog. It was a great webinar with many questions from the live audience of over 50 people.

July Webinar

Our next webinar on the Komondor breed is scheduled for June 23rd at 3 pm. This webinar is a month earlier than our usual schedule to accommodate the presenter, Barbara Dalton. Ms. Dalton is a breeder who uses Komondors on her ranch. Komondors are a breed of LGD from Hungary. We used three Komondor pups (Mabel, Bell, and Pearl) in our bonding project during round 5. The breed tends to stay close to its livestock. We will not hold a webinar in August. The next event will be in November, as usual. Please check out our Facebook page, @TAMUlivestockguarddog, to register for the event!

Texas LGD Association Event
The Texas LGD Association will host its annual LGD Field Day on October 10th at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco. The event will run from 9 am to 4 pm and feature workshops, vendors, and on-site LGD breeders. Last year’s event drew more than 40 attendees and featured several excellent workshops led by industry experts. The event will also feature an in-person quarterly association meeting. For more information, check the Texas LGD Association’s Facebook page and website.

PVAMU Bonding Project
The puppies have all been doing well with their normal training in the bonding project. The weather conditions have prevented us from flying our remote-controlled raptors for several weeks. We damaged the motorized eagle kite on a windy day and are waiting for replacement motor parts. The dogs reacted to the regular raptor kite when it was flown. Scooby Dee barked at it and took a defensive stance. Velma and Daphne did not react at all to the kite, while the other three dogs had some sort of reaction to it. Once we get the motorized kite repaired, we will be able to start training with the pups again.

Adult Dogs and Bonding Project Update

PVAMU Adult Dogs

All adult dogs are working at PVAMU. Testing the NoFence collars on the dogs is still underway. Maverick’s collar remains at 75-85%, while the two younger dogs’ collars are at 35-60% because they are in smaller 1-2-acre pastures and hit the boundaries much more often. All of the dogs are accustomed to the collars at this point. None of them has developed any hot spots or skin issues to date. With warm temperatures and high humidity at the IGRC over the last few weeks, and time will tell whether they develop any issues during this hot-spot season.

We are sending test units of the NoFence collars to ranchers in West Central Texas to evaluate them under range conditions and determine whether they deliver similar battery life and a major decrease in roaming, as we have seen with the test dogs at the IGRC. We will keep you posted on how the collars are performing. If you are a large producer with multiple LGDs and would like to participate in our trial, please reach out to me at [email protected].

Round 7 Pups – Cattle Bonding Project

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please remember to subscribe using this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

Do you have any feedback about this article, or would you like to propose topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops? Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 325-657-7311.

Are you seeking information on LGDs? Please visit our website, which features factsheets, global research on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

Follow us on our social media platforms and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: TAMUlivestockguarddog

Be sure to visit the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube under @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Texas A&M AgriLife provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

As of this writing, several cases of New World Screwworm (NWS) have been detected in Texas. Although no products are specifically approved for LGDs to treat NWS infections, Catron IV, F10, or Negasunt Powder would likely be effective. Ivermectin and Doramectin could also be used, but the correct dosage for a dog must be calculated accurately, or it could kill the dog. However, we strongly recommend checking with your local vet before using any of these products on a dog!

Canine flea and tick products such as Credelio, Credelio Quatro, and Nexgard Spectra or Plus should help prevent and control NSW in your dogs. Canine products containing afoxolaner, lotilaner, or sarolaner should all help control NSW in your LGDs. We encourage you to notify your local vet if you suspect any NWS infections in your LGDs or livestock.

Below is a list of products approved for use on sheep and goats by the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association.

If your LGD develops any open wounds, we strongly recommend penning them and applying a fly-repellent wound medication to prevent NSW infections, regardless of how small the wound is. Keep the dog penned until the wound is fully healed.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

May Webinar
If you missed our May 21st webinar with Australian Professor Dr. Linda Van Bommel, you can view it on our YouTube channel @TAMUlivestockguarddog. It was a great webinar with many questions from the live audience of over 50 people.

July Webinar

Our next webinar on the Komondor breed is scheduled for June 23rd at 3 pm. This webinar is a month earlier than our usual schedule to accommodate the presenter, Barbara Dalton. Ms. Dalton is a breeder who uses Komondors on her ranch. Komondors are a breed of LGD from Hungary. We used three Komondor pups (Mabel, Bell, and Pearl) in our bonding project during round 5. The breed tends to stay close to its livestock. We will not hold a webinar in August. The next event will be in November, as usual. Please check out our Facebook page, @TAMUlivestockguarddog, to register for the event!

Texas LGD Association Event
The Texas LGD Association will host its annual LGD Field Day on October 10th at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco. The event will run from 9 am to 4 pm and feature workshops, vendors, and on-site LGD breeders. Last year’s event drew more than 40 attendees and featured several excellent workshops led by industry experts. The event will also feature an in-person quarterly association meeting. For more information, check the Texas LGD Association’s Facebook page and website.

PVAMU Bonding Project
The puppies have all been doing well with their normal training in the bonding project. The weather conditions have prevented us from flying our remote-controlled raptors for several weeks. We damaged the motorized eagle kite on a windy day and are waiting for replacement motor parts. The dogs reacted to the regular raptor kite when it was flown. Scooby Dee barked at it and took a defensive stance. Velma and Daphne did not react at all to the kite, while the other three dogs had some sort of reaction to it. Once we get the motorized kite repaired, we will be able to start training with the pups again.

Adult Dogs and Bonding Project Update

PVAMU Adult Dogs

All adult dogs are working at PVAMU. Testing the NoFence collars on the dogs is still underway. Maverick’s collar remains at 75-85%, while the two younger dogs’ collars are at 35-60% because they are in smaller 1-2-acre pastures and hit the boundaries much more often. All of the dogs are accustomed to the collars at this point. None of them has developed any hot spots or skin issues to date. With warm temperatures and high humidity at the IGRC over the last few weeks, and time will tell whether they develop any issues during this hot-spot season.

We are sending test units of the NoFence collars to ranchers in West Central Texas to evaluate them under range conditions and determine whether they deliver similar battery life and a major decrease in roaming, as we have seen with the test dogs at the IGRC. We will keep you posted on how the collars are performing. If you are a large producer with multiple LGDs and would like to participate in our trial, please reach out to me at [email protected].

Round 7 Pups – Cattle Bonding Project

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please remember to subscribe using this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

Do you have any feedback about this article, or would you like to propose topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops? Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 325-657-7311.

Are you seeking information on LGDs? Please visit our website, which features factsheets, global research on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

Follow us on our social media platforms and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: TAMUlivestockguarddog

Be sure to visit the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube under @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Texas A&M AgriLife provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

We’ve had more rain than expected over the last few weeks. At my place, we received several inches of rain, which was definitely needed. The grass has started growing again with the new moisture and warm temperatures. Parasites are now a concern for livestock on this side of the state. We recently dewormed all the livestock at my place because several ewes and nannies were on the thin side. While they had nursing offspring, their FAMACHA score indicated they had parasites. Fleas and ticks will likely increase soon with the moisture and warmer weather on LGDs. We started using the new Bravecto Quantum on the Center’s dogs. It sure makes life easier not having to give the chewable tablet every three months. Also, keep an eye out for hot spots with the rain and warm temperatures!

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Our 9th Annual LGD Field Day was held on May 1st at the AgriLife Center in San Angelo. The event featured workshops on LGD economics, virtual fencing, GPS trackers, bonding and training, vendors, and on-site LGD breeders. The Texas LGD Association and the Texas Sheep gave a presentation at the event, along with LGD researchers. Although we had to cancel the tour due to the rain that day, everyone was still thankful for the moisture. We would like to thank all of the sponsors below for making this event a success!

Platinum Sponsors:

Diamond Pet Foods                        Fast Signs Inc.                   Key Farms                          Lone Star Tracking

Ruffin Ranch White Dorpers                       Sheep & Goat Predator Management Board

Tom Green County Farm Bureau

Gold Sponsors:

Capital Farm Credit                         Central Texas Farm Credit                           Grogan’s Farm and Ranch

Dr. Stephanie Probandt, DVM                    Regal Oil                             SpotOn Fence

Silver Sponsors:

Angelo Pellets                   First National Bank of Mertzon                   First State Bank of Paint Rock

Gun Dog Supply Palmer Feed                      Producer’s Livestock Auction

Tractor Supply – North                  Tractor Supply – South

Trans Texas Southwest Credit Union                       Twin Mountain Fence

Vendors:

Bobcat of Abilene                            ENVU                   Lone Star Tracking           Grogan’s Farm and Ranch

Texas Farm Bureau                         Texas LGD Association

LGD Breeders:

Jared Seales

May Webinar

Our next webinar is scheduled for May 21st at 3 pm. This quarter’s webinar will feature LGD research by Australian professor Linda Van Bommel. Those who have followed the blog for many years may remember that Dr. Van Bommel toured our program in 2022 during a trip to the US. We are excited to have Dr. Van Bommel present her research on LGDs. To register for the free Zoom event, check our Facebook page, @TAMUlivestockguarddog, or visit the Center’s events page. You can also use this link to attend the event https://agrilife.zoom.us/j/95101700490?pwd=aVmFkMlYF6SHKovHDMAxwKraE9bCsb.1

PVAMU Bonding Project

The puppies are doing well with their training. They were released from the small bonding pen into the one-acre pen in late April. We also noticed that one of the puppies, Scooby Dee, looked thin. A vet check revealed she tested positive for Parvo. Luckily, we caught it in time. She was quarantined at the vet’s office for a week and given IV and oral antibiotics. Scooby Dee has made a full recovery. All of the other puppies were tested and came back negative for the virus.

While Scooby Dee had two rounds of vaccinations at the time, her body had not yet reacted to the vaccine, which is why it is important to follow your vet’s recommendations on the number and timing of puppy vaccinations. There can even be differences in response rate between siblings, which is likely why Fawn and Shelly did not get the virus.

We will begin aerial predator training with the pups in early May. While it is unfortunate that we could not purchase the Raptor drone due to cost increases, we are confident that the decoys, motorized birds, and kites will pose a sufficient threat to elicit a response from the puppies. We are currently designing a scoring rubric that will be used at 8, 12, and 18 months of age during live raptor testing of the puppies.

Adult Dogs and Bonding Project Update

PVAMU Adult Dogs

We are still conducting the test of the NoFence virtual fence system on the three LGDs at the Prairie View A&M IGRC. None of the three dogs has left their pastures to date, and we have not had to recharge the collars’ batteries. Maverick’s collar has not been recharged since December 5, 2025, and the girls’ collars have not been charged since late January. The system appears to track the dogs’ movements reliably and provides updates when it receives a notification or a shock.

Round 7 Pups

The two pups, Duke and Dozer, were finally delivered to their cooperating producers in early May. The dogs had a rocky start, leaving their pen late on the day of delivery. They didn’t seem to like the new cows they were being bonded with and dug out of the pen. Two days later, in the late morning, they were located via GPS trackers on a neighboring ranch. The dogs were caught and penned in an area they could not escape from until the cooperating rancher could acclimate them to him. They were then released again with the cattle.

The pups will stay at the cooperating producer’s home ranch location until July to get a strong bond with his livestock. At that point, the pups will travel with the cattle to the Rita Blanca National Grassland lease site, where the Swift Fox study will take place. We will keep you posted on how the pups are doing with the cattle.

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please remember to subscribe using this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

Do you have any feedback about this article, or would you like to propose topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops? Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 325-657-7311.

Are you seeking information on LGDs? Please visit our website, which features factsheets, global research on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

Follow us on our social media platforms and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Be sure to visit the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube under @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Texas A&M AgriLife provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

Pasture with spring flowers near College Station, Texas. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo courtesy Costanzo 2023)

Spring has finally arrived in Washington County, and the flowers were in bloom in late March. It’s been dry in this part of the state, but hopefully that will change in April! Temperatures have fluctuated widely here, from highs in the 80s to the low 40s in the evening. Long-range forecasts indicate that La Nina is ending, and we should have a normal April-June, with a wetter summer through fall. Hopefully, that holds true as we could use some rain.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Our 9^th Annual LGD Field Day will be held on May 1^st at the AgriLife Center in San Angelo. The event will feature workshops on LGD economics, virtual fencing, GPS trackers, a tour, vendors, and on-site LGD breeders. The Texas LGD Association and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Board will give presentations at the event, along with experts in LGD research. Check our Facebook page @TAMUlivestockguarddog for more information as the event gets closer. We will be doing online registration for the event this year. Use this link to register: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ansc-ev-095. The last day to register is April 24^th!

Our next webinar is scheduled for May 21^st at 3 pm. This quarter’s webinar will be on LGD research by Australian professor Linda Van Bommel. For those who have been following the blog for many years, you may remember that Dr. Van Bommel toured our program in 2022 during a trip to the US. We are excited to have Dr. Van Bommel present her research on LGDs. Check our Facebook page, @TAMUlivestockguarddog, to register for the free Zoom event, or visit the Center’s events page to register.

PVAMU Bonding Project

Scooby Dee with her Boer goats and Navajo sheep in a bonding pen at PVAMU. AgriLife photo courtesy of Costanzo 2026.

The six puppies in the Aerial Predator Training and Bonding project have settled into their new home at the PVAMU International Goat Research Center. We had a slight mix-up with one set of pups. The set of Akbash Anatolian Shepherd cross pups turned out to be female, so we adjusted their names to Scooby Dee, Shelly, and Fame, from a newer version of the cartoon. That set of puppies is doing very well with the socialization and training protocols. The Karakachan pups (Velma, Daphne, and Ruby Do) are struggling with leash and tether training, so we have decreased the weekly time-increment increases for them. Hopefully, they will adjust to those two training protocols quickly, and we can jump the time back up to stay on track with the crossbred pups.

Ruby Do had a rocky start with her goats being overly aggressive and scaring the pup. We swapped those goats out after only a couple of days for some older kids. She has been seen interacting well with them and the Navajo sheep. We will be adding some Dorper sheep to all the pens from the AgriLife Center in San Angelo soon. The aerial training will start once the pups are out of small pens later this month.

Adult Dogs and Bonding Project Update

PVAMU Adult Dogs

PVAMU LGD Louise is protecting a nanny who just gave birth to triplets. AgriLife photo courtesy of Costanzo, 2026.

There are two teenage Karakachan dogs and one adult Anatolian Shepherd at the PVAMU International Goat Research Center that protect the livestock on the campus. The Karakachans (Thelma and Louise) protect livestock in the barns and pastures, while the Anatolian Shepherd (Maverick) patrols the areas around the outside of the barns and the perimeter. All the dogs wear NoFence collars we are testing, and the units are working extremely well at keeping the dogs in their designated locations. None of the dogs were bonded in a hot wire, so this system has been a great addition, especially for Maverick, who has roamed onto campus in the past to visit the Dean!  

Round 7 Pups

The cattle bonding pups are all heading to new ranches early this month. One producer dropped out of the project, so Diesel and Delta are going to a ranch in Childress. They will protect cattle for a rancher who wanted dogs from us at the start of the project. Sadly, due to a lack of funding, we will not be collecting data on them. I will check in from time to time to see how they are doing. We do plan to continue bonding dogs to cattle in the future to meet a growing demand. Cattle ranchers are seeing an increase in predation from coyotes and other predators across the state.

Duke and Dozer will continue the original project to protect Swift Fox from coyote predation on a ranch in the Rita Blanca National Grasslands in Dalham County, Texas. We will keep you posted on their progress in that project led by Dr. John Tomecek.

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please remember to subscribe. Please use this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

Do you have any feedback about this article? Would you like to propose topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops? Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 325-657-7311.

Are you seeking information on LGDs? Please visit our website, which features factsheets, global research on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

Follow us on our social media platforms and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: TAMUlivestockguarddog

Be sure to visit the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube under @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Texas A&M AgriLife provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

We had some crazy weather on the eastern side of the state last month. There were days when it was 80, and others in the low 60s, with freezing temperatures at night. We are hoping for more rain on this side of the state as well. At my house in Washington County, we only got 1 ¼ inches of rain in February. Hopefully, spring is on its way, with more rain, warm days, and fewer cold nights as we get into March.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Our 9^th Annual LGD Field Day will be held on May 1^st at the AgriLife Center in San Angelo. The event will feature workshops on LGD economics, virtual fencing, GPS trackers, a tour, vendors, and on-site LGD breeders. The Texas LGD Association and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Board will give presentations at the event, along with experts in LGD research. Check our Facebook page @TAMUlivestockguarddog for more information as the event gets closer. We will be doing online registration for the event this year, which is now open using this link: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ansc-ev-095

Our next webinar is scheduled for May 21^st at 3 pm. This quarter’s webinar will be on LGD research by Australian professor Linda Van Bommel. For those who have been following the blog for many years, you may remember that Dr. Van Bommel toured our program in 2022 during a trip to the US. We are excited to have Dr. Van Bommel present her research on LGDs. Check our Facebook page, @TAMUlivestockguarddog, to register for the free Zoom event, or visit the Center’s events page to register.

PVAMU Bonding Project

Last month, I was busy repairing fences and building bonding pens at Prairie View A&M for the Aerial Predator Training and Bonding Project. The puppies arrived in the second week of March. Their names are based on Scooby Doo characters this time. They will be Fred, Shaggy, Scooby Doo, Velma, Daphne, and Ruby Doo.

Fred, Shaggy, and Scooby Doo are Akbash x Anatolian Shepherds and will be the control group, which will not receive any aerial predator training. The girls (Velma, Daphne, and Ruby Doo), who are Karakachans, will all receive the training protocols for aerial predators. Fred and Shaggy are being pair-bonded along with Velma and Daphne. Scooby Doo and Ruby Doo are both single, bonding with livestock. We will start the aerial predator training once the pups are three months old.

We will have more updates next month on how the puppies are doing at their new location in Prairie View and how the training is progressing.

Adult Dogs and Bonding Project Update

Round 7 Pups

The pups were returned to the road pens last month to ensure they were bonding with the new cattle. We noticed that Diesel and Delta were not in the same body condition as Duke and Dozer when they were in pens next to each other. We swapped the dogs around as the cattle were bullying Diesel and Delta in the pens. They began gaining weight quickly after that. Duke and Dozer did fine with the switch and were moved back to the pasture at the end of February.  Diesel and Delta will spend a couple of extra weeks gaining weight so they are ready to go to the ranches at the end of March.  If you are in Dallam County, TX, Cimarron County, OK, or Union County, NM, and are interested in participating in this unique project, please contact me at [email protected].

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please remember to subscribe using this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Center

Do you have any feedback about this article, or would you like to propose topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops? Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 325-657-7311.

Are you seeking information on LGDs? Please visit our website, which features factsheets, global research on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

Follow us on our social media platforms and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Be sure to visit the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube under @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Texas A&M AgriLife provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

Well, we finally had some winter weather across the state in late January. I was thinking it would never come. I hope everyone’s LGDs and livestock made it through the storm unharmed. It is important to be prepared for livestock and LGD emergencies in winter weather. Having a warm, dry location for chilled animals is critical for their survival if they are suffering from hypothermia. Shelter with plenty of dry bedding is helpful for animals to survive weather systems like the one that covered most of Texas last month. Also, make sure to have lots of old towels to toss in the clothes dryer to warm up cold animals. Fresh water is just as important for livestock in freezing weather as in warm weather. Investing in tank heaters and Freeze Misers can help keep water troughs and lines running.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Pyrenean Mastiff dog. AgriLife photo courtesy of the Pyrenean Mastiff Association of America, 2026.

Our next webinar is scheduled for February 19^th at 3 pm. This quarter’s webinar will be on the Pyrenean Mastiff breed of LGDs and will be presented by Karina Whittington from Estrella Polar Pyrenean Mastiffs. Check our Facebook page @TAMUlivestockguarddog to register for the free event hosted on Zoom or visit the Center’s events page to register.

Our 9^th Annual LGD Field Day will be held on May 1^st at the AgriLife Center in San Angelo. The event will feature workshops, a tour, vendors, and LGD breeders on site. The Texas LGD Association and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Board will give presentations at the event, along with experts in LGD research. Check our Facebook page @TAMUlivestockguarddog for more information as the event gets closer. We will be doing online registration for the event this year, which is now open using this link: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ansc-ev-095

New Bonding Project

We have transitioned the LGD Program from San Angelo to College Station over the past couple of years. With the main grant funding the program ending in the summer of 2025, I was reassigned to a split position between AgriLife Extension and Prairie View A&M. I am starting a new program at the International Goat Research Center on the Prairie View campus farm. This change has allowed me to continue bonding pups while we secure funding to start a program at the TAMU Sheep Unit in College Station.

We are starting a new round of the bonding and training project in March. The facilities at Prairie View A&M are finally being completed to house dogs and livestock at the International Goat Research Center. We will begin the first of what we hope will be five rounds of the Aerial Threat Training and Bonding Project this spring. The project is a joint venture among the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and Prairie View A&M.

We will bond and train six puppies for each round of this project. We have a set of ¾ Akbash X ¼ Anatolian Shepherd pups and a set of

Potential raptor-shaped drone for training LGD puppies. AgriLife photo courtesy of the Drone Bird Company, 2026.

purebred Karakachan pups this time. The puppies will be single- or pair-bonded, as in previous years. They will also receive hot-wire and virtual fence training to reduce roaming as adults. Three of the pups will receive additional training for aerial predator threats. The training will include using various devices to harass the puppies and livestock in the bonding pens. We will use kites, small remote-control raptors, aerial decoys, a raptor-shaped drone, and real falcons for the project.

As in the past, puppies will stay in a 60 x 60 ft pen for one month, then move into one-acre pens until they are 6 months old. At that point, they will move to larger pastures until they are 10 months old. At that time, they will be taken to cooperating producers’ ranches and GPS tracked until they are 18 months old. We will perform tests to see if the training was successful at 8, 12, and 18 months of age. Producers will be able to purchase the dogs then or return them if they are not satisfied. If the initial round is successful, we will make any necessary adjustments and continue the project for four additional rounds.

Adult Dogs and Bonding Project Update

Round 7 Pups

Two of the Maremma pups spending time together in their pasture at the AgriLife Center in San Angelo. AgriLife photo courtesy of Sustaita, 2026

The pups are still doing well. We have started adjusting them to new cattle by removing half of the calves they were bonded to and introducing new mature cows to the dogs. Delta and Diesel seem to be accepting their new cattle more readily than Duke and Dozer. The dogs seem to be following their charges’ lead, however. The cattle in the Delta and Diesel groups quickly accepted the cows into their herds, whereas those in the Duke and Dozer groups did not, which may explain why the dogs are also pushing the cattle away from their original charges.

We will continue to move out all of the original group of calves so they can go back to their home university, Sul Ross. We are gradually switching out the calves so the dogs do not roam to find the original charges they were bonded to. Duke and Dozer, along with their cattle, are scheduled to return to a bonding pen for a couple of weeks. This will ensure that they rebond and that the cattle accept the dogs and each other.

 We have noticed that Duke and Dozer are actively tracking and chasing any aerial threats that come over their pasture. However, Diesel and Delta are not. There are fewer aerial predators over their pasture for some reason. This could be the reason, or it could be something we do not know yet. Since all the pups are from the same litter, it is unlikely to be the mother’s training, but it could be genetic. Hopefully, we will be able to determine the answer with our next bonding project, which starts soon at Prairie View A&M. The pups are still scheduled to leave the Center in March of this year for far northwest Texas. If you are in Dallam County, TX, Cimarron County, OK, or Union County, NM, and are interested in participating in this unique project, please contact me at [email protected].

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please remember to subscribe using this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

Do you have any feedback about this article, or would you like to propose topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops? Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 325-657-7311.

Are you seeking information on LGDs? Please visit our website, which features factsheets, global research on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

Follow us on our social media platforms and share them with your friends and family!

 Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: TAMUlivestockguarddog

Be sure to visit the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube under @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Texas A&M AgriLife provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

Freeze Miser attached to a Y reduces the need to leave water running or wrap all of your pipes. AgriLife photo courtesy of www.lowes.com, 2025

Hopefully, everyone had a great Christmas and New Year’s last month. If you follow us on Facebook, you should have seen a couple of posts about making your LGD’s Christmas a little brighter, which should have made you smile. We also posted about some New Year’s Resolutions from the dogs at the AgriLife Center.

With the chilly weather coming soon to Texas, we encourage you to check your dogs’ BCS and make sure they and livestock have areas to protect themselves from wind, rain, sleet, and possibly snow that comes for a few weeks each year. You may want to install some Freeze Misers if you have not already. Those things have worked great for me the past couple of years, and I would definitely recommend them over wrapping up valves with foam. There is probably still a need to cover exposed pipes, as I do not yet fully trust those devices.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

 Dr. Katherine Lord presented another great webinar on November 20th. Dr. Lord shared data from the Darwin’s Ark Canine DNA Project’s working dog collection. She reviewed some interesting findings on DNA and also spoke about a new project that will start soon. We strongly encourage all LGD owners to participate in the working dog projects to help gather data on several types of working dog breeds. You can watch it on our YouTube channel @TAMUlivestockguarddog.

Our next webinar is scheduled for February 19^th at 3 pm. This quarter’s webinar will be on the Pyrenean Mastiff breed of LGDs and will be presented by James Desana. Check our Facebook page @TAMUlivestockguarddog for more information as the event gets closer, and visit the Center’s events page to register.

What is a Livestock Guardian Dog?

 This month, we conclude a two-part series explaining LGDs, or livestock guardian dogs, bred to defend livestock from predators. These medium-to-large dogs, often weighing over 100 pounds, mainly protect sheep and goats. In some areas, LGDs also guard native birds, cattle, or poultry. Ranchers in regions with wolves and bears rely heavily on these dogs to protect their livestock.

Guarding Behaviors

LGDs display a variety of behaviors shaped by centuries of selective breeding. During the day, they may patrol or rest near the herd, while in

LGD Larry a Maremma at a cooperating producers ranch. Maremma tend to stay close to their charges. Photo courtesy of Costanzo, 2020.

the mornings and evenings, they are typically most active. Barking serves as their main deterrent, escalating from distant alarm calls to aggressive posturing if threats get too close. When needed, they will directly confront intruding predators. Guardians also vary in how they patrol. Some stay close to their charges, others circle along fence lines, and many switch between both patterns. When multiple dogs work together, they often divide roles to create a coordinated defense.

Behavioral Traits and Prey Drive

Effective LGDs differ significantly from hunting or herding dogs. They are selected for their low prey drive, which reduces the likelihood of chasing or harming livestock. Instead, their behavior is based on protective pack instincts, viewing the livestock as part of their social group. Extension programs emphasize three main traits: vigilance, protective response, and reliability with stock. A good guardian dog should be alert to its environment, quick to deter threats, and dependable in its interactions with animals and people.

Development and Neoteny

Canine evolution through domestication has prolonged neoteny, the retention of juvenile traits into adulthood. In LGDs, this is evident not only in their behavior but also in their physical appearance. Many guardian breeds retain features such as floppy ears, curled tails, and softer expressions, which distinguish them from wolves or coyotes. These traits may help livestock accept them more easily as “not-predators,” reinforcing their role within the herd.

Delayed fear responses are another result of neoteny. While wild canids develop fear of strangers within weeks, LGDs stay open to forming social bonds for several months. This extended period allows for closer interaction with livestock and the development of lifelong bonds.

Lessons from Research on Predatory Patterns

Adolescent LGD Curly chasing stock at the AgriLife Center. Photo courtesy of Costanzo 2020

Coppinger’s studies showed how early experiences influence behavior. In one example, a Border Collie puppy raised directly with sheep struggled later as a working herding dog because it did not develop the sustained focus typical of its breed. This demonstrates how rearing environments during sensitive periods can change or suppress specific behavioral patterns.

Coppinger also noticed that some LGDs briefly show parts of the predatory chase sequence. If pups are removed or corrected quickly, however, this behavior usually disappears for good. This emphasizes the need for careful management during puppyhood to prevent unwanted predatory behaviors from becoming reinforced.

Finally, Coppinger highlighted that successful guardian breeds are those with inherently weak predatory sequences. In these dogs, behaviors like chasing that are not rewarded tend to disappear during development, making them dependable protectors instead of hunters.

Livestock guardian dogs are an ancient, specialized tool that continues to play a vital role in modern livestock farming. Their effectiveness relies not only on centuries of selective breeding but also on careful management during their early months. Proper bonding, socialization, and training ensure that LGDs become attentive, protective, and dependable guardians. When managed well, these dogs help reduce predation, enhance flock security, and strengthen the bond between livestock producers and their herds.

Adult Dogs and Bonding Project Update

Round 7 Pups

The pups did not do well with the pasture move we made in early November. Two of the pups (Duke and Dozer) decided to meet some of our adult LGDs in a neighboring pasture. The four dogs then found a fallen gate and traveled to Angelo State pastures to visit the LGDs they have. Luckily, we had some hunts during the month, which allowed frequent kennel visits of 4 to 5 days, which stopped the roaming and visits. We also moved the dogs back to their original pasture locations, which has helped prevent Duke and Dozer’s roaming behavior. Sometimes it may be best to leave things that are not broken alone!

The Duke and Dozers travels during one day in November when they decided to visit their neighbors! AgriLife photo courtesy of Costanzo, 2025.

The pups have been doing well now that they have settled back down in their old pasture locations. They are getting big and staying close to the cattle except when one of our other LGDs at the Center comes for a visit. This has caused the pups to hang out with those dogs a few times, but we are working through those issues and patching holes in the fences.

If you are in Dalham County, TX, Cimarron County, OK, or Union County, NM, and are interested in participating in this unique project, please contact me at [email protected].

 In closing

Do you have any feedback about this article, or would you like to propose topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops? Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 325-657-7311.

Are you seeking information on LGDs? Please visit our website, which features factsheets, global research on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

Follow us on our social media platforms and share them with your friends and family!

 Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: TAMUlivestockguarddog

Be sure to visit the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube under @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Texas A&M AgriLife provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

I decided to write a second part to the Christmas Guardian story this year. If you missed the last one, please go back to our December 2024 issue. So many of you reached out to me last year about the story that I decided to make it an annual article each December. I hope you enjoy Gus the LGD’s travels again this year. We continue our normal format and finish our two-part article on “What is a Livestock Guardian Dog” in our January issue! I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a great New Year’s!

The Christmas Guardian: Year Two

Snow once again blanketed the rolling hills of the Harris Ranch, covering the fences and cedar posts in a glittering coat of white. The wind carried the scent of hay and livestock, and in the distance, a deep, steady bark echoed through the crisp December air.

It was Gus.

Gus and his mentor Duke on the Harris Ranch protecting livestock. The AgriLife picture is courtesy of ChatGPT and Costanzo, 2025.

Now a year older, Gus had grown into a powerful, confident livestock guardian dog. His thick white coat rippled in the cold wind, and his deep bark carried authority. He was no longer the unsure pup of last winter; he was now the primary protector of the ranch.

Duke, his old mentor, watched proudly from his resting spot near the barn. The old Great Pyrenees had retired; his limp still slowed him down, but he kept a watchful eye on Gus and the pastures. “You’ve come a long way, kid,” Duke rumbled. “Just don’t let your guard down. Winter brings more than snow.”

Gus wagged his tail and gave a confident woof. “I’ve got it, Duke. You rest easy.”

The ranch had grown since last Christmas. The Harris family now raised not only cattle but also a flock of sheep and a small herd of goats. Gus took to them quickly, spending his nights under the stars, his white fur blending perfectly with the flock.

On Christmas Eve, the ranch was alive with lights and laughter. Mrs. Harris was baking pies again, and Mr. Harris was finishing chores in the barn, humming a Christmas tune. The children were excitedly hanging stockings by the fire. It looked like it was a peaceful holiday.

But out in the pastures, danger was stirring. The cold had driven coyotes and even a lone mountain lion closer to the ranch. Gus had been hearing strange cries for two nights in a row and had been on edge. That evening, as snow began to fall thick and fast, Gus caught a scent that made his fur bristle.

He lifted his head, ears sharp. Something was near the goat pen.

Without hesitation, Gus bolted across the snowy field. The sheep huddled close together, nervous but trusting their guardian. As Gus neared the pen, he saw movement, two coyotes creeping low under the fence while the mountain lion circled above the ridge, waiting for the right moment to pounce.

Gus let out a thunderous bark that shattered the silence. The coyotes froze, eyes glowing in the dark. The mountain lion snarled, startled by the bold sound. Gus charged forward, his deep bark echoing through the valley. He positioned himself between the flock and the predators, his stance unflinching.

From the barn, Duke heard the noise and hobbled to the door. He barked deeply, adding his voice to the fight. “Hold your ground, Gus! Make them think you’re bigger than the mountain itself!”

Gus barked again and again, refusing to back down. The coyotes yipped and scattered into the snow, while the mountain lion hesitated, then turned and vanished into the darkness.

Moments later, Mr. Harris came running with a rifle and a flashlight. “Gus! What’s happening?” he called, scanning the snow. When he saw Gus standing tall, the sheep and goats safely behind him, relief covered his face.

“You did it again, boy,” he said, kneeling to rub Gus’s thick neck. “You saved Christmas for all of us.”

Back at the barn, Duke greeted Gus with a proud wag of his tail. “I told you, you were ready,” he said with a warm, rumbling chuckle. Gus leaned against him, tired but happy.

When morning came, the ranch sparkled in the sunlight. The livestock grazed calmly, and the Harris family gathered around Gus and Duke with extra treats and warm praise. Mrs. Harris even slipped a bow around Gus’s neck, laughing. “Our Christmas hero, two years running.”

That night, as the fire crackled and snowflakes danced outside, Gus lay beside Duke near the hearth. Duke’s head rested on his paws, his eyes half closed. “You’ve got it from here, kid,” he murmured.

Gus gave a soft bark and looked toward the window, where the stars glowed over the peaceful ranch he’d sworn to protect. Christmas was safe again, and as long as he stood guard, it always would be.

In the distance, the faint words of “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” could be heard. Until next year, Merry Christmas, everyone!

In closing

Do you have any feedback about this article, or would you like to propose topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops? Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 325-657-7311.

Are you seeking information on LGDs? Please visit our website, which features factsheets, global research on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

Follow us on our social media platforms and share them with your friends and family!

 Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Be sure to visit the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube under @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Texas A&M AgriLife provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.