There are many factors which need to be considered when using a livestock guardian dog as protection.
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The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre has produced a management manual for the raising, handling and management of Maremma Sheepdogs and other livestock guardian breeds.
Produced by Linda van Bommel, Guardian Dogs – Best Practice Manual for the use of Livestock Guardian Dogs is a guiding tool to help owners get the most out of their livestock guardians.
According to the manual, one of the most important factors is being able to bond and train a pup to be an effective guardian.
It is important pups live with livestock from an early age, helping to ensure they become successful guardians when they mature.
The way a livestock guardian is trained or bonded is dependant upon the dog’s character, rate of progress, and the owner’s own objectives.
It is key to adapt the bonding and training process based on these factors.
The guidelines help to give insight into the process training pups, but also provide direction to help integrate a pre-trained mature dog into a property with an emphasis on problems which may be encountered.
For the complete manual, visit: www.invasiveanimals.com/research/goals/goal-1/1t5e/
