Training Resources for Livestock Guardian Dogs

I have had a lot of questions about how I am training my Livestock Gaurdian puppy, Art. In this post I am going to share the books and resources that have helped me as I train my livestock guardian dog. Art is a Maremma, Great Pyrenees cross that I acquired to live with my sheep flock while they are on pasture.

Many ranchers will cite that a livestock guardian dog does not require any training. They will simply put the guardian puppy out in the flock or herd and let them work off of instinct.

This method has not worked for me.

I am working with my flock on a small acreage (30 acres). The house and human activity can be seen or heard from nearly all parts of the acreage. Art is naturally drawn to the activity. The following resources have been helpful as I work through a formal training process.

The first resource is a book by Orysia Dawydiak, “Livestock Protection Dogs: Selection, Care, and Training”. This book is a primer on what to look for in a livestock guardian dog. It walks you through training your dog at all stages: puppy, adolescence, and adulthood.

The second resource is the Facebook group “Learning About LGD’s”. The members of this group are pretty strict when it comes to training. However, they are extremely gracious to newcomers and will answer any questions you have about training your livestock guardian dog.

The third resource is a friend who has raised livestock guardian dogs for 8 years. She runs redbarnfamilyfarm.com. Having someone to go to with my questions has been extremely valuable!

I hope this short post on training resources or livestock guardian dogs helps! My pup, Art, is still a work in progress. He likes to play chase with the sheep (a major no-no), licks me when I don’t want him to, and dug under the perimeter fence for a walk down county road last month.

Keep in mind, most experts will say that a livestock guardian dog will not be ready to act as a mature guardian until they are 2 years old. Be prepared for this time period.

But just about the time I want to give up on Art, he will do something that makes me smile and say “I think we are making progress!”.

One such case was just this week. Lambs are being born right now. For this time period I have put Art outside of the lambing pen. I am doing this to keep him from roughhousing the new lambs and being tempted by the afterbirth. Despite being shut out, Art faithfully stood guard right outside of that pen.

With a little bit of God’s grace (for him and ME!) I think this pup will pull through :).

-the Shepherdess at Harmony Farms

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9