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

The weather is getting cooler, and fall is upon us. Now is the time to ensure your LGDs are in proper body condition. If they have lost their condition from the summer heat, add more fat and protein to their diet. Changing feeds or adding extra calories through supplements can help increase your dog’s BCS in time for spring lambing and kidding. Your LGD should have a body condition score of 4.5 to 5 by the spring season.

 AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Please mark your calendars for our next online seminar on Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. CST. We are thrilled to have Mark Taylor from Prescribed Hunts present a workshop on using LGDs on ranches with hunting leases. Mark has unique ways of working around LGDs in pastures at the AgriLife Sonora Station that hunters use during deer season. This enlightening event is an excellent opportunity for all LGD enthusiasts. To secure your spot, watch the events page on our website. The workshop will be hosted on Zoom, ensuring easy access for all. As always, it is free!

The Texas LGD Association will host a field day in Lampasas, TX, on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Lampasas County Livestock Showbarn. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Several different workshops, a breeder panel, vendors, and an association meeting will be held. A ranch tour is also being planned for the event. Check out the Texas LGD Association Facebook page for more information.

 Roaming Research

I had a couple of producers email in comments and questions regarding last month’s blog post about my thesis project and the results on roaming that I have found to date. Based on our bonding project, roaming is reduced in adult dogs that have had the treatment of hot wire in the bonding pens. We expose the dogs to hot wire from the first day they are placed in the bonding pens at 8 weeks old. They remain in a fenced pen with hot wire at the base until they are 6 months old. The first four rounds of dogs were then placed into pastures without hot wire until 10 months of age. They were tracked for roaming patterns at the Center and on cooperating producers’ ranches until eighteen months of age.

In round five of the project, we added invisible fence training to the hot wire treatment group for the pups from 6 to 10 months of age. Initial results are encouraging. None of the pups left their pastures at the cooperating producers’ ranches a single time from 10 to 18 months of age. This had not been seen in the previous four rounds. In round six of the project, we used hot wire in all bonding pens and included treatments for invisible fence training after the pups left the bonding pens. We will continue using this protocol and bonding pups as singles vs pairs.

The research articles I am reviewing for my thesis were conducted in various countries. Six of the articles were based in the U.S., and seven of the 19 articles are from research conducted in Australia. The types of livestock included in the research on LGDs included sheep, goats, cattle, and poultry. Nineteen studies tracked the movements of 302 dogs with an average age of 3.93 years. The Maremma breed was used in 47% of the studies, and 37% of the studies used Great Pyrenees. In most studies, various LGD breeds available in the geographic region were used to conduct the research projects.

Herders were used with 26% of the dogs in the studies. Sadly, most of the articles that tracked roaming did not use a herder, so I cannot determine whether a herder influences the roaming behavior of the dogs. While it seems likely that human presence would decrease roaming behavior, I cannot substantiate that based on the articles in the literature review. All LGDs in the studies reviewed worked with other LGDs in the same pasture or ranch property. None of the dogs worked entirely alone. Researchers could not track whether aggression between the LGDs caused any of them to roam. Again, it seems logical that if LGDs have dominance or resource-guarding issues, they may roam to find other livestock to protect, but I cannot prove that based on the data presented in the articles reviewed. Sixty-eight percent of the studies had more male dogs on the ranches than female dogs. This could be because male dogs are perceived to be more aggressive towards threats to their territories. However, we have not seen that to be true in the bonding project dogs. In addition, none of the research I have read has shown a difference in the guarding abilities of males vs. females or fixed vs. intact dogs. It was impossible to determine if any breed was more apt to roam as the roaming data was not calculated by the breed of dogs. Researchers looked at distances traveled and time of day compared to the location of the livestock in the studies. Most dogs did tend to roam more at night than during the day.

 Bonding Project Update

Round Six Dogs

The “L” Girls (Lilly, Lulu, and Lady) looking for treats and kibble in the Ranger one day. AgriLife picture courtesy of Sustaita, 2024

The “L” Girls have been feeling a little more adventurous lately and have been getting into mischief now that the weather is cooling down. They are used to riding in the Ranger to travel from the kennel back to the bonding pasture or for training to acclimate them to different vehicles. The pups in round six were fixed in late October and will be dropped off at cooperating producers’ ranches in  November. They will be tracked for roaming until the dogs are 18 months old. You can look for updates on the pups on our Facebook page.

In closing

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

If you have feedback on this article or would like to suggest topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops, please contact me at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7311.

If you are looking for information on LGDs, make sure to check out our website. It contains factsheets, research from around the world on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program is a cooperative effort by Texas A&M AgriLife and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board. Follow us on our social media sites and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Remember to check out the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube at @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Roaming is one of the most significant issues with LGDs, but there is very little published literature on this topic. Many research articles are available on the dogs’ movements about livestock or their general movements in a pasture, but not on roaming. Roaming is the random travel of LGDs outside their pasture boundaries away from livestock. The reason for their trip may be predators, but often, the dogs travel in a straight line as if they are headed to a particular location over many miles. The reason for LGD roaming is not known. Roaming differs from patrolling outside pasture boundaries, as patrolling follows a dog’s regular guarding pattern. Recently, as part of my master’s thesis, I started a literature review on roaming. Still, despite querying academic search engines with thousands of articles, I only found 19 explicitly related to roaming. However, even of these 19, only six articles tracked the roaming behavior of the dogs. None of those articles were specifically looking at the roaming patterns of the dogs or how to stop that behavior. Researchers classified roaming as being a specific distance from livestock. Distances varied amongst the researchers. Hopefully, our bonding project can solve some of those issues for producers. One thing I found interesting is that more male dogs were used than females. We hypothesize this is because many believe male dogs are more aggressive toward other canine threats.

I am currently analyzing the data for the round four pups, and by the end of 2025, I will have completed my thesis on this group of dogs. One interesting note in the articles is that researchers found dogs roaming more at night than during the day. I am not sure whether our dogs roam at a specific time of day, but according to producers, it is generally predator-related when they do. Hopefully, we will better understand roaming patterns once I finish analyzing all the data from round four.

 AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

We recently loaned Waylon to the ASU school farm in San Angelo. Angelo State runs a university research ranch right next to our location in

Waylon in a bonding pen at Angelo State University ranch. AgriLife picture courtesy of Sustaita, 2024

San Angelo, but they have been having many predator issues recently. Waylon will be on loan to them for the next 60 days to help determine whether it is worthwhile for their university to start running LGDs. A university farm’s unique management, high student traffic, and liability concerns present different challenges for integrating LGDs. Due to the success of integrating LGDs into the flocks at the TAMU campus in College Station, we believe this is the right decision for ASU as well, but we also recognize it is best for all parties to have a trial run just to make sure. Waylon is wearing the new Invisible Fence Brand collar we are evaluating to ensure he does not leave his pasture. We will keep you posted on the progress of the trial, but we are excited that this could eventually lead LGDs to play a more prominent role in college animal science labs and courses.

Please mark your calendars for our next online seminar on Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. CST. We are thrilled to have Mark Taylor from Prescribed Hunts present a workshop on using LGDs on ranches with hunting leases. Mark has unique ways of working around LGDs in pastures at the AgriLife Sonora Station that hunters use during deer season. This enlightening event is an excellent opportunity for all LGD enthusiasts. To secure your spot, watch the events page on our website. The workshop will be hosted on Zoom, ensuring easy access for all, and as always, it is free!

Bonding Project Update

Round Five Dogs

Mabel has been rebonding with some goats at the AgriLife Center for the last couple of weeks and will be going with them to the ranch in Menard this month. Hopefully, she will stay on the ranch and fit in well with Sara, who tends to be a more dominant dog. I expect Mabel to fit in as she seems more submissive. We will keep you posted on Mabel to see if she works out or if she is our first failed LGD from the bonding project.

Round Six Dogs

The newest version of the Invisible Fence Brand GPS-based collar. AgriLife picture courtesy of Invisible Fence Brand company, 2024

The pups are all doing well. Despite our hopes otherwise, SpotOn Fence has suspended its pursuit of developing long-life battery collars, but we appreciate their efforts in exploring this option. Issues with the sample units not charging, as well as we hoped, have proven difficult to overcome in our trials. Fortunately, we have received four new collars from SpotOn, which will have updated software this month that should allow two to three days of battery life out of the collars. The new collars we received from Invisible Fence have been working exceptionally well, but we still prefer the replaceable battery design of the original units. This previous design was more convenient than the current process, which requires removing the entire collar for recharging. While swapping the collars each time we need to charge isn’t as ideal, we couldn’t be happier with the collar’s performance while on the dogs. The puppies will be ready to go to cooperating producers in early November.

In closing

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

If you have feedback on this article or would like to suggest topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops, please contact me at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7311.

If you are looking for information on LGDs, make sure to check out our website. It contains factsheets, research from around the world on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program is a cooperative effort by Texas A&M AgriLife and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board. Follow us on our social media sites and share them with your friends and family! 

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Remember to check out the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube at @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Brutus in a bonding pen with training pups. AgriLife picture courtesy of Costanzo, 2023.

Summer heat and high humidity can be a severe problem for LGDs, especially the long-haired breeds. Heat exhaustion (hyperthermia) and heat stroke can occur rapidly in LGDs and can even lead to death. I recently lost my lead male LGD Brutus to heat stroke on a not overly hot or humid day. Brutus was a 7 ½-year-old male Maremma x Akbash x Great Pyrenees. He had suffered heat exhaustion last summer. After that incident, we watched the heat index daily for any spikes. We also ensured he was well groomed and kept his belly and inner legs trimmed short so he had good contact with the cool soil. We ensured he had trees or other shade areas to lay under. On days with high heat and humidity, we brought him inside the mud room in front of a fan with plenty of cool water to drink. We kept him there until mid-evening when he was allowed to go back outside and guard his charges. This summer, we groomed him well and trimmed up his belly again. We watched for a heat index warning every morning this year, but he still could not manage the stress of even a mid-90-degree day with average humidity this summer. You will be missed, you “big old monster!”

Dogs with heat exhaustion are more susceptible to heat stroke. Once a dog has a heat stroke, it is at a higher risk of having a second one and dying. Signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke in dogs include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, dehydration, excessive drooling, fever, bright red, gray, purple, or bluish gums, lack of urine, rapid pulse, muscle tremors, lethargy or weakness, vomiting or diarrhea, and dizziness. For more information on heat stroke, check out this link.  As always, consult your local veterinarian for more information.

Ensure your LGDs hair coats are free of dirt and old hair to allow them to regulate body temperatures. Provide them with plenty of cool, fresh water and shade. Plastic pools for kids may allow the dogs to cool off as well. You can place frozen water jugs into the pools to help keep the water cool throughout the day so the dogs can lay in cool water. Prevention is the key to keeping your LGDs cool and alive during the summer heat!

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Please mark your calendars for our next online seminar on Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. CST. We are thrilled to have Dr. Julie Young from Utah State University, a renowned researcher in LGDs, share her extensive knowledge, research, and insights. This enlightening event is an excellent opportunity for all LGD enthusiasts. To secure your spot, watch the events page on our website. The workshop will be hosted on Zoom, ensuring easy access for all, and as always, it is free!

The 51^st Annual AgriLife Center Field Day, held on Aug. 16 from 8 a.m. to noon, was filled with informative sessions and engaging activities at the AgriLife Center in San Angelo. This was followed by the highly anticipated Texas Sheep and Goat Expo at the Spur Arena on Aug. 16 – 17. Several hundred people attended the Expo and field day.

Bonding Project Update

Round Five Dogs

Mabel was returned to us in mid-August by her cooperating producer. Mabel initially worked very well and stayed with her goats when she

Mabel waiting in the truck to return to the Center. AgriLife picture courtesy of Sustaita 2024

was placed on the ranch in the fall. After the producer sheared the goats, Mabel refused to leave the barn area. We tried several things to encourage her to reengage with her charges, but for some reason, she would only travel to get feed and then return to a barn area on the ranch. We checked with canine behaviorists and long-time breeders to determine the cause of Mabel not wanting to leave the barn area, but nothing we tried solved the problem. We will be taking Mabel to the ranch in Menard to evaluate her as a potential LGD and see how she interacts with another LGD who needs help guarding our meat goats. We will keep you posted on Mabel’s progress and if she eventually graduates or fails the program.

Round Six Dogs

Initial testing of the new Spot On collars on the “L Girls” (Lilly, Lulu and Lady) is progressing slower than anticipated. We have had issues with the prototype collars not charging or internal wires coming loose, affecting

“L Girls” hanging out in the pasture with their charges. AgriLife picture courtesy of Rogers, 2024.

the electrodes. The company is working to fix those as quickly as possible to continue the testing.

We will also get some other updated collars from SpotOn Fence, like the current versions with longer battery life. Invisible Fence Brand has also released an updated GPS collar that we just received. We will evaluate all of these invisible fence collars over the next few months. Continue to follow this blog and our social media pages for more updates on the collars and the pups.

In closing

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

If you have feedback on this article or would like to suggest topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops, please contact me at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7311.

If you are looking for information on LGDs, make sure to check out our website. It contains factsheets, research from around the world on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program is a cooperative effort by Texas A&M AgriLife and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board. Follow us on our social media sites and share them with your friends and family!

 Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Remember to check out the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube at @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

The summer heat and some moisture across the state have increased the number of flies in many locations. It is important to watch your LGDs for signs of a fly strike. We see it very often in short-haired LGD breeds, but it can also occur in long-haired LGDs. We use three products on our dogs that are susceptible to fly strikes. All three products from Farnam are commonly found in feed and farm stores. We use Swat ointment and a long-acting fly spray as preventative measures for dogs. If a dog has fly strike, we like to use Tri-Care ointment. Tri-Care ointment has a fly repellent, prevents infections, and relieves pain. Tri-Care is an excellent product for all minor wounds on dogs and livestock.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Please mark your calendars for our next online seminar on Sept.19 at 3 p.m. CST. We are thrilled to have Dr. Julie Young from Utah State University, a renowned researcher in LGDs, share her extensive knowledge, research, and insights. This enlightening event is an excellent opportunity for all LGD enthusiasts. To secure your spot, watch the events page on our website. The workshop will be hosted on Zoom, ensuring easy access for all, and as always, it is free!

Get ready for the 51^st Annual AgriLife Center Field Day, a day filled with informative sessions and engaging activities, to be held on Aug.16 from 8 a.m. – noonat the AgriLife Center in San Angelo. This will be followed by the highly anticipated Texas Sheep and Goat Expo at the Spur Arena on Aug. 16 – 17. As part of the Expo, we are hosting an LGD workshop on Aug. 16, a fantastic opportunity for producers to enhance their knowledge and skills in LGDs. Producers can register for the field day and Expo on the AgriLife Center – San Angelo’s events page. And do not forget that the Texas LGD Association will hold its annual in-person meeting immediately after the Expo ends on Aug.17 in the lobby of the Spur Arena.

If you are looking for information on LGDs, make sure to check out our website. It contains factsheets, research from around the world on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

Adding New LGDs to Your Pack

We frequently get questions about adding a new LGD to your current pack or group of dogs. This can be incredibly stressful and dangerous for the new dog. We recommend starting with a younger dog that has not reached adolescence, as they are more likely to be submissive to the established dog or pack and accepted by them without injury. Older mature dogs are more likely to fight as they have already established dominance in their previous setting. This situation can lead to injuries or death for new and established dogs on the ranch. It is vital to introduce new dogs slowly in a controlled setting.

Introducing a new dog should be a gradual and carefully managed process. We recommend that you follow these steps whether you have a young dog or an older dog you are trying to add. First, introduce them across the fence line with the new dog leashed for 15-20 minutes four to five times weekly. Then, place the new dog and the most dominant dog or dogs in the group into a secure pen. Have the current dogs tethered before bringing the new dog into the pen on a leash. This is especially important as it allows you to pull the dogs apart should they start to fight. Allow the dogs to socialize with each other for at least 15-20 minutes. Do this at least four to five times for the second week. Make sure to interact with all the dogs so that the current dogs learn that it is okay for the new dog to be there. Plenty of treats are helpful to have on hand during this entire process to reward good behavior. Always try to end the sessions on a positive note. Shorter, more frequent sessions are preferred over longer, less frequent ones.

Observing the dogs’ behavior and understanding their interactions is crucial as you progress through the weeks. This will help you identify any potential issues and address them early on. Excessive aggression at the stages or constant straying by a specific dog may mean one dog is being bullied, and joining these dogs may need to be abandoned. In the third week, allow the new dog into the pen without a leash with the same adult dominant dog or dogs tethered. Repeat this for 10-15 minutes for four to five days. During the fourth week, allow the tethered dog or dogs to be on a leash while the new dog is free. If you have multiple dogs, having another person there will be beneficial if a fight arises. In the fifth week, introduce feed in bowls to each dog in the group pen area. This is generally when aggression may occur if the dog has resource-guarding tendencies. You may need to work with one or more dogs for a week to get past this issue. It is sometimes difficult to overcome resource guarding in older dogs, and it may be easier to add another feeding station 50-60 feet away from the original feeding station so that the new dog can eat.

Pearl during tether testing. She did an excellent job and received a perfect score. AgriLife picture courtesy Costanzo 2024.

Bonding Project Update

Round Five Dogs

Six of the seven dogs graduated from round five of the bonding project. Mabel is the last dog that needs to be evaluated in August. The producer was on vacation for a couple of weeks in July, which postponed her final test until he returned. Since starting the project last fall, all producers are happy with their dogs and have seen a decrease in predation or no predation on their livestock. We will update you on Mabel and the other pups here and on our Facebook page.

Round Six Dogs

So far, the pups in round six are all doing well in their training pastures. The “Santa’s Reindeer” pups all wear Invisible Fence Brand collars to ensure they respect fence boundaries. The “L Girls” are wearing a new collar from SpotOn Fence that we are evaluating. The pups are frequently seen with their charges, which is a good sign that the bonding process went well.

Santa Reindeer pups still receive three days of socialization a week, as we often change the batteries in

Santa’s Reindeer pups resting in the shade with their charges. AgriLife picture courtesy Costanzo 2024.

their collars. The “L Girls” continue to get one day a week of socialization as the batteries in the SpotOn Fence collar are long-lasting. Moving forward, all pups will continue to receive hot wire training and some invisible fence collar training. The first five rounds of the bonding project have shown that pups bonded and raised in pens with hot wire roam or patrol outside pasture boundaries drastically less than pups bonded without hot wire in the pens. These pups will be looking for ranches to work on in late October or early November of this year. Please contact me at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu if you are interested in participating in this round of the bonding project.

Round Seven

Swift fox in a pasture. AgriLife picture courtesy USFWS Mountain Prairie 2024

In 2025, round seven of the bonding project will incorporate cattle. In round seven, we will bond four dogs in hot wire to cattle as part of a project to help restore Swift foxes in the Rita Blanca National Grasslands. We will look for pups 8 weeks old in late January and early February 2025. Please contact us if you plan to have a litter during that time. We are looking for breeds we have not tried to bond in previous years. Future rounds of the bonding project will include training for aerial threats, tethering, acclimation to deer/exotics, and training dogs to combat feral hogs.

In closing

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

If you have feedback on this article or would like to suggest topics for future articles, webinars, or workshops, please contact me at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7311. The Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program is a cooperative effort by Texas A&M AgriLife and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board. Follow us on our social media sites and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Remember to check out the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube at @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Johnny in 2022 with some of his goats in Menard. AgriLife picture courtesy of Costanzo 2022.

This blog has often emphasized the importance of tick control, particularly for controlling Ehrlichiosis, a bacterial disease, spreading farther north of I-10 every year. While we use regular flea/tick control products, it’s crucial to note that not all products control all ticks for the same length. I urge you to read all the product inserts and do your due diligence to inform yourself of what a product does and does not control for a specified period. We tragically lost Johnny from round two of the bonding project in 2020 (Male Legends of Country Music) last month to complications from the tick disease Ehrlichiosis. Even though Johnny was current on his tick control product last year, he still contracted the infection. Some strains of the disease attach to the spinal column and can cause the dogs to have difficulty walking. We discovered Johnny could not use his back legs on the morning of June 12th. We immediately took him to the vet. After a complete examination, our veterinarian determined that his prognosis for recovery was extraordinarily slim and recommended that we euthanize him as he was in pain.

Johnny, a beloved member of our LGD group, always had a silly smile. He was a friendly dog who hated feral hogs, a trait that endeared him to many. You may remember his multiple trips to the vet over the last few years from getting gored on his sides and shoulders. His last day on guard was 6-12-24.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Please mark your calendars for our next online seminar on September 19th at 3 pm CST. We’re thrilled to have Dr. Julie Young from Utah State University, a renowned expert in LGDs, share her extensive knowledge, research, and insights. This enlightening event is a golden opportunity for all LGD enthusiasts to learn about her research. To secure your spot, watch the events page on our website in late July. The workshop will be hosted on Zoom, ensuring easy access for all, and as always, it is free!

Get ready for the annual AgriLife Center Field Day, a day filled with informative sessions and engaging activities, to be held on Aug.16 at the Center in San Angelo. This will be followed by the highly anticipated Texas Sheep and Goat Expo at the Spur Arena on Aug. 16 – 17. As part of the Expo, we’re hosting an LGD workshop on Aug.16, a fantastic opportunity for producers to enhance their knowledge and skills.  Producers can register for the field day and expo on the AgriLife Center – San Angelo’s events page. And don’t forget; the Texas LGD Association will hold its annual in-person meeting after the Expo ends on August 17th in the lobby of the Spur Arena.

If you are looking for information on LGDs, make sure to check out our website. It contains factsheets, research from around the world on LGDs, and case studies we have conducted.

Bonding Project Update

Round Five Dogs

The “Old-Fashioned Gals,” “Gun Dogs,” and “Top Guns” dogs will all graduate from the bonding project this month. Except for Mabel, the producers are happy with how the dogs have turned out.  Mabel is not staying with the herd of goats the producer wanted her to guard.  She is not roaming off the ranch, but she is staying with a different group of animals and spending a lot of time near a barn and a set of corrals. The producer had the same issue with two previous dogs, which leads me to believe that something is drawing the dogs to this location for some reason. It’s not the ranch headquarters. No one frequents the area other than to feed a couple of horses. Mabel is not fed at the location and leaves to get fed at her feeding station on the other side of the hill. Livestock only come to the area to get water and then leave. We installed trackers on her and the livestock she is supposed to guard, but she is rarely with them. I’ve contacted a couple of canine behaviorists, but we can’t determine why the dogs continually return to this area.

Round Six Dogs

The pups have been out of their bonding pens since mid-June and are doing well. The “Santas Reindeer” and “L girls” pups were placed into

Picture of the four bonding pens, (red rectangles) and the two training pastures (blue polygons). AgriLife picture courtesy of Google Earth 2020.

training pastures of approximately 100 acres. Both sets of pups are wearing either the Invisible Fence Brand or the SpotOn Fence e-collars to continue teaching respect for fence boundaries. Both current systems have pros and cons to the units. The companies have taken our recommendations to develop new, more user-friendly systems for livestock guardian dogs. Check our Facebook page and this blog for more updates on the invisible fence systems used in the bonding project.

 In closing

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

If you have feedback on this article or would like to suggest topics for future articles, please contact me at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7311. The Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program is a cooperative effort by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board. Follow us on our social media sites and share them with your friends and family!

 Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Remember to check out the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube at @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

A friend recently shared a thought-provoking Facebook post with me, which I found deeply resonating with the spirit of LGDs. I shared it on our Facebook page in May, and I thought it would be fitting to include it in this month’s blog, as it beautifully captures the essence of these remarkable animals.

An LGD perched on a high spot overlooking his charges. AgriLife picture courtesy of Becky Wofford 2023.

“An LGD Never Retires” – author unknown.

At some point in time, the young LGD becomes the old LGD. He can’t run as fast anymore, if at all. His claws have been worn smooth, and his few teeth are no longer sharp. His joints ache, he is no longer slender and muscular, and his hearing and eyesight are no longer acute and keen. He has passed his watch over the flock to the younger pups he taught and raised. Occasionally, he passes some of his pups while he wanders amongst the flock; those pups who remember him present themselves with courtesy and respect. Other young pups ignore him, not knowing who he is or recognizing the scars he has earned from fighting predators over the years.

But, when the wolf arrives, the one thing that has not left the old LGD is his indomitable spirit; he still yearns for the fight with the wolf. The younger LGDs rush to protect the flock, and despite the wear of time and age, the older LGD runs in alongside them, a testament to his unwavering dedication.

There are times when the old LGD confronts the wolf alone by himself. The wolf appears, and the younger LGDs, for whatever reason, are not around – they can’t be everywhere at once. The wolf circles and snarls; he isn’t afraid of the old dog. Yet, it is still within the old LGD to rise up, take a stance, bare his teeth, and growl. He will still take on that wolf, for he still protects the flock and will, as he always has, to the end of his life if necessary. He does this because it is who he is, what he is, an LGD!

This unwavering determination is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the LGD that protects our livestock daily.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Our next online seminar, scheduled for Aug. 22, will feature Dr. Julie Young, who will share her extensive knowledge, research, and insights on LGDs. This enlightening event is a must-attend for all LGD enthusiasts. To register, please check the events page on our website in late July. The workshop will be hosted on Zoom, ensuring easy access for all, and as always, it is free!

The annual AgriLife Center Field Day will be held on Aug.16 at the Center in San Angelo, followed by the Texas Sheep and Goat Expo at the Spur Arena on Aug. 16 – 17. This year, an LGD workshop will be held during the Expo on Aug.16.  Producers can register for the field day and expo on the AgriLife Center – San Angelo’s events page. The Texas LGD Association will also hold its annual in-person meeting after the Expo ends on Aug. 17 in the lobby of the Spur Arena.

Bonding Project Update

Round Five Dogs

Pearl anxiously runs to greet us! AgriLife picture courtesy of Costanzo 2024.

I visited all the producers recently to check on the dogs and see how the pups are progressing. Pearl is doing much better and has stopped chasing the goats at her ranch. The Komondors seem to be maturing slightly slower than the other breeds we tested. I hope to try some more in the future to see if this is a breed tendency or just this line of pups. Mabel is doing well, but she often hangs out near a set of corrals and a barn where the producer has some horses.  We aren’t sure why she is doing this yet. No other animals are at the location, and no one but the producer comes by to feed the horses. The producer is concerned that she is not staying with her charges. We placed several GPS trackers on his goats to monitor Mabel and the goat’s locations.  I believe she is following them based on her past tracker data, but we will see for sure next month.

Viper waiting to go back to his charges after getting new batteries in his GPS tracker. AgriLife picture courtesy of Costanzo 2024.

Viper is doing great in Ft. Davis and has helped a fellow LGD learn to stay with the livestock and not hang out at the ranch headquarters.  Smith and Wesson have helped their producer in Sonora raise his largest number of kids since the ranch started.  Maverick and Goose have moved to the Texas A&M Sheep Unit and are adjusting well to their new homes. The invisible fence training for the Top Gun pups appears to have worked extremely well, with none of the dogs leaving their pastures since they left the Center.

Round Six Dogs

The pups will leave their bonding pens early this month and join the other pups and livestock in their training pastures. All pups will enter invisible fence systems this round when released from the bonding pens. We will test the Invisible Fence Brand and the Spot On Fence GPS-based containment systems.  All livestock and puppies will have GPS trackers placed on them to help determine if any pup prefers a specific livestock species and to monitor the pups for bad behaviors such as chasing.  We have activated the speed alerts on the tracker to help monitor the puppies for chasing behavior when we are not in the pastures.

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please don’t forget to subscribe to it with this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

If you have feedback on this article or would like to suggest topics for future articles, please contact me at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7311.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program is a cooperative effort by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board. Follow us on our social media sites and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Remember to check out the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube at @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

The 2^nd Annual Trapping Clinic hosted by the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board and TSGRA was held at the Williams Ranch in mid-April in Goldthwaite, TX. The three-day seminar was an excellent training event on how to trap and snare predators. Presentations on predator ID, drones, site selection, and types of traps were given, along with direct demonstrations by the instructors. Participants were encouraged to practice setting traps independently on the event’s second day. All the instructors at the event were well-versed in predator control, and most had 20 or more years of experience in trapping. Two of the presenters had over 40 years of experience! All of them were more than willing to share tips and tricks to set traps for various varmints and predators. I would strongly recommend attending the event next year if you need to brush up on your trapping skills or are a novice starting out.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Our next online seminar, scheduled for May 16th at 3 pm, promises to be an educational session. This time, we will delve into the world of the Anatolian Shepherd breed, a topic of great interest and relevance. The online seminar will be presented by Heidi Krol, a long-time preservation breeder from Stonecoat Farm, who will share her extensive knowledge and insights. To register for this enlightening event, please check the events page on our website in late April. The workshop will be hosted on Zoom, ensuring easy access for all, and as always, it is free!

Our annual LGD Field Day, a unique opportunity for LGD enthusiasts, was held on April 26 from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. at the AgriLife Center in San Angelo. The field day featured workshops on Canine Behavior, Canine Health, and Tech to Help Manage LGDs, providing a comprehensive understanding of these crucial aspects. The event also included a producer panel and a tour of the bonding facilities, offering participants an exclusive behind-the-scenes look. With LGD breeders and vendors on site, this was our sole in-person event until spring 2025, making it a must-attend for all LGD enthusiasts.

We want to thank the following sponsors for helping to make the field day a success:

Platinum

Nestle Purina                     Texas Sheep & Goat Predator Board

Gold

Capital Farm Credit          Diamond Pet Food           Invisible Fence Brand          Palmer Feed

Regal Oil Company

Silver

Angelo Pellets                   First State Bank of Paint Rock                     Lone Star Tracking

SpotOn Fence                   Texas Farm Bureau                                        Tractor Supply – San Angelo

Trans Texas Southwest Credit Union                                                     Twin Mountain Fence

West Texas Steel & Supply

This was the last field day for my student assistant, Katherine Saldana. She is graduating from Angelo State University this month and will

AgriLife Field Day 2024 workshop. AgriLife picture courtesy Costanzo, 2024

attend Texas A&M this fall to work on her master’s degree. Katherine has been an enormous help to me while she has been employed at the Center. She has often gone above and beyond her job duties to assist me or care for the dogs. I wish you the best of luck in your continued education and future career.

I would also like to welcome our new student assistant, Irene Sustaita, a first-year student at Angelo State University. Irene has taken over for Katherine and has quickly learned her duties of caring for and training the puppies in the bonding pens. She also helps with the adult dogs on all the ranches. Irene is also a sergeant in the Army National Guard.

Bonding Project Update

Round Five Dogs

All the dogs in Round Five are still doing well. Maverick and Goose will not be going to the Stephenville Center after all. They will go to the Texas A&M University Sheep Unit in College Station later in May. The sheep unit has had some issues with predation, and the pups will be a perfect fit for the operation there on campus. Check out our Facebook page for more information on all the pups in this round.

Round Six Dogs

Lamb with a chewed ear from adolescent LGD puppies. AgriLife picture courtesy producer, 2023

The pups are doing well. We have separated them from some of the ewes and nannies, as they are starting to lamb and kid. We are having issues with the Karakachan pups chewing on their ears if we do not remove the lambs and kids quickly enough from the bonding pen area. We started all the pups a little later than originally planned, and the bonding animals were bred a little earlier than we wanted last year. Supervising your young pups as often as possible is important to minimize issues with young lambs or kids. Chasing behavior leads to other rough play, such as biting and chewing, which can lead to deaths or severe injuries of young livestock. If you have an issue with rough play, you may need to add more mature females or males to the mix.  Mature rams and billies will not tolerate puppies chewing on them or chasing them. Placing adolescent pups in a pen with several mature males for two to three weeks trains dogs to be submissive to livestock. Producers can also try things like dangle sticks and drags to slow pups down and allow young stock to get away from them.

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please don’t forget to subscribe to it with this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

If you have feedback on this article or would like to suggest topics for future articles, please contact me at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7311.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program is a cooperative effort by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board. Follow us on our social media sites and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Remember to check out the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube at @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

Spring flowers in a pasture in Independence TX. AgriLife picture courtesy Costanzo, 2024

Rainy days in February and March have led to spring flowers across pastures and roadsides in Texas. It’s the prettiest time of the year in the Lone Star State. Spring lambing and kidding are underway, and predators are on the prowl. Ensure you adequately feed your LGDs during this time, as they burn many calories, protecting lambs and kids from predators. Afterbirth and dead newborns are not adequate nutrition for your LGDs during this season.  Purchase a good quality kibble with animal protein as the first ingredient.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Our next event will be our annual LGD Field Day on April 26^. from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. at the AgriLife Center in San Angelo.  In 2024, we will be moving to only one field day hosted by the LGD program, which will be held at the Center in San Angelo. This should allow us to provide a better variety of speakers and a set month and location that ranchers can plan for each year. The field day will include workshops on Canine Behavior, Canine Health, and Tech to Help Manage LGDs. The event will include a producer panel and a tour of the bonding facilities.  LGD breeders and vendors will also be on site. You can register for the field day on the AgriLife events page.  We also work closely with county extension agents to provide LGD presentations and updates at their local county meetings.

Our next webinar will be on May 16^th at 3 pm.  The webinar will cover the Anatolian Shepherd breed by long-time preservation breeder Heidi Krol from Stonecoat Farm STONECOAT FARM.  To register for the event, check the events page on our website in late April. The workshop will be hosted on Zoom and free as always!

LGD First Aid Kit

An extensive LGD first aid kit is essential for all producers using LGDs on their ranches. I have attached a link to our list, which is a good

Tool bag for an LGD first aid kit. AgriLife picture courtesy Costanzo, 2024

starting place for producers acquiring their first LGD or those assembling a kit. We have found that a large canvas tool bag from a hardware store works well to keep some supplies in trucks should workers encounter a dog in the field that needs immediate attention.  An extra collar and leash should always be in your kit if you need to restrain your LGD while applying medication or attempting to load them in the truck.

Bonding Project Update

Round Five Dogs

Belle in the kennel after having two toes amputated. AgriLife picture courtesy Saldana, 2024

Overall, the dogs from Round Five are all doing well. Maverick and Goose are still waiting with the AgriLife Cedar Eating (ACE) goats at the Center in San Angelo.  The Stephenville Center has been having difficulty getting all the paperwork approved to have goats and dogs on their new research ranch. Smith and Wesson are doing well in Sonora and Viper in Ft. Davis.  Pearl is giving her producer some challenges on and off with chasing young goats.  He placed a dangle stick back on her.

We had an accident with Belle last month.  While being rebonded to some new livestock on a producer’s ranch, she decided to jump or climb out of the bonding pen to go with Mabel and her charges.  Belle caught her right rear foot in the fence and hung from it for several hours. Luckily, the producer had a neighbor checking on things while he was on vacation for a few days.  The neighbor quickly cut her down, but the damage was already done.  Our vet was able to save her foot but had to amputate two toes on the injured paw. She had her two middle toes amputated from her right rear foot. She’s doing well at the kennel in San Angelo, and our vet feels she will fully recover and be able to return to guarding livestock in Comstock soon.

Round Six Dogs

The puppies are all doing well in the current round.  They were released from the 60’ x 60’ bonding pens

Lady getting in trouble for trying to get the Pup-Peroni treat bag. AgriLife picture courtesy Costanzo, 2024

into the one-acre pens last month.  The Santa’s Reindeer pups (Anatolian Shepherds) are getting three days a week of socialization, and the “L” Girls (Karakachans) are getting one day a week of socialization.  You wouldn’t know that when you go out to check on them, as the Karakachan pups are very friendly and come running up to you.  Lulu and Lady are a little more friendly than Lilly, which is typical since they are pair-bonded. The pair-bonded pups always seem more friendly than the single-bonded pups in the project. We believe it’s because they have a partner to play with, and the single pup must bond to the livestock for companionship.

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please don’t forget to subscribe to it with this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

If you have feedback on this article or would like to suggest topics for future articles, please contact me at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7311.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program is a cooperative effort by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board. Follow us on our social media sites and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Remember to check out the Texas LGD Association online! You can follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube at @TexasLGDAssociation or visit its website.

A rain gauge in Washington County mid-February 2024. AgriLife picture courtesy Costanzo, 2024

Rain has been falling regularly across the state’s eastern side, which is a welcome sight for ranchers. We received over 5 inches of rain in one day, which caused a lot of flooding and mud to deal with afterward. This is a good problem to have for thirsty pastures. I hope that these rain events will occur in all regions of the state.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Our next event will be our annual LGD Field Day on April 26^. from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the AgriLife Center in San Angelo.  In 2024, we will be moving to only one field day hosted by the LGD program, which will be held at the Center in San Angelo.  This should allow us to provide a better variety of speakers and a set month and location that ranchers can plan for each year.  You can register for the field day on the AgriLife Events page.  We also work closely with county extension agents to provide LGD presentations and updates at their local county meetings.

AgriLife bonding pens in San Angelo. AgriLife picture courtesy Costanzo, 2019

LGD Bonding Procedures

We often get asked how we bond livestock guardian dog puppies and how the pens are designed. Ranchers do not have to have pens designed like ours, but square footage is essential to allow pups to burn off playful energy without hurting livestock. Single-bonded pups in hot wire pens have roamed the least as adults, followed by pair-bonded pups in hot wire pens during the bonding project. Here is a list of steps we follow for each round of pups.

1. Acquire a well-bred 8-week-old pup from a reputable breeder that meets the ranch’s needs.
2. Place the pup immediately into a bonding pen with a hot wire and 4-6 head of livestock. Our pens are approximately 60’ x 60’ in size. Yearling animals work best for the first month, then replace them with fully mature ewes/nannies.
3. Ensure the puppy has a safe area to retreat into if bullied. Bullied pups will become aggressive towards livestock. They should have feed but no water in the safe space. A panel across the pen corner works well or use a feeding station the livestock cannot enter to train the pup to use it with a self-feeder.
4. Make sure to fully vaccinate, deworm, ID chip, and provide flea and tick medication regularly as recommended by a veterinarian.
5. Socialize, leash train, tether train, and provide truck rides three to four times a week for approximately 15 minutes until the pups are six months old. Dogs at six months old should be able to walk on a leash for five minutes straight and remain calmly tethered for at least 20 minutes.
6. Keep pups in this 60’ x 60’ area for one month.
7. Next, move the pup and livestock to a one-acre pen with hot wire. Add a few more head for the pup to guard during this time. Continue
   

   Goose is receiving tether training one day. AgriLife picture courtesy Saldana, 2023

   the training listed in number four. Ranchers licensed to use M44s may train pups during this time.

8. Keep the puppy in the one-acre pen with livestock until they are six months old. Remember to rotate livestock out every three to four weeks so the puppy bonds to a species and not a set group of animals.
9. Next, move puppies and livestock to a small trap of 25-50 acres until they are 10 months of age. Add more livestock of different ages, or use rams/billies in this trap. If observed, try correcting rough play or chasing with a dangle stick or drag. Invisible fence collars may be needed to continue teaching fence respect.
10. Spay and neuter all pups at 10 to 11 months to prevent roaming and unwanted pregnancies. Producers should continue to monitor rough play and other teenage behaviors.
11. Next, move pups into a small pasture with closely monitored animals until the dogs are 18-24 months of age. Ranchers should continue to monitor for rough play and other teenage behaviors. Invisible fence collars may be needed to continue teaching fence respect. Shock collars may be needed if teenage behaviors have not stopped with other correction methods.
12. Dogs are adults at 24 months of age. Dogs that are not working correctly at this time are failures and should become pets. Until they are adults, a producer cannot know if the dog will turn into a good LGD!

We hope this list helps everyone better understand how we bond and train the puppies in our project.  Feel free to reach out via email at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu with any questions or comments.

Bonding Project Update

Round Five Dogs

The pups in round five are all doing well.  Belle has been doing well at her new ranch with mature Angora goats.  All the pups were scored for socialization last month.  Overall, everyone scored well.  We have seen some scores drop at the 12-month mark in the past and then rise again at 18 months of age.  We will have to wait and see how this round turns out.  A couple of the dogs have been patrolling outside their boundaries, short distances, but they have always returned to their livestock.  Some of these alerts could be tracker drift, as we have seen stationary trackers drift over 35 feet in the past. During these alerts, we are working with producers to verify whether the dogs have left the pastures.

Round Six Dogs

Lulu and Lady in the bonding pen with their stock. AgriLife picture courtesy Saldana, 2024

We received all six puppies last month for the next round of the bonding project.  Three puppies are purebred Anatolian Shepherds, and the other three are Karakachans.  The Anatolian puppies will be Santa’s Reindeer pups (Dasher, Comet, and Blitzen).  The Karakachan pups will be the “L” Girls (Lilly, Lulu, and Lady).  The puppies will all continue to be single, or pair bonded with all pups in hot wire pens for this round.  We will look at the dogs’ socialization levels during this round.  The Santa’s Reindeer pups will be socialized thrice weekly, while the “L” Girls will only be socialized once weekly.  This will be the only round to have these criteria.

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please don’t forget to subscribe to it with this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, please contact me at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7311.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program is a cooperative effort by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board. Follow us on our social media sites and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Do not forget to check out the Texas LGD Association online! Follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube at @TexasLGDAssociation, or check out their website.

Winter has arrived in Texas! Severe freezing weather and rain hit parts of the state last month, closing businesses and schools. More wet, wintry weather is expected this month. It is essential to make sure you are prepared for the weather and have shelter ready should you need it for your LGDs. All purebred LGD breeds have a double hair coat, and the long-haired dogs can withstand extreme temperatures. However, if your dogs are wet from heavy rains and exposed to below-freezing temperatures along with strong wind, the windchill can cause rapid hypothermia.

Your livestock and LGDs should have plenty of dry bedding and shelter from the wind to prevent a disaster from occurring if this situation occurs in your area. Make sure also to have an emergency kit for your dog should an emergency occur.  We have a first-aid guide on our website that may be helpful. We keep most of it in an inexpensive tool bag. As always, check with your veterinarian beforehand to see what items are appropriate for an emergency kit.

AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program: Update and Events

Maremma LGD. AgriLife picture courtesy of Maremma Sheepdog Association of America, 2023

Our next online seminar will be on Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. The online workshop will be on the Maremma Breed and will be presented by long-time breeder Sarah Letts, owner of Sky Island Farm LLC in California. Letts is a past board president of the Maremma Sheep Dog Club of America and will discuss the distinct types of Maremma dogs and their characteristics in the online seminar. Check out the events page on our Facebook page for more information and to register for the event. You can also register for the online workshop on our website.

The Texas LGD Association (TLGDA) has added a Facebook Group Page so that producers can access help and information directly from the membership. Members can also post advertisements for pups and dogs directly instead of first submitting the information to board members. The group page is currently open to anyone interested in LGDs but will become a member-only resource in the future. The TLGDA website will soon be set up for member-only access. If you have not joined the association, now is the time to ensure you can access breeders and resources from the organization on Facebook, YouTube, and the website!

LGDs and Roaming – Part II

Devices to Control Roaming

LGD owners can use various methods to prevent their dogs from wandering off. One option is a dangle stick, which consists of a lightweight

LGD wearing a dangle stick. AgriLife picture courtesy producer, 2020.

wooden or metal pipe attached to a collar with a swivel and chain. When the dog runs, the stick bangs against its chest or legs, causing discomfort and making it difficult for the animal to move quickly. Another option is drags, which involve attaching a chain to a tire or log to slow the dog down. Portions of snowmobile tread and 55-gallon plastic chemical barrel sections also work well as drags for LGDs.

Other effective methods to control roaming include hotwire and invisible fencing. The multi-year AgriLife Bonding Project has assessed dogs bonded in hot wire pens vs. those bonded without hot wire pens. The study has shown that dogs bonded in hot wire pens as puppies roam less as adults than dogs not bonded in hot wire. We have evaluated two invisible fence systems and found that they work well to correct roaming behavior and change the dogs’ behavior for months. However, the battery life of both systems needs to be improved for large producers to use this technology.

Tethering can be a helpful corrective measure for roaming. Tethering should be done under the direct supervision of the handler to avoid injury or death. Tethering should only be used on adolescent dogs for short training periods and not to stop an adult dog from roaming. Laws in many states now regulate the tethering of dogs. Texas does provide an exemption to its tethering law for dogs used for agricultural purposes.

Kenneling dogs is another method that producers can use to correct roaming and other harmful behaviors in LGDs. Placing an LGD in a kennel with minimal human or livestock contact for three to four days may help correct unwanted behaviors. It is important to increase the kennel time by one day each time injurious behavior is noticed in the dog.

One of the most significant challenges of employing LGDs to safeguard livestock is their tendency to roam. To mitigate the issue, herders can be utilized, and roaming LGDs should not be bred and culled from the pack. Still, it is worth noting that certain types of LGDs are more prone to wander than others. Livestock producers should conduct thorough research on LGD breeds before acquiring a dog for their operation to reduce the likelihood of roaming.

Bonding Project Update

Round Five Dogs

Pearl is waiting to give us a muddy, wet greeting at the gate. AgriLife picture courtesy Costanzo, 2024

Overall, the puppies from this round are all doing great. We visited all the cooperating producers at the beginning of January and spoke with them about any concerns or issues with the pups. Belle was removed from her ranch in Uvalde and returned to the Center. She was rough playing with kid goats, and measures suggested to the producer to stop the rough play were not working. Belle will be placed with a producer in Comstock that has a large herd of mutton Angoras. Hopefully, once Belle fully matures at 18-20 months of age, she will be safe to place with young animals.

Maverick and Goose are still spending time together at the Center for several more weeks. They are bonding with the AgriLife Cedar Eating (ACE) goats that will be transferred to the Stephenville AgriLife Center in February.

Round Six Dogs

Puppies for round six will arrive in early February. We were lucky to get two sets of purebred dogs for this

Dasher is one of the Anatolian Shepherd pups in round six. AgriLife picture courtesy Dr. Gracia, 2024

round. We are purchasing three purebred Karakachan female pups and three Anatolian Shepherds for this project. This will be the final round of our research criteria that we started using in 2019. We will bond dogs to cattle in 2025 for a project to help protect swift foxes in the Rita Blanca National Grasslands. After that, we will continue bonding pups with sheep and goats. We will potentially acclimate LGDs to deer in 2026.

In closing

If you enjoyed this monthly LGD blog, please don’t forget to subscribe to it with this link: The Guardian Way | Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, please contact me at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7311.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog Program is a cooperative effort by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board. Follow us on our social media sites and share them with your friends and family!

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube: @TAMUlivestockguarddog

Do not forget to check out the Texas LGD Association online! Follow the organization on Facebook or YouTube at @TexasLGDAssociation, or check out the