Training Flock Guard Dogs

Dogs have been trained for many things throughout history. They can be used for mushing, hunting, protecting property and even assisting the disabled. However, one of the oldest uses of the dog has been to guard flocks of animals. Flock guard dog training appears to be a fairly straightforward process. However, in reality, training a guardian dog requires patience, time and a willingness to let nature take its course.

Suitable Breeds for Guarding Flocks

Many different breeds have been used to guard flocks in the past. Some of the most popular breeds include Akbash, Bulgarian Shepard, Great Pyrenees, Komondor, Central Asian Shepherd Dog and the Tantra. Most of these dogs also make great companion animals. However, some breeds commonly used as flock guard dogs are not recommended as pets, such as the South Russian Ovcharka or the Maremma Sheepdog.

Dogs chosen for their ability to guard flocks tend to share several characteristics. They are large, independent, territorial, domineering, courageous and protective. Most breeds used for flock guarding weigh more than one hundred pounds, and they tend to be white or light in color. This is deliberate, since many of the animals that these dogs guard are white, including sheep, llama, alpaca, cows and other herd animals. This helps the dogs to blend in with the flock. However, in flocks that are not predominately white, the guardian dog does tend to stand out.

Training Flock Guard Dogs

The desire to defend a flock is very instinctual for most of the breeds that are chosen to guard flocks. This instinct cannot be trained into a dog, so training really begins with the selection of a puppy who displays a desire to protect. It is important to note that flock guard dogs are not herding dogs. They will move naturally through the flock as if a part of it, ever alert to danger, but outwardly calm. As a result, it is important to choose a puppy that has the ability to remain calm despite distractions.

Once a puppy is selected, true training can begin. Puppies need to be socialized from about the age of four to six weeks. The earlier a puppy is exposed to the livestock it will be guarding, the closer the bond will be between the dog and the flock. Because the breeds chosen are so large, most puppies can be placed among young lambs or other flock animals from about eight weeks of age. Guardian dogs will interact more with the animals than with humans, so it is important that the interactions be observed but not generally controlled or manipulated. The more hands off humans can be, the better.

It is important that a flock guard dog be taught to keep its mind on the flock. Therefore, they often aren’t allowed to play with children, spending more of their time socializing with the flock. For safety reasons, they are taught basic obedience when they are young, but this is generally from an adult who is careful not to allow the dog to bond closer with the trainer than with the flock.

As the puppy grows, it instinctively realizes that these animals are not prey, but family. By around five months old, puppies normally begin exhibiting ideal guardian behavior. They are corrected for any chasing and praised for staying calmly with the flock. By the time a puppy is seven months old, the playful phase of puppyhood has begun to pass. At this point, the puppy should be removed from the flock. This helps the dog view the flock as charges to be protected rather than playmates. Most flock guarding dogs will develop other desired guarding behaviors instinctively, including deliberate barking, marking territory and a remarkable concern for their flock.

Dogs that seem suitable at about a year of age are given a trial run. They are assigned smaller flocks to guard. Their behavior should be monitored and observed. Though mistakes should be corrected, in general, the dogs should be left to their own devices. This encourages a stronger bond with the flock and allows the natural instincts of the dog to take over.

Flock guard dogs are expected to protect their flocks from bears, mountain lions, wolves, coyotes and various other predators. A flock of two hundred animals will generally be guarded by only one or two dogs. These dogs are expected to be trustworthy enough to be left alone with the flock for extended periods of time. They instinctively learn to stay with their flock. Though they will drive off intruders, they will always return to the animals they have learned to guard.

Though these dogs spend their entire lives with their flocks, they are not completely isolated from human contact. They are given food, water and shelter by humans and adult dogs are often allowed to play with children for short periods of time. Many of the breeds used as guardian dogs can also double as house pets. However, the dog must always understand that its first priority is the flock it has been trained to guard.