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

Feeding Systems for LGDs:

One of the most common questions that producers with LGDs have is about is feeding their dog/s.  Most owners choose to use self-feeders for convenience.  There are several options available in a range of prices with and without automation.  Using a self-feeder will keep you from being locked into a specific time to feed the dogs.  It also means there is always free choice food available to the dogs, so they’re never away from the herd looking for food.  They seem to stay quite healthy choosing when and how much to eat without our interference.

We have found that a self-feeder that holds 25-50 pounds works well.  You’ll need one with a capacity that will hold enough to feed your dog/s for as long as possible without spoiling or becoming infested with insects. Daily consumption, heat, humidity, and insect activity in your area are the major issues affecting the amount of food you can effectively store in the feeder and still provide quality dog food.  Relatively cheap human-safe insect pest strips are available that can be safely used to keep them away.  Placing the legs of the feeder in containers of thin oil will also keep crawling pests away. We made some improvements to our self-feeders such as extra rivets, handles, locks and hooks to secure them to our feeding stations.  I also use fender washers so that it’s harder for the handles and hooks to pull out from the thin metal as seen in the pictures.     

A self-feeder alone may not be the complete answer.  You need to allow your dog’s access to the feeder while denying access to the sheep/goats.  The method is quite simple: surround the feeder with a sturdy fence, cut a hole in the fence too high and too small for a lamb/goat to jump through, but placed just right for your dog.  However, scavengers, such as raccoons, skunks, and various birds, will be attracted to self-feeding stations and careful consideration should be taken to limit their ability to access the feeder.  In a game camera study done at the Martin Ranch in 2017, hogs used the feeding station 58% of the time, LGD 20% of the time and raccoons 14% of the time.  By changing our feeding station design we have been able to decrease feed costs along with repair costs to our feeders.

I have included a picture of the feeding station we use with a gate, along with three other ideas that producers in our area use.  If they keep livestock out, they are a good design!

You can also place hog panels, cattle panels and/or utility panels around the feeder and cut a hole in the panel about 30-32 inches off the ground with the hole being 12-14 inches square or round depending on the dog’s size.  Some producers have found that a horizontally placed, rectangular hole works better.  You can also use a small gate or something else if the dogs can get in and the sheep or goats can’t, it will work.  Make sure any sharp edges or points are smoothed off to protect the dogs when they go through because it can be a tight fit for them.  Pictured is a simple wood jump panel made from 2×6 boards and bolts we use on some feeding stations at the AgriLife Center.  The spacing can be changed to fit your dogs size.  Make sure to keep the opening high enough and small enough so that livestock can’t enter the feeder.

To teach the dogs to use a feeding station, place them in the enclosure, show them the food and then lock them in.  They can almost always figure out how to get back out. You need to check though-  just in case they can’t. You may have to do this a few times before they figure out the system.  Make sure to check your feeding station on a regular basis.  You should have enough feed in the feeder to supply your dogs with enough kibble until you can return.  Its best to have more than needed just in case you can’t make it back to check in time!  You may also want to place a game camera on your feeding station to monitor whats eating your dog food besides your LGD.

 LGD Puppy Bonding Project

The pups are all still doing well.  The Stooges continue to stay in their pasture and have not left yet.  They have not crossed a gate opening yet either.  The bond between the dogs seems to be changing. Moe is separating from Larry and going with Curly now, but he is still the leader of the three.  The Stooges seem to have formed a stronger bond to their Angora and Meat goat charges than their sheep pen mates for some reason.  They are also getting more aggressive to threats each week.

Thor developed a heat rash around his neck from the tracker collar and had a puncture wound to a front paw a few weeks ago.  Both issues required medication from the vet’s office.  Luckily for me, but unfortunately for Thor they happened at the same time, so an extra visit wasn’t required.  Both injuries have healed up well and he is doing fine.  Goliath continues to stay with the stock while Thor and Hulk like to go on adventures to other pastures at the Center.  They return on their own to their charges most of the time after an hour or two.  Twice I had to return them to their pasture when they roamed too far. They seemed lost when I found them each time.  There hasn’t been a pattern develop so I’m not sure if they are chasing varmints/predators or wandering out of curiosity.

Breed Spotlight – Maremma

  Larry, Moe & Curly, three of the pups in the current bonding project at the AgriLife Center in San Angelo, are purebred Maremma.  I thought it would be helpful to everyone out there that is following the pups progress to have some background information on this breed also.

The Pastore Maremmano Abruzzese, or Maremma Sheepdog, originated in Italy where it has been used for many centuries as a flock guardian for sheep and goats in the plains and mountains.  It was first imported into the United States for this purpose in the early 1970’s.  The Maremma Sheepdog is derived from the ancient shepherd dogs used in the Maremma and Abruzzes regions of Italy.  At one time the dogs from these two regions were considered two different breeds, but since about 1860 they have been crossed to the point that they are now recognized as one breed.  Maremma is an American version of the Italian name “Maremmano-Abruzzese”.  It is pronounced: ‘Mare’ as it is pronounced for a female horse, and ‘Emma’ as it is pronounced for a girl’s name.

The Maremma Sheepdog is a big, strongly built dog.  They are heavily built, and slightly longer than tall in proportion.  Their head is large, flat and conical in shape, resembling a bear.  The chest is deep and well rounded. The ribs are long and well sprung with a level topline. The loin is long and very broad with little tuck up.  The dog’s range in weight from 77 to 100 pounds for males and 66 to 88 pounds for females.  The Maremmas are very protective of their charges and human masters.  They will not allow anyone that they feel is a threat to harm either of them.  I can speak to this with experience as I have a LGD that is half Maremma.  He will put himself between anyone in my family and a new person.  He will push you until you move away.  He is also protective of our livestock with new people or predators.

Their coat is somewhat long, harsh, straight, and held close to the body.  A slight wave is sometimes seen. The hair forms a collar around the neck, and limited fringing on the back of the thighs. The hair is short on the face, ears and front of the legs.   Body hair may be up to three inches in length. The undercoat is seasonal and sheds twice a year.  They can tolerate extremely cold temperatures.  Their skin is tight and thick, with black pigmentation of the mucous membranes, as well as, the third eyelids and toe pads.  Their color is generally solid white. However, shades of pale ivory, orange or lemon are tolerated but not to extremes.  https://www.ukcdogs.com/maremma-sheepdog and http://www.maremmaclub.com/maremma-faq.html

Health Checks

A good LGD can cost approximately $1,700 its first year and takes a lot of time to train properly.  If you expect your LGD to properly protect your livestock, you need to make sure they are always healthy.  Performing regular health checks on your LGDs will protect your investment in the dog and your lamb/kid crop.  Having a well socialized and catchable dog makes this process much easier.

You should visually see you dog at least 3-4 times a week.  The visual check should be close enough to see if the dog is limping or injured in any other way.  A weekly hands-on check is important to catch any injuries before they get serious.  Make sure to check your dog’s eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, paws/pads and coat/skin for any injuries.  Monthly health checks should include the weekly items in addition to checking their nails for overgrowth, body condition scoring and administration of flea and tick medication.  Semiannual health checks should include the pervious items, as well as, administration of vaccines and dewormers.  You may also need to shear your LGDs legs, belly, tail and chest.  Completely shearing your LGDs body should be used with caution, as they can get a sunburn or lack the ability to regulate their body temperature.

Breeder Profile  

In this new section of the Guardian Way, I will be spot lighting a LGD breeder that is effectively using LGDs in their operation.  This month’s LGD breeder and rancher is Kristal Spenrath of Goldthwaite, Texas.

Q: Describe your operation/ranch.

1. How many LGDs do you currently have?
2. Explain your LGD program.

A: Together with my husband, Glenn, we raise fine wool sheep, Angora goats and beef cattle.  The mohair and wool we raise goes into our Krazy Goat Socks.  We have several pastures that we rotate the livestock through in order to best use the forage we have available.

We have 10 dogs right now.  My dogs are divided up between the goats and sheep mostly.  I have two Kangal Dogs with the cows in order to keep the buzzards away.  We have been using Invisible Fence Brand fencing for 5 years now and this has been a life saver for us.  Keeping the dogs on our property and safe from accidents has been well worth the expense.  We can use the Invisible Fence to keep dogs in specific pastures with specific groups of animals.  The way we use the Invisible Fence also allows us to safely snare our perimeter fence lines to control predators.  This past year we snared 14 coyotes and 30 hogs.  We use mostly neutered dogs because they are easier to manage.  We use a few intact dogs that are a part of our purebred, registered breeding program.

However we have some Kangal Dogs also.

Q: Do you have an LGD mentor?

A: I would have to say that Tamara Taylor of Era, Texas has been a very important LGD mentor for me.  She has been using LGDs since 1985 and she has been using purebred dogs the entire time.  She is a great advocate for the Akbash Dogs and Kangal Dogs.  She has a great understanding about genetics, bloodlines, physical conformation and what it takes to be a successful and ethical breeder.  My Dad, James Stotts, is also a great source of information as well.  Even though we both use Akbash Dogs, he utilizes his dogs in a little bit different way and I enjoy hearing his perspective.

Q: What’s the one thing you wish you knew before starting to breed LGDs?

A: The one thing that I wish I had known before I started breeding LGDs would have to be a better understanding of how physical conformation effects the health and longevity of the breed.  Large breed dogs tend to have joint issues, but I think it’s due in part to breeders not having a good understanding of how conformation effects longevity.   Conformation is heritable.  Straight hind legs, bad elbows and an undershot bite are all passed on to the offspring.  A dog with a blown ACL is in just as much pain as a dog with Hip Dysplasia.  Dogs with back legs that are too straight or dogs with elbows that turn out too far cannot run as fast or as far as a dog with good conformation.  A proper overbite is essential to good health and a long life and few breeders know this information.

Q: What is the number one thing you recommend to a new LGD user?

A: The number one thing that I recommend to people wanting to use LGDs for the first time is to study the various breeds of dogs available.  Pick the one breed that you believe will fit your situation best and has the behavioral characteristics that you want to work with.  A dog’s behavioral characteristics are what we live and work with daily.  Understanding and working with one set of behavioral characteristics is easier than trying to work with multiple behavioral characteristics that come with crossbreeding.  An Akbash Dog will always act like an Akbash Dog.

LGD Timely Tips

Every Tuesday check out our Facebook page @TAMUlivestockguardog for Tuesday’s LGD tip of the Week.

• Make sure to check your dog for hot spots or a rash on its neck if it wears a collar. They can develop within just a few days. The smelly wet rash seen here on Thor, occurred in less than three days from a collar.  The area needs to be carefully cleaned and shaved with a close bladed.  It’s also important to apply an antimicrobial spray to it daily until it completely heals.  An anti-itch medication should also be applied once the area dries out.
• If your LGD is limping and you don’t see an obvious injury to the leg, check its paw for thorns and/or the pad for a puncture. Infections from thorns can spread rapidly and cause lameness.  If the area is swollen and warm, the dog probably has an infection and will need antibiotics to recover.

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.

Bill Costanzo
Research Specialist II, Livestock Guardian Dogs

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TAMUlivestockguarddog/

How LGDs Interact with Predators

Many producers complain that all their LGD does is bark from early evening through the night and into the early morning.  Why do LGDs bark all the time?

As reviewed last month in the article “Do LGDs Need to be Aggressive?”, LGDs use three different methods that have been bred into them for 1000’s of years to control predation.  According to research by Dr. Van Bommel of the Australian National University, LGDs control predators in three ways: territorial exclusion, disruption and confrontation.   In research done by Texas A&M University in 2017, it was determined that LGDs travel an average of 7 miles per day over a territory that averages 600 acres (see chart for distance and active times). Territories are areas that are actively defended and are scent marked with feces and urine by the dogs on a regular basis to establish/maintain their boundaries.  These scent marks let predators know that another animal is claiming that area.  Predators in the dog’s territory are aggressively chased and physically confronted by  them.  Territorial exclusion has been suggested as the major way that LGDs protect livestock, but recent studies from Australia suggest that disruption of predatory behavior is more important.

So why do LGDs bark at night? They are letting predators know that the area is their territory.  By barking and using aggressive posturing the dogs are disrupting the predator’s behavior patterns.  In the Australian study, LGDs camped amongst the sheep at night and when disturbed, the sheep reacted by flocking together.  The dogs barked aggressively and circled the perimeter of the flock.  One Maremma left the flock a short distance and challenged the source of the disturbance.  The shepherding behavior and aggressive vocalizations of the guardian dogs, combined with the flocking behavior of sheep, may circumvent the attacks but may not prevent predators from routinely foraging near the sheep.  This is why you may still see predators near your livestock.  It really depends on our LGDs behavior pattern as to how close they will allow predators to their charges.  However, if you are not losing any stock to predation, your LGDs are doing their jobs.

The third way LGDs interact with predators is direct confrontation.  However, it can happen as seen in the picture.  Predators such as coyotes, do not want to have a direct confrontation with a larger canine.  Direct confrontations consume a large amount of energy for predators.  Attacking a larger canine equates to dominance in canine species, which is why attacks on LGDs are rarely considered unless the coyotes are extremely driven by hunger or some other reason.  (Picture courtesy of Tamara Taylor)

LGD Puppy Bonding Project

The pups are all doing great.  The Superheroes were neutered on December 17 and are back guarding their livestock.  The Stooges are becoming more protective of their charges every week.  Moe and Larry often confront the “threats” (usually ASU cows or Texas A&M goats in the next pasture) while Curly will stay with the stock.  These three have still not left their pasture for any reason and will not even go through an open gate.

Two of the Superheroes (Hulk & Thor) have left their pasture several times since they have been out of their bonding pens.  Once, they were following some of their goats that had gotten through a hole in the fence so I can’t really fault them for that.  The rest of the times they have been on adventures to check out perceived “threats” in other pastures.  We will see if this continues in the coming weeks.  I was alerted to them leaving each time by our GPS tracker system.

I have set up geofences around each pasture that the pups are in and, if they leave, it will send me an email with the dog’s tracker number.  A geofence is basically a line that is electronically drawn around each pasture on Digital Matters website of our location.  Each pasture has a separate geofence around it.  You can adjust the geofence perimeter anytime you want.  After you set the trackers, that you want to get an alert from inside each geofence, the system will send you an alert if the tracker leaves that area.  Alerts can also be used to let you know an animal entered a location you don’t want them in.

Breed Spotlight – Anatolian Shepard

The Anatolian Shepard is originally from Turkey and can weigh as much as 150lbs.  The dogs are from the central region of Anatolia which is a high plateau of endless plains and rolling hills. Summers are dry and brutally hot, and the winters are snowy, with sub-zero temperatures. Anatolian’s descend from some of the oldest known domestic-canine bloodlines, probably from the large hunting dogs existing in Mesopotamia.  The breed came to the United States just before World War II when the Department of Agriculture imported a breeding pair for a top-secret sheep dog project to guard part of the nation’s food supply.

Profusely muscled but nimble afoot, Anatolian’s are more than a match for the predators and harsh terrain of their homeland. Anatolian’s are smart, devoted, responsive, and adaptable.  They will protect their flock, children and smaller dogs with intensity.  They are a large, upstanding, powerfully built livestock guarding dog that is capable of great speed.

The head is broad and strong, and the double coat is dense in cooler climates.  It is capable of enduring extremes of heat and cold with a hair coat of 1 to 4 inches in length.  The breed is naturally independent, very intelligent and tractable. In manner, they are proud and confident. They are loyal and affectionate to their owners, but are wary of strangers when mature.  They have a powerful neck and well-muscled body that is never fat with strong feet and short nails.

The dogs come in a variety of colors from red fawn to brindle, to blue fawn with a mask, from black to pinto.  However, the tan body with black mask are typical of the breed as shown in the picture.  Their ears are triangular in shape and rounded as the bottom.  Dogs imported from Turkey usually have their ears cropped closely so that they are not damaged in a fight with a predator.  The Anatolian is overall a healthy and hardy breed.  Hip dysplasia is not common in Anatolian’s, nor is bloat however they can be sensitive to anesthesia.  (https://www.ukcdogs.com/anatolian-shepherd and https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/anatolian-shepherd-dog/)

Feeding Methods: Pros & Cons

Hand feeding or self-feeding your LGDs, which is better?  Each method has its pros and cons for the dogs and the producers.

Hand feeding LGDs works well for producers that have the time to feed their dogs this way.  Hand feeding allows you to monitor feed consumption, easily perform health checks, and allows producers to regularly socialize their dogs.  On the other hand, this feeding method is time consuming.  The rancher or a ranch hand must go to each pasture at least every other day to feed the dogs.  You must also train the dogs to come to a specific location each time to get their feed.  Some producers use a whistle or horn to alert their dogs that its time to eat.  Hand feeding is even harder to maintain if you have multiple dogs in multiple locations.

Self-feeding your LGDs is a popular choice for many producers with large ranches.  Self-feeding allows your LGD to eat when they are hungry.  Also, when compared to hand feeding, it is less time consuming if you have multiple dogs and locations.  Most self-feeders hold 25-50 pounds of feed which is a benefit for producers with multiple dogs.  This amount of feed will usually last about a week in most situations.  However, self-feeders are more expensive to purchase than a hand feeding dish and generally require an enclosure of some sort to keep out livestock, hopefully.   Also, with self-feeders, producers do not get a chance to regularly socialize their dogs.  Cooperators report that well socialized dogs are easier to manage and less likely to travel.

Self-feeders come in a range of prices with and without automation.  Each type of feeder has its pros and cons, as well.  I will be discussing these systems next month.  If you are thinking about self-feeding your LGDs, we recommend that you place your self-feeders near water troughs or bedding areas.  This always keeps the dogs with your livestock so that there is a lower chance of predation.

LGD Timely Tips

This month I decided to only provide one tip and it’s on dog health.  One of our dogs, Max,  had lost a lot of weight at the end of the summer.  Max has been a great guardian of his Angoras at the Read Ranch in Ozona.  He never roams and is always with his charges.  His biggest fault is that he will not climb into a feeding station.  He will only dig under them to get in. We had tried several different things to maintain an appropriate level of nutrition for Max.  However, the goats always figured out how to get into his feeding station because Max was constantly digging a hole to get in which also allowed the goats to get into his feeding station!

In late September I performed a health check and found Max to be extremely thin. He was brought back to the Center in San Angelo for some rest and to put on some weight.  When he got here his stool was very loose, so I administered Forti Flora, a probiotic powder from Purina, to him in his wet feed for a month.  It solved that problem and increased his appetite, but he still wasn’t gaining weight.  Next, I dewormed him since we were unsure when the last time that had been done.  Max was wormed twice three weeks apart, but still nothing drastically changed in his weight.  Then I tried a higher quality of feed.  I thought that since he was so thin, he may need a better feed to gain weight faster. Again, that only slightly improved his weight and appearance.  I decided that Max needed to go to the vets as I was out of ideas.  After a simple blood test, our veterinarian determined that Max had a tick borne rickettsial disease called Ehrlichiosis, which is similar to Anaplasmosis in cattle.  The disease is commonly spread by the Brown Dog Tick which is found throughout the United States.

Ehrlichiosis occurs throughout the year and can affect several body systems.  Dogs can be infected with several strains of this disease and it is prevalent in the lower half of the United States.  It attacks most dogs at about 5 years of age.  Symptoms include: Lethargy, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, weight loss, fever, head tilt, ocular pain, anemia, respiratory distress and spontaneous bleeding.  From initial infection to presentation can be in excess of 2 months.

Once your vet determines Ehrlichiosis is the problem, they will most likely provide you with Doxycycline to administer to your dog for 3-4 weeks.  Its important to follow the vets recommended dosage and instructions to remove this disease.  Ehrlichiosis can hide and lay dormant in the bone marrow of your dog even after treatment.  It’s important to get your dog retested in 9 months after the initial infection to make sure that they test negative for the disease.  The best way to treat this disease is to prevent infection by controlling the infestation of ticks on your dog.  Proper and diligent use of flea and tick products all year long will keep you LGD happy, healthy and guarding your livestock.  (http://tickspotters.org/rhipicephalus-sanguineus-brown-dog-tick) (Blackwell’s Five Minute Veterinary Consult Canine & Feline 6^th Ed., ISBN 9781118881309)

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.

Bill Costanzo
Research Specialist II, Livestock Guardian Dogs

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TAMUlivestockguarddog/

Previous Publications and Case Studies

Do LGDs need to be aggressive?

If producers feel like they need to find more aggressive dogs they first should determine if they have predators that normal LGDs can’t control.  From our experience and discussion with Texas ranchers using LGDs, this is not a problem.  On the other hand, issues that are problems with many LGDs, such as roaming, being too fearful of humans, and rough behavior with livestock could be made worse by selecting more aggressive LGDs.  While it is important for an LGD to protect their stock, a high level of aggression is not necessarily an important characteristic to have in LGDs.  Moreover, aggressive dogs tend to be overly protective of food, water and what they perceive to be their immediate territory.  This can lead to ranch personnel, delivery drivers, repairmen and guests being bit if they are working in the dog’s immediate territory.  In addition, more aggressive dogs biting people may lead to a lawsuit from an injured individual.

Producers often think that a more aggressive LGD will keep predators away.  However, research by Dr. Linda Van Bommel of the Australian National University – Canberra, shows that LGDs do not need to be overly aggressive to keep predators at bay.  According to Dr. Bommel’s research, LGDs control predators in three ways: territorial exclusion, disruption and confrontation.  Territories are areas that are actively defended and are scent marked with feces and urine by the dogs.  Intruders are aggressively chased and physically confronted.  Territorial exclusion has been suggested as the major way that LGDs protect livestock, but recent studies from Australia suggest that disruption is more important.  LGDs disrupt predator behavior by barking and using aggressive posturing.  In the Australian study LGDs and wild dogs had GPS tracking collars and wild dogs routinely entered the LGD territory.  These authors described how Maremmas camped amongst the sheep at night in large single flocks, and when disturbed, sheep reacted by flocking together.  Maremmas barked aggressively and circled the perimeter of the rotating flock, and a single Maremma left the flock a short distance and challenged the source of the disturbance.  The shepherding behavior and aggressive vocalizations of guardian dogs, combined with the flocking behavior of sheep, might circumvent attacks on sheep but did not prevent nor discourage wild dogs from routinely foraging in close proximity to sheep[i].  Rarely is there a direct confrontation between the dog and the predator.  In the study above, the only documented direct confrontation resulted in the wild dogs killing the LGD.  Most predators in Texas are smaller than a guardian dog.  The predator understands that this type of situation will result in a losing battle for them.  I do understand that LGDs may catch coyotes and kill them.  However, based on our experience and discussion with long time users of LGDs, this is a rare occurrence when you consider the amount of time an LGDs spend with their charges.

LGD Puppy Bonding Project

The Maremma pups were neutered last month and the Akbash cross pups will be neutered this month.  The Maremma pups (“Stooges”) have been released since October 28  into a 100-acre pasture and they have not left the enclosure to date.  We are monitoring their movements daily via real time GPS trackers from Digital Matters.  The pups are traveling the entire field with their charges.  So far Larry and Moe tend to stay together while Curly ventures out on his own regularly.  They often show up at one of the bonding pens in the mornings when I go out for their daily check and treat.

All pups have also been micro-chipped now that they are older and moving out into larger pastures.  They will receive their permanent collars and an ID tag once they are full grown.  The Akbash pups (“Superheroes”) were released on December 3.  These pups are doing great and growing rapidly.  The dogs along with all the stock from their bonding pens are also wearing GPS trackers.  We are tracking the dog’s movement in conjunction with the livestock to see how each set has bonded to the livestock.

LGD Identification: Why it’s important

All dogs at the AgriLife Center have three forms of identification on them.  We purchase collars that come with a free engraved brass identification tag attached to them.  We also use a cattle tag that is imprinted with our name and phone number.  These provide easy visual identification of our dogs since several of our neighbors also have LGDs. We also microchip all our dogs in case they ever leave our research ranches and are taken to a local veterinarian or animal shelter.  These locations can then read the microchip and contact us regarding our dogs.  None of these items are expensive.  Our collars cost $10 each, the cattle tags are $1.40 each, and the microchips are $40 each.  In total, identification for our dog’s costs $51.40, which is small when compared to the average first year cost of $1,750 for an LGD.  I also have several pictures of each of our adult dogs on file.  Each picture shows a different view of the dog and any special markings.  I have them in case a dog shows up at a location that does not have a microchip scanner.  I can send those pictures to that person to confirm if the dog is ours or not.  Proper identification of ownership is a cheap and easy way to make sure that your LGD is always returned to you if they decide to roam to someplace other than your ranch.

Breed Spotlight – Akbash

Akbash are a white livestock guardian dog breed native to western Turkey.  Akbash are the Turkish counterpart of the other white guardian breeds found around Europe. However, only Akbash possess the unique combination of Mastiff and gazehound characteristics.  Akbash are a long-legged, lean, muscular dog of imposing size and strength, great courage, and stamina, with an alert, regal bearing. Akbash have a long tail, usually carried in a curl over the back. The Akbash possess a unique mixture of characteristics from the Mastiff and gazehound breeds. The gazehound influence gives the breed long legs, a deep chest, arched loin,  tucked up flank, speed, and agility.  While the Mastiffs contributions can be seen in the breeds height, weight, broader head, and overall impression of power. Their temperament is calm, quiet, independent and capable of responding to changing circumstances without human direction.

They are loyal and gentle with their own family but remain aloof and suspicious toward strangers. They are also watchful of other dog’s and may react aggressively to intruding dogs. Akbash have a double coat consisting of longer, coarse, outer hairs and dense undercoat of soft, fine hair. Thickness of the undercoat varies significantly with the climate and exposure of the dog to weather. Akbash have two different lengths of body hair and puppies from the same litter can vary in type.  The short- coated Akbash (right picture) has body hair that is short to medium in length and lies flat giving a sleek, racy appearance to the dog. The long-coated Akbash (left picture) has body hair that is distinctly longer than on the short-coated dog. The hair is often slightly wavy but is never curled or matted. The long-coated Akbash with full undercoat appears heavier than the medium-coated dog.

Males range in height from 30 to 34 inches and females from 28 to 32 inches. Weight should be in proportion to the height, giving a well-muscled, lean appearance without being too light or too heavy. The average weight for a male Akbash in good condition is 120 pounds and for a female, 90 pounds. (Source: https://www.ukcdogs.com/akbash)

LGD Timely Tips:

• Cold weather is here and it’s important that you increase the quality and quantity of feed that is supplied to your LGD. During the colder months your dogs need a higher protein and fat content in their feed to maintain their fat deposits.  Fat reserves help maintain the bodies heat level by acting as insulation and a reserve for calories when needed.  Make sure that you are providing enough quality feed to maintain a BCS of 5 for you LGDs.
• Most bags of dog kibble have a chart recommending the daily amount to be fed. This is usually listed in cups.  A cup is 8 ounces or ½ lb.  Most LGDs will need at least 4-6 cups/32-48 ounces/2-3lbs of feed per day to maintain their body condition in the winter.  A typical 40lb bag of dog food will last one dog approximately 10 -13 days depending on the weather.
• If you have an LGD with a longer coat, try brushing them during the cooler months. This will keep their coat fluffy which traps air in the hair fibers that acts as insulation to the cold temperatures. The warmer your dog is in the winter, the less it will need to eat to stay warm thus saving money on your feed bill.

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.

Bill Costanzo
Research Specialist II, Livestock Guardian Dogs

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TAMUlivestockguarddog/

Previous Publications and Case Studies

[i] Allen, L. R., N. Stewart-Moore, D. Byrne, and B. L. Allen. 2017. Guardian dogs protect sheep by guarding sheep, not by establishing territories and excluding predators. Animal Production Science 57(6):1118-1127.

Why LGDs harm livestock

Fall has arrived and winter is coming soon! This typically means breeding season for many sheep and goat producers.  Make sure that you keep an eye on your dogs if this is their first breeding season.  Breeding rams or billies introduced to a flock/herd of females may be perceived as a threat by LGDs.  They may try to keep their females away from the males or attack the bucks.  By keeping a watchful eye on your young dogs, you can discourage this behavior and keep your breeding rates up.  Check out more timely tips at the end of this blog.

LGD Field Day – Munday

The fall LGD Field Day in Knox County on October 25 was a great event for sheep and goat producers.  I want to thank Jerry Coplen, the Knox County AgriLife Extension Agent, for all his help with the event and providing producers with a view of his operation.  Lunch was sponsored by Central Texas Farm Credit.  I want to thank the local county Extension agents for helping cater the event.  The food was delicious and helped warm everyone up on a cold day.  Producers viewed a variety of presentations on topics including GPS Tracking, Dog Health, LGD Feeding Systems, Legal Issues with LGDs, Wildlife Services, a producer panel and a ranch visit.  I want to thank Nestle Purina, AgriLife Research and Crazy Goat Socks for donating door prizes.  If you missed the event, we are considering on another field day for the spring.  Watch the AgriLife LGD Facebook page @TAMUlivestockguarddog for more information on that event.

I would like to thank the sponsors below for your generous support of the field day in Munday:

Gold Sponsors

Capital Farm Credit – Munday                                    Central Texas Farm Credit – Haskell

Haskell Feeds – Haskell                                                Haskell Veterinary Clinic – Haskell

Jim Cowsert Real Estate Appraisals—Munday         Nestle Purina—St. Louis

Noelke/Wilhelm Ranch—Menard                               P&W Service Center—Munday

Sheep & Goat Predator Management Board—San Angelo

Silver Sponsors

Air-Ag Inc.—Knox City                                                  Citizens Bank—Knox City

Knox County Farm Bureau— Munday                       Quality Implement—Munday

LGD Puppy Bonding Project

The puppy bonding project is going well.  The Maremma pups are 19 weeks old and the Akbash pups are now 16 weeks.  The Maremma pups have gone out into a 100-acre pasture for their final bonding phase which will last until they are yearlings.  This next phase for these pups will help us determine if the electric fencing in their bonding pens was a lasting deterrent to digging out of their pasture.  We will also be able to track how the siblings have bonded with the stock and their interaction with each other when they are allowed more space to roam.  On the left is a picture of the pups traveling over a 24-hour period. We will be tracking the movements of the livestock also in the next few weeks.

The Maremma pups will also be getting neutered soon.  It’s important to spay or neuter your dog’s so that they don’t wander to find a mate and leave your stock unguarded.  In addition, females rearing pups have a reduced ability to guard your stock and while caring for her offspring.

Breed Spotlight – Great Pyrenees

I often get questions about what breed of LGD is best.  Based on research there are more differences within a breed than there is across the breeds.  There are over 30 breeds worldwide and I will cover as many as possible over the next couple of years.  This month’s LGD breed, the Great Pyrenees, is one of the most common found in the United States and is commonly crossed with other LGD breeds in Texas. My first LGD was ½ Great Pyrenees and ½ Akbash.

A breed standard picture from the American Kennel Club is on the right.  Great Pyrenees are a long-haired breed with a double coat.  They are generally a solid white livestock guardian dog originally from the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain.  They may have shades of gray, tan or badger in their coats.  Remains of Great Pyrenees have been found in fossil records dating back to the Bronze Age (1800-1000 BC).  Their coat is thick which helps shed water in the winter and insulate it from the cold; however, it presents challenges for warm climates such as Texas. According to the American Kennel Club, they tend to be strong willed, independent, patient, protective and loyal to their charges.  Females start out at 85lbs and higher, while males will be 100lbs or more in weight.  They stand 25-32 inches at their withers.  A 27 inch tall dog will weigh about 100lbs.   (Source: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/great-pyrenees/)

Health and Wellness

If you have a dog that has lost condition and is still not gaining weight you may want to try a probiotic.  I have used a product from Purina’s Pro Plan line called FortiFlora several times.  I have found it to work well if the dog has gone off feed for some reason.  FortiFlora is a canine probiotic supplement that comes in a small packet that you sprinkle over the dog’s food.  It contains a safe strain of beneficial bacteria that promotes and restores intestinal micro-flora so that the intestines can absorb nutrients from the feed again.  We are currently using it on Max, one of our dogs that had lost weight this past summer.  After a few days of using the product, Max already seems to be feeling better, has increased his feed intake and his weight is increasing.  If you feel that your dog’s appetite could be improved, contact your veterinarian and ask him/her about FortiFlora.

LGD Timely Tips:

• Regular checks of your LGDs body condition score are important. Your dog should ideally be a score of five at all times.  By now your LGD should have put on the weight that it lost over the summer months.  If your dog has not increased its condition score, consider taking them to your veterinarian for a checkup.
• Make sure your LGD is gaining weight for the colder months ahead and that its coat is clean. A coat that is free of mats and burrs will shed water better and provide more insulation.
• Hunting season is here. Remind hunters again, that LGDs are not pets and that they should be treated as a working dog.  Socializing with the dogs or feeding the dogs treats keeps them coming back to their blinds.  You may want to remove dogs from pastures that hunters will be in to stop a problem before it starts.

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.

Bill Costanzo
Research Specialist II, Livestock Guardian Dogs

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TAMUlivestockguarddog/

Previous Publications and Case Studies

Update: October 4, 2019

October tends to be a slow month for most LGDs.  But it may be the best month to do a little “housekeeping” and get ready for some challenging months to come.  Check out our timely tips at the end of this blog.

On September 17 Scott Anderson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agent in Brown County, held a workshop on predator control in Brownwood.  He had over 60 people attend the event and had a great set of guest speakers.  I presented on “Improving the Effectiveness of Livestock Guardian Dogs” which covered a variety of information from selecting a LGD to proper bonding techniques and feeding strategies.  The crowd was very receptive and asked many questions during and after the presentation.  I would highly recommend attending the next workshop that Scott puts on.

The six puppies in the bonding project are all doing well and growing rapidly.   The Maremma pups are now 15 weeks old and the Akbash cross pups are 11 weeks old.  They all have different individual personalities, but similarities exist based on the breeding and rearing environment of the breeder we sourced the dogs from.  In general, the Maremma pups are a little more timid, while the Akbash cross pups are a little more adventurous.  This could be “nature” or “nurture.” The Akbash pups received more human contact while they were with their mother than the Maremma puppies did.   It will be interesting to see which set of pups end up bonding more to livestock when they are mature.  All the pups are leading well on a leash and just lay down when tethered now.  Thor and Hulk really enjoy riding in the truck.

As you can see in the picture below of “Moe,” it’s a tough life guarding some of our stock.  He had just woken up and is yawning in the picture.  After this picture he went back to sleep!

If your dog’s look to be in poor condition, don’t hesitate to confine them to a smaller area for some rest and improve the dog’s diet.  If you can easily feel the dog’s ribs, vertebrate or hip bones, your LGD needs to gain weight and rest.  Provide them with plenty of high-quality food until they reach approximately a 5 canine body condition score.  You may need to isolate them in a pen away from other dogs with some livestock to allow them to recuperate.  It may take 4-6 weeks for the dogs to gain enough weight back to return to full strength.

We are holding a Fall Livestock Guardian Dog Field Day in Knox County in the city of Munday on October 25.  The city of Munday is a little over 2 hours North of San Angelo.  To register for the event contact Jerry Coplen at the Knox County AgriLife Extension Office at 940-459-2651.  Cost is $25 or $40 per couple if registered by October 18. Topics will include GPS Tracking, Dog Health and Parasites, LGD Feeding Systems, Legal Issues with LGDs, Wildlife Services, a producer panel and a ranch visit.  Dog breeders and exhibits will also be on site at the Munday Event Center the day of the event.  We hope to see you there!

LGD Timely Tips:

• In the fall, a LGD’s appetite should return to full strength and they will start to regain weight lost in the summer from warding off predator and beating the heat. Be sure they have access to the right dog food for their lifestyle, age, and condition.
• Breeding season may bring about new animals to the flock. Be mindful of LGDs when you introduce breeding rams and billies to the ewe flock or doe herd.  Some LGDs will see them as a threat.
• Hunting season is just around the corner. Now is the time to talk with your deer hunters about your LGDs, especially if you have any new hunters or new LGDs.  A simple conversation about how to deal with potential conflict might be the difference between a simple solution and a major problem.  Remind hunters that LGDs are not pets and that they should be treated as a working dog.

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.

Bill Costanzo
Research Specialist II, Livestock Guardian Dogs

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TAMUlivestockguarddog/

Previous Publications and Case Studies

Texas A&M AgriLife Research currently has 22 livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) to protect sheep and goats at  four separate locations.  The amounts of LGDs at each site vary based on predation, stocking levels, terrain and research projects.  These LGDs are located in Crockett, Menard, Sutton and Tom Green counties.  Six of these LGDs are puppies that are part of a bonding project located at the AgriLife Research and Extension Center in San Angelo.

The six puppies are split into four one-acre bonding pens.  Two of the bonding pens in one pasture have hot wire, approximately 6 inches above the ground around the perimeter of the woven wire enclosure.  The other two bonding pens are in a separate pasture and do not have any hot wire around the woven wire perimeter.  Each pen also has four to six livestock in each pen.  The livestock are comprised of wool sheep, hair sheep, Angora goats and meat goats.  The puppies have a covered feeding station that they can use to get away from the stock if needed.  Each pen contains a water trough, stock feeder and shelter for the dogs and livestock.  The pups are socialized with humans 4-5 days a week for at least 10 minutes per puppy.  The pups are also tethered for a short time, walked on a leash and driven in a truck  three to four days a week.

The pups were randomly selected to be in each pen.  The pups are split with two puppies together in two pens and a single puppy in each of the other two pens.  This demonstration project will demonstrate how sibling behavior affects how well the puppies bond to the livestock as they mature.  We are also demonstrating if the effect of hot wire in the bonding pen will keep the pups from roaming once they are mature and placed on our research ranches.

Two sets of three puppies were purchased from two different LGD breeders out of the same litter from each breeder.  The puppies were all born and raised until the time they were picked up with sheep and/or goats.  They are all males and they were between 7-8 weeks of age when they were picked up from the breeders.  One set of pups are pure Maremma (Larry, Moe and Curly) and the other set of puppies are Akbash X Great Pyrenees X Anatolian crosses (Goliath, Hulk and Thor).  More updates on the puppies and the progress they are making each month will be provided here, as well as in weekly updates on our Facebook page.

Bill Costanzo
Research Specialist II, Livestock Guardian Dogs

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TAMUlivestockguarddog/ 

Previous Publications and Case Studies

Welcome to “The Guardian Way” blog page.

This page will be updated monthly with information about livestock guardian dogs, and it will also provide regular updates on the livestock guardian dog program at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center in San Angelo TX.  You will be able to sign up for automatic updates via email which will be sent to your inbox every time the blog is updated.

This page is authored by Bill Costanzo, Livestock Guardian Dog Research Specialist at the AgriLife Center.  Bill has been using LGDs for over nine years and he joined the AgriLife team in January of 2019.  His position is a project in coordination with the Texas Sheep & Goat Predator Management Board and TAMU AgriLife Research.

You may contact Bill at bill.costanzo@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7311.
You can also follow the LGD Program on Facebook @TAMUlivestockguarddog.

View previous LGD publications and case studies