A Shocking Livestock Loss
Ranch owner John Smith of Happy Valley Ranch in Central California awoke one morning to a gruesome discovery. Eight of his coyotes were found dead on his property, violently killed overnight. The perpetrator? His trusted livestock guardian dog, Buck.
Livestock guardian dogs are bred to protect livestock from predators. But in a shocking turn of events, Buck aggressively took matters into his own paws. This confrontation highlights the complex relationship between guardian dogs, livestock, predators, and ranchers.
What drove Buck to commit such an unprecedented attack? Could it have been prevented with proper training and management? As use of guardian dogs increases, ranchers must understand how to mitigate risks. This event provides important lessons for anyone using dogs to protect livestock.
Guardian Dog Breeds
Livestock guardian dogs have been bred over centuries to protect livestock from predators and thieves. Some of the most common breeds used for this purpose include:
Great Pyrenees – Large, sturdy mountain dogs originally from the Pyrenees Mountains, these dogs are known for their all-white coats and patience with livestock.
Anatolian Shepherd – An ancient breed from Turkey, these independent and protective dogs bond closely to their flock.
Akbash – A large white dog from western Turkey, the Akbash is calm and gentle with livestock yet fierce when defending against predators.
Maremma Sheepdog – With a history as shepherds in central Italy, these shaggy white dogs are rugged and adaptable guardians.
Komondor – This Hungarian breed has a distinctive corded coat that protects it while living with sheep and goats.
Kuvasz – An intelligent and powerful Hungarian dog that guarded livestock for centuries.
Guardian Dog Training
Guardian dogs require extensive training in order to be effective at protecting livestock. This specialized training starts early, usually around 8-10 weeks old, and continues throughout the dog’s life.
One of the first steps is socializing the puppy properly with the livestock it will be guarding. This allows the dog to bond with and understand its role in relation to the animals. The dog should be slowly introduced to the livestock, keeping interactions positive and supervised [1].
Obedience training is also critical, teaching commands like “sit, stay, come.” The dog must listen to its owner amidst distractions from livestock or wildlife. Training should reinforce non-aggressive behavior towards the owner, vet, farrier, and others who interact with the animals [2].
As the guardian dog matures, ongoing training maintains its bond with the livestock and reinforces its protective role. Dogs should be monitored and corrected for behaviors like chasing or playing too roughly. Successfully trained dogs will display attentive watchdog behavior without harming the livestock.
The Guardian Dog
The guardian dog involved in this incident was a 2-year-old Great Pyrenees named Thor. Great Pyrenees are known as one of the most popular and effective livestock guardian dog breeds (permies.com).
According to the farmer, Thor had been raised with the herd since he was a puppy and was well-trained as a working LGD. The farmer described Thor as extremely protective of the livestock, especially the newborn lambs and kids which were vulnerable to coyote attacks (ambrook.com).
Despite his protective instincts, Thor had no prior incidents of aggression towards people or the livestock he guarded. The farmer called him a “gentle giant” around the farm (agric.gov.ab.ca). However, when it came to predators like coyotes, Thor took his job very seriously.
The Coyote Threat
Coyotes are often considered a nuisance animal and a threat to livestock like sheep, goats, and calves. According to the USDA, coyotes were responsible for 53.1% of sheep losses due to predators in 2015 (source). However, some argue that indiscriminately killing coyotes does not actually reduce livestock losses. Coyotes have a pack structure, and killing one of the breeding adults may cause the pack to split into smaller groups that reproduce more often (source). While coyote attacks can certainly be a problem for ranchers, preventative measures like guard animals, fences, and vigilance may be more effective than widespread coyote killing.
The Encounter
On Tuesday evening around dusk on the Smith family farm, Buddy the livestock guardian dog had a fateful encounter with a pack of coyotes. The Smiths have a herd of sheep and some chickens that they keep penned up at night, and Buddy patrols the farmstead to keep predators away.
According to the Smiths, Buddy started barking aggressively as night was falling. They knew this likely meant he sensed intruders on the property. The Smiths heard a commotion coming from the sheep pen and immediately went to go investigate.
When they arrived on scene, they found Buddy had cornered 8 coyotes who were attempting to get into the sheep pen. While coyotes don’t typically hunt in large packs (urbancoyoteresearch.com), the Smiths had been having more frequent coyote sightings lately. It’s possible the recent dry weather drove more coyotes onto the farm looking for food and water.
Buddy bravely fought and killed the 8 coyotes, though he did sustain some injuries in the process. The Smiths were able to get Buddy to the vet where he was treated for bite wounds. While Buddy will make a full recovery, the event demonstrated how livestock guardian dogs can effectively protect livestock from coyote attacks.
Aftermath
In the aftermath of the incident, the rancher responded by removing the livestock guardian dog from the property. While the dog had been successful in protecting the livestock from coyote attacks, killing 8 coyotes was seen as excessive.
This case highlights the importance of proper training and socialization for livestock guardian dogs. Without it, their protective instincts can lead to unnecessary killings of predator species like coyotes. The large number of coyotes killed also reduces future breeding numbers in the local ecosystem.
However, the rancher recognized that the livestock guardian dog was just doing its job in protecting the livestock. These working dogs form tight bonds with the animals they guard. When faced with a large pack of coyotes, the dog likely felt compelled to eliminate the threat.
While regrettable, the incident shows how effective livestock guardian dogs can be. Killing 8 coyotes is an exceptional case, as most working guardian dogs live peacefully alongside local predator populations. With proper oversight and training, these dogs provide huge economic value to ranchers by deterring livestock losses.
Preventive Measures
There are several ways ranchers can help protect their livestock from coyote attacks without having to resort to lethal methods. Some effective preventive measures include:
Fencing – Installing proper fencing like woven wire or electric fencing with a mesh size of 6 inches or less can help deter coyotes from entering areas with livestock. Fencing needs to be properly installed and maintained to be effective. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, fencing an area of 40 acres or less can be sufficient to protect livestock from coyote attacks (Coyote Exclusions, Deterrents and Repellents, pg. 2).
Human presence – Having herders present among livestock can deter coyote attacks. Coyotes tend to avoid areas with regular human activity. Ranchers can take shifts staying overnight in pastures when coyote attacks are more likely to occur (Nonlethal Solutions to Reduce Conflicts, para. 9).
Guard animals – Using guard dogs or other animals like donkeys or llamas to protect livestock has proven effective. These animals confront intruders and alert ranchers to threats. Proper training is essential so guard animals do not harm the livestock they protect (Nonlethal Solutions to Reduce Conflicts, para. 6-8).
Hazing – Using scare tactics like loud noises, spraying water, or throwing objects can make coyotes wary of ranch lands. Hazing needs to be done consistently so coyotes do not become habituated. Ranchers can work together to haze coyotes from the borders of their properties (Coyote Hazing: How to Keep Coyotes Away, para. 2-5).
With proactive nonlethal management, ranchers can successfully protect their livestock from coyote attacks without having to resort to killing coyotes.
Guardian Dog Effectiveness
Livestock guardian dogs have been used for centuries to protect livestock from predators. They are highly effective at deterring and confronting predators like coyotes, wolves, bears, and mountain lions. Studies have shown livestock losses can be reduced by over 50-95% with the use of these dogs (Livestock Guardian Dogs Vs. Predators).
One study in South Africa found that livestock losses to predators dropped from 26% to just 2% after introducing Anatolian shepherd dogs (Livestock Guardian Dogs Vs. Predators). The dogs patrol the perimeters, mark their territory, and confront intruders through barking, posturing, or physical engagement if necessary. Their large size and protective nature is usually enough to deter predators.
Guardian dogs that are properly trained and bonded with livestock will stay with the herd at all times. They are loyal, patient, and self-reliant – allowing them to live and work outdoors protecting livestock day and night. When integrated into a livestock operation, these guardian dogs can provide 24/7 protection that reduces attacks from predators (Livestock Guardian Dogs).
Conclusion
In summary, livestock guardian dogs can be highly effective at protecting livestock from predation when properly trained and socialized. While startling, the incident involving a single guardian dog killing 8 coyotes illustrates the protectiveness and abilities of these working breeds. However, such encounters also highlight the importance of responsible guardian dog ownership and management. With proper precautions, guardian dogs can usually deter predation without the need for lethal force. Their mere presence together with non-lethal deterrents like flashing lights, alarms, or fences is often enough. By understanding guardian dog behaviors and capacities, ranchers can implement preventive measures to avoid extreme conflicts. With care, training, and oversight, these intelligent, gentle dogs can live harmoniously alongside livestock and wildlife.