Read More about LGDs
Want to learn more about Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs)? Here are some books to check out. (Usual Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in any of these books, their authors or publishers.) While we have had Rio (our adult Great Pyreenes) for nearly 7 years now, I am enjoying re-reading all of my books and watching Zoe discover her ancestral occupation.
This book by Coppinger and Coppinger has two titles as they retitled the paperback edition. It is called both:
Dogs : A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution (hard cover - copyright 2001) and
Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution (paperback - copyright 2002)
This book has been around for a while and is of general interest, so you might be able to find it at your local public library. It covers a lot of material, some of which is more opinion than fact. But, in my opinion, the best part of the whole book is the section on Livestock Guardian Dogs. The Coppingers (husband and wife), while on the faculty at Hampshire College (USA), were involved in some of the early research into the use of LGDs for predator control in the U.S. They traveled throughout Europe purchasing breeding pairs of several different breeds of LGDs from the shepherds who were still using them to guard their flocks.
After returning to the U.S., they placed the puppies that resulted from these breedings with farmers and ranchers across the United States. Then they sent out surveys and kept data for the various breeds on things like ability to protect livestock, aggression against predators, aggression against livestock, aggression against humans etc. to determine both their effectiveness as well as desirable and undesirable traits.
They also offer some theories as to the traits possessed by these breeds that allow them to bond with and guard livestock. One of these is the theoriy that LGDs experience a rather prolonged puppyhood in which prey drive does not emerge until about 5 months of age. By that time, the LGD should be bonded which whatever species it is going to be asked to guard, so it sees them as part of its family or pack, rather than as prey.
Livestock Protection Dogs: Selection, Care and Training -- by Dawydiak and Sims -- second edition: copyright 2004
This book has a large section which describes and compares the various breeds used to do this job. It also has chapters on puppy selection, raising your puppy or dog, training, behavior problems, diet, health problems, use as a companion dog (pet) etc.. This book was a bit of a slow read for me, but I found the section describing and comparing the different breeds of dogs to be fascinating.
Livestock Guardians: Using Dogs, Donkeys and Llamas to Protect Your Herd -- by Janet Vorwald Dohner -- copyright 2007
I just got this book last week. I was able to find a used - like new copy in Hardback from one of Amazon's partner stores. It has several chapters on understanding the different types of predators and the dangers they pose to livestock. It also talks about things like using effective fencing. There is a long section on dogs, a medium-length section on donkeys and a short section on llamas. I haven't read it cover to over yet, but so far it looks good.
Ain't Life Grand with a Great Pyrenees Guarding the Flock -- by Beverly Coate - copyright 1993.
I purchased this self-published book from Beverly Coate after hearing her speak at Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival in 2003. Beverly and her husband operated C&C Farms in Stigler, OK. It was a very large farm over rough, rocky terrain where they raised sheep, goats and cattle in country which also had coyotes and mountain lions.
I credit the information I got from Beverly with leading to my purchase of Rio (our first LGD). I had been told that our farm was not large enough to warrant an LGD. I described our sheep farm, the adjacent woods and creek and the movement of coyotes in our area to her. Her response was that I definitely needed one LGD and might even need two. This is a short little book, practical and folksy in style. It describes one experienced person's methods of raising and using Great Pyrenees as LGDs.
Unfortunately, I believe that Beverly had to give up her farm following health problems and divorce. So I have no idea how to purchase this book now. But if you are able to get your hands on a used copy somewhere, it is a worthwhile edition to your farm library.
This book by Coppinger and Coppinger has two titles as they retitled the paperback edition. It is called both:
Dogs : A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution (hard cover - copyright 2001) and
Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution (paperback - copyright 2002)
This book has been around for a while and is of general interest, so you might be able to find it at your local public library. It covers a lot of material, some of which is more opinion than fact. But, in my opinion, the best part of the whole book is the section on Livestock Guardian Dogs. The Coppingers (husband and wife), while on the faculty at Hampshire College (USA), were involved in some of the early research into the use of LGDs for predator control in the U.S. They traveled throughout Europe purchasing breeding pairs of several different breeds of LGDs from the shepherds who were still using them to guard their flocks.
After returning to the U.S., they placed the puppies that resulted from these breedings with farmers and ranchers across the United States. Then they sent out surveys and kept data for the various breeds on things like ability to protect livestock, aggression against predators, aggression against livestock, aggression against humans etc. to determine both their effectiveness as well as desirable and undesirable traits.
They also offer some theories as to the traits possessed by these breeds that allow them to bond with and guard livestock. One of these is the theoriy that LGDs experience a rather prolonged puppyhood in which prey drive does not emerge until about 5 months of age. By that time, the LGD should be bonded which whatever species it is going to be asked to guard, so it sees them as part of its family or pack, rather than as prey.
Livestock Protection Dogs: Selection, Care and Training -- by Dawydiak and Sims -- second edition: copyright 2004
This book has a large section which describes and compares the various breeds used to do this job. It also has chapters on puppy selection, raising your puppy or dog, training, behavior problems, diet, health problems, use as a companion dog (pet) etc.. This book was a bit of a slow read for me, but I found the section describing and comparing the different breeds of dogs to be fascinating.
Livestock Guardians: Using Dogs, Donkeys and Llamas to Protect Your Herd -- by Janet Vorwald Dohner -- copyright 2007
I just got this book last week. I was able to find a used - like new copy in Hardback from one of Amazon's partner stores. It has several chapters on understanding the different types of predators and the dangers they pose to livestock. It also talks about things like using effective fencing. There is a long section on dogs, a medium-length section on donkeys and a short section on llamas. I haven't read it cover to over yet, but so far it looks good.
Ain't Life Grand with a Great Pyrenees Guarding the Flock -- by Beverly Coate - copyright 1993.
I purchased this self-published book from Beverly Coate after hearing her speak at Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival in 2003. Beverly and her husband operated C&C Farms in Stigler, OK. It was a very large farm over rough, rocky terrain where they raised sheep, goats and cattle in country which also had coyotes and mountain lions.
I credit the information I got from Beverly with leading to my purchase of Rio (our first LGD). I had been told that our farm was not large enough to warrant an LGD. I described our sheep farm, the adjacent woods and creek and the movement of coyotes in our area to her. Her response was that I definitely needed one LGD and might even need two. This is a short little book, practical and folksy in style. It describes one experienced person's methods of raising and using Great Pyrenees as LGDs.
Unfortunately, I believe that Beverly had to give up her farm following health problems and divorce. So I have no idea how to purchase this book now. But if you are able to get your hands on a used copy somewhere, it is a worthwhile edition to your farm library.
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