How to find your next guardian dog pup.
©Louise
Liebenberg (2022)
Written for The Shepherd's Magazine
Once the decision is made to add a livestock guardian dog (LGD) to the ranch, the search begins
to find a suitable pup or adult dog that can be added to your flock. In many
cases people are a bit unsure how to go about finding a “good” breeder. In this
article I am going to offer some suggestions on how to find a breeder or pup.
It can be a challenge to find the right dog for your operation and many people
are a little stumped where to look and what to look for. Since Facebook does
not allow animal sales posts and Craig’s list might not be the best place to
find your future guardian dog, finding that pup or breeder can be a little daunting,
particularly when new to LGD or even livestock raising.
I think the first step is to look at your operation and decide what you are
really looking for, each operation is different and that means the needs are also
different. If you have a large, grazed range type flock, in an area with many
predators your requirements are very different than a small homestead type of
operation. Writing down a list of wants
and needs is a good place to start.
The next step is doing your research, read books, read breed websites, join
some LGD pages and learn as much as you can before you purchase a pup. Spending
a few days doing research is a good investment of time. A LGD should not be
purchased on a whim, as it is a 10 plus year commitment and the lives of your livestock
and, potentially your livelihood will depend on the LGD doing a good job.
You could include contacting breed clubs to help narrow down the type of dog
you are wanting. Some breed clubs focus more on pet and companion dogs and
others value and uphold working dogs. Either way, it is still a good starting
point for general information and potential leads on litters. It is good to
learn more about the traits, character, size, coat, temperament, of each
specific breed. There are well over 40 different LGD breeds, each with their
own ingrained characteristics. Some breeds have milder natures while others are
higher drive dogs.
Personally,
I think the actual breed is a little less important than finding the right
breeder. For example, you need a truck, it can be a Dodge, Ford or GMC, all
similar vehicles but each is slightly different. It might be more important to
find the right dealership that will provide you with quality service, terms and
who will provide support and help when and if you need it. Similarly, most LGD
share a lot of similar traits but finding the right breeder who can mentor and
guide you might be more important than the breed itself. Some breeders offer a lifetime guarantee for
support, while others offer support to the end of their driveway.
I think the best route to finding the right breed or even breeder is to speak
to the folks who already use LGD. This could be through sheep organizations,
producer forums, and neighbors. Find producers who raise livestock in a similar
area and manner as you do. Ask them about their dogs, where they got their dogs
or even any issues or recommendations they may have. We raise livestock in a
very high predator area but also in an extremely harsh cold climate. Finding
dogs who have been raised and worked in similar circumstances will ensure a
high probability of success. I think we
need to move away from solely searching for dogs just through the internet and
we need to go back and pick up the phone and speak to other producers. Having
these conversations will be both educational and will most likely lead to more
contacts and references on who might have pups available and who to avoid.
Then the
process starts on contacting various breeders and talking to them about their
breeding program, how the pups are raised, what the parents of the pups are
like and how they work, veterinary information, price, and any other things you
might need to know. Some breeders make require you to sign a purchase
agreement, breeding restrictions may apply, others might require proof of spay/
neuter or even things like hip dysplasia testing. It is good to know ahead of
time what the expectations are on both sides. Some buyers prefer a “no strings attached”
approach and others value the input and contact with a breeder. If possible,
ask to meet the breeder and the parents of the pups. Be aware that some
breeders might have a waiting list and so getting a good pup might mean you
have to wait for it.
Questions
that could be important to ask include things like:
What type of support do you offer?
Should my life circumstances change, are you willing to take the pup back or
help with rehoming?
What program would you recommend for the initial raising of the pup?
Do you offer any guarantee’s and if so, what?
What age can the pup leave the litter? (Should be at least 8 weeks and older)
How experienced or
knowledgeable is the breeder?
There are
also lots of reg flags when puppy shopping.
Here are some to be aware of:
- Breeders selling crosses with non LGD breeds.
- If the breeder cannot spell their own breed name correctly then that would be a warning sign regarding how well they know their own breed.
- Pups that have colours, size, ear set or other distinguishing features that make you question the parentage of the pups.
- Selling pups too young.
- Breeders who have multiple litters all at the same time, are they a puppy mill? Are they in the business of dog breeding or breeding a litter for the livestock operation?
- Beware of fancy terms; Holistically raised (does this mean no veterinary care?), or breeders who create a “new breed”, along with a new fancy made up name?
- Breeders who own no livestock.
- Show breeders toting their ribbons and claiming that instincts do not get lost even after multiple generations of no work or selection.
- If you are needing a full time working dog, beware of folks saying pups need to be raised in the house and are not ready to work until over 2 years old.
In a nutshell, the old fashion “word of mouth” is still often the best way to
find the dog you are needing and wanting. Utilise the internet to learn as much
as you can and be very aware of all the conflicting information. Try and figure
out if the person commenting or advertising on the internet has valid
experience or not. Do some reading; books, websites of LGD breed clubs (it will
soon be apparent who focuses on pets or working traits) subscribe to industry
magazines as many have an advertising section and often in sheep related
magazines you can find advertisements for herding and guardian dogs, speak to
breeders directly, be clear on what you are wanting or needing.
Impulse
buying is never a good strategy, neither is emotional buying. I think purchasing
your next flock protector should be a business decision; is it a good
investment, do I have time, are there other or better ways to protect my
livestock, how much do I need a dog compared with how much do I want a dog, is
a LGD what I want, or do I want a general farm dog? Do I have the space, number
of livestock and work for an LGD? Is good fencing a better option? What is my
plan if the dog does not work out? Can I manage the dog in a suitable way to
avoid unwanted litters? What do I need to facilitate to ensure the pup has the
highest chance of success? What is the long-term plan with the dog, how many other
LGD do I need? When should I add a second one? Can I manage things such as in-pack
fighting, roaming and other possible behavioural problems? Do I need to consider
neighbors and the impact of having a large breed dog barking a lot will have on
them?
There are multiple things to consider before acquiring the pup and being systematic
in your approach in researching and speaking to people will ensure a thorough decision-making
process. Not all situations warrant an LGD, and recognising this might be the
most important decision you make!
