A SPECIAL PRODUCERS’ REPORT OF AG ALERT ® C A L I F O R N I A Dairy & Livestock ®
Guardian dogs bond with livestock, deter predators ByBob Johnson Placer County sheep rancher and University of California Cooperative Extension livestock and natural resources advisor Dan Macon, with his guardian dog Dillon, says Dillon and another dog have learned to split the job of protecting his sheep. One dog stays close to the flock while the other patrols the perimeter, looking for predators.
weeks, youwant to have the dogwith livestock; 16weeks is too late.” Sheep rancherDanMacon, who alsoworks as theUCCooperative Extension livestock advisor inPlacer,Nevada, Sutter andYuba counties, put hisPyrenees-mix guardiansElko andDillonwith his sheepwhen theywere 12weeks old. They grewupguarding the sheepand learned to split the job, he said, withone of them staying close to the herdwhile the other patrolled the perimeter for predators. Neither of these dogs has had to engage in combat with the large predators that live in the hills outside Auburn, butMacon said he knows the potential danger is there. “Howdowe know if we actually have predators?”Macon asked. “We use trail cameras near our pasture, andwehave sighted three lions since lastMarch.Where thereare sheep, there are predators.” Macon’sdogshavecollars that lethimtrackwhere theyareandrecordtheirmovements, which show they are generally most active from dusk until dawn, when the potential danger is greatest. “You can spend from$250 to $1,500 for a collar, but I use build-yourself collars to track the dogs’ activity that costme from$60 to $100 tomake,”Macon said. ElkoandDillondonotherd thesheepandhaveadistinctlydifferent temperament com- pared to the border colliewhodoes that job,Mae.
Many ranchers mix a few impressively large dogs in with their sheep, goats or other livestock, for protection. Although theseanimals generallyweigh inatwellmore than100 pounds, their bark is almost alwaysmore important than their bite. “They mostly work as a deterrent,” said Carolyn Whitesell, University of California CooperativeExtensionhuman-wildlife interactions advisor. “Theywillmark thepasture, to let the predators know.” Dogs also deter predators by barking, she said. “Never punish any livestock guardian dog for barking,” Whitesell said. “Barking is a good thing.” Whitesellmadeher remarksduring thevirtual CaliforniaRangelandCoalitionSummit, as researchers and ranchers discussed how to choose and train livestock guardian dogs, howmany to have, andwhether the cost of their care pencils out in animals saved. The jobof training theseenormousGreat Pyrenees,Maremmas, Kangals, Karakachans orAnatolianshepherds is surprisinglyeasy,Whitesell said, because theybasicallyarebred to knowwhat they are supposed to do. “Once they are bonded to the livestock, they know it is their job to protect them,” she said. “They have been bred for centuries to do this.” Thebondingstartsearly,asthedogsgrowuparoundtheanimalstheywillprotectasadults. “Theearlier youcanget thepuppywith livestock, thebetter,”Whitesell advised. “Byeight
See DOGS, Page 14
April 28, 2021 Ag Alert 13
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