Livestock guarding dogs
Often acquired carelessly, then simply abandoned
Eddy was recently found outside a dog training centre. With a muzzle and a water bowl, he had been sitting in the storage box there for hours until someone noticed him. We can only speculate as to the exact reason why the dog with the thick, fluffy coat was left to his fate. The fact is, however, that Eddy is a guard dog. And it is precisely for dogs of this breed that Gut Aiderbichl is currently receiving an alarming number of enquiries and calls for help.
Defending livestock guarding dogs - no ifs and buts
Despite his sweet appearance, Eddy is a real powerhouse. He belongs to a breed of dog that has been trained for centuries to protect an entire herd on its own. They were bred to survive in inhospitable, mountainous regions. Their thick fur protects them from harsh weather but also from injury when they face wolves or bears, for example, to protect their herd. A livestock guarding dog is not the same as a herding dog, as the livestock guarding dog usually works on its own. They must be able to assess approaching dangers and defend the herd at all times and at all costs, if necessary using their physical strength and extremely powerful jaws. Accordingly, not only the appearance of this dog breed is impressive, but also its character.
However, what is useful for a grazing herd of sheep or goats in the mountains can lead to major problems in densely populated areas. “The animals are generally not aggressive or attack for no reason, but they often sense danger in everyday human life where there is none,” says Dr Marianne Wondrak, vet at Gut Aiderbichl. It’s not just the herd that they consistently protect, but also their own pack or territory, such as the family’s own children, the home or the garden. Unfortunately, there are always incidents in which a guard dog vehemently defends its family or territory against supposed “intruders” – even if it is only the postman or friends. This can quickly lead to serious injuries due to their often impressive body size.
Livestock guarding dogs are only suitable for families to a limited extent
In recent years, there has been a trend towards private individuals keeping livestock guarding dogs. It is always important to think carefully in advance about whether and which animal companion to bring into your home. Many people are not aware that there are major differences in behaviour between dog breeds,” says Dr Wondrak.
As puppies, usually taken from their mother far too early, the little balls of wool with their huge paws look cute. However, in an urban environment and in inexperienced hands, their owners are very quickly overwhelmed by the character traits of livestock guarding dogs. One characteristic of guard dogs is that they reach puberty much later than other breeds. Their strong instinct to guard and protect often only awakens at the age of three. Until then, they tolerate visitors quite well. The sudden change in the dog’s behaviour then comes as a big shock to many owners. For many owners, living together with their four-legged friend in everyday life becomes a major problem.
Close cooperation with the Secure Base association
This is why Gut Aiderbichl is increasingly receiving calls for help to take in livestock guarding dogs. Many dogs of this breed are “locked away” in kennels and kept on a chain in private hands due to excessive demands. However, this breed is used to freedom and working independently. As a result, dog owners only achieve the opposite: the dogs are severely traumatised and have behavioural problems. Incorrect or inadequate training only makes things worse. The result is a vicious circle, which unfortunately often ends in euthanasia by the vet due to “unmanageable aggression”. “It is not the dog following its trained instinct that is responsible, but the lack of understanding for the needs of this breed,” says Dr Marianne Wondrak, vet at Gut Aiderbichl.
Gut Aiderbichl would like to spare dogs like Eddy this fate and has recently started working closely with the association “Secure Base Kompetenzförderung für Herdenschutzhunde”. The Lippitz family founded the privately funded association in Carinthia in 2016, whose main task is to provide emergency shelter, accommodation, socialisation and “manageability” for livestock guarding dogs. To date, 51 dogs with severe behavioural problems have been successfully and permanently re-socialised and placed through the association. “We hope that Eddy will soon be one of them,” says Dr Marianne Wondrak.
