Livestock Guardian Dogs
San Angelo Studies LGD Bonding & Early Training Procedures This month we will discuss socialization of livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) and research being conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Center in San Angelo, TX. Socialization During the late 1970s and early 1980s when LGDs were first introduced to the United States, many producers incorrectly believed that the dogs should not be handled or socialized at all. This thought process was incorrect and has led to many instances of people being attacked by LGDs in the mountain states while hiking and camping. This has also led to LGDs being unable to be caught for veterinary procedures or to be moved to other locations during the seasons. We feel that producers should be able to catch their LGDs with minimal effort in the open field when needed. To be able to easily catch your LGD in the field they must be properly socialized as a puppy. Proper human socialization of your LGD puppy is vital during the bonding process, and it becomes increasingly important as your dog matures. Spending 5-10 minutes two to three times a week with your new puppy should be enough to properly socialize it to humans. Socializing your puppy should include slowly rubbing your hands all over the dog, especially its feet. You should place your fingers inside its mouth to check tooth development and check its ears for ticks and infections. Regular brushing and even slowly turning your puppy over on its back will help calm and accustom it to human contact. You should name your puppy and teach it basic commands such as “Come,” “Stay” and “No.” Your puppy should know its name and come when called. Introduce treats to your puppy whenever you encounter it with livestock, so it learns to trust you. In addition to rewarding good behavior, this will make administering medication easier, should you ever need to do so. Treats should always be given when your puppy is with livestock in the field. Always make sure that all positive reinforcement is done in an area with livestock. Over socialization of LGDs can also
26
SouthWest Horse Trader March 2022
LGD puppy being socialized.
be a problem but is rarely the cause of dogs searching out humans. Often producers will inadvertently reward LGDs for not staying with livestock by feeding them if the dogs come to their home or headquarters. Producers wrongly assume that the dogs have sought them out due to hunger. This is usually not the case. The dogs return to those locations because they are being rewarded with food or kind behavior for the producer. Never reward your LGD for being in an area away from livestock. They will continue to return to these areas when you reward them. LGDs often try to expand their territory to keep predators at bay or they will investigate unusual sounds they hear. These sounds are often found around homes or ranch headquarters. If your LGD is at your back porch or ranch headquarters for no reason, they must immediately be taken back to the livestock and sternly disciplined. Never feed your LGD away from livestock! Remember: what you reward, you promote with LGDs! We look forward to sharing our research with the ranching community over the next several years as the bonding project continues.Weekly progress of the puppies and project can be viewed on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @TAMUlivestockguarddog. Don’t forget to sign up for our blog The Guardian Way https://sanangelo. tamu.edu/research/lgd/ and check out our YouTube channel also. For questions regarding LGDs you can email me at bill. costanzo@ag.tamu.edu or call 325-6577311. Check out the next installment of this multi-part article in next month’s edition of the SouthWest Horse Trader. w
Texas A&M AgriLife, Courtesy Costanzo 2021
Bill Costanzo – LGD Research Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Research
