Natural Guardians for Sustainable Predator Control

disclaimer.... this was a school project of which I got a very good grade....

I loved writing it. I think it is an interesting story.

Chief

Natural Guardians
For Sustainable Predator Control
     It is very important to live in harmony with nature. Every living creature adds value to the future of our planet. Thousands of years ago when humans learned to farm and raise their own food it became clear that they would have to protect their livelihood from loss to wild animals and fellow humans. In the early days herds of sheep and goats were wealth and of course the mainstay of diet and clothing for the population. Sheep and goat herders needed to travel and move with their flocks, many times intruding on the present natural population of predators such as wolves and bears. Most of the time there was no fencing at night so the shepherd brought along a guard animal. They desired “ecofriendly predator control” (King 17). Herders, farmers, and ranchers’ best friend is the Livestock Guardian Dog. LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN DOGS CAN BE COUNTED ON TO PROVIDE PROTECTION AND COMPANIONSHIP.
      It was during this time thousands of years ago that herders bred by severely culling the best dogs for the job.  The rugged mountain terrain that extents from Portugal to the Anatolian Plateau of Turkey on into Iran would find shepherds tending their flocks (Ancona). This is a huge mountain range that includes many countries. The herders were very isolated so their dogs developed different looks or as we know them now as breeds of dogs. Dogs that developed in Spain did not look like the dogs that developed in Turkey although they have many similar characteristics. Most LGD’s are white and blend in with the herd making a dark predator stands out. A guardian dog should be calm and should not disturb the flock when passing through the herd. The dog should have size, possess the protective abilities and be compatible with the livestock. If the dog was left with the flock without the shepherds he would need to stay and protect it. 
     Spain boasts the Great Pyrenees dog (Prys). He has a long white coat and sometimes weighs as much as one hundred and twenty five pounds or more (Sims 26). Further to the east the Maremma dog which is smaller than the Pry is popular. This is also a long haired white dog. Moving along the mountain range to Yugoslavia the Shar Planinetz is prevalent. This dog is smaller than the previous two and his long coat is white to black in color. Brown color with dark muzzle is the most common color for the Shar Planinetz. Hungry has the Kuvasz another long-coated white dog. Bulgaria and Rumania have the Komondor a very unique dog in that its white coat drapes like dread locks. (Anacona) Mr. Luxton mentions “The idea of the dreadlocks is that they mat together, get sticks etc. caught up in then and form a type of natural fang proof armor. This is very effective protection when fighting a wolf pack” (Livestock). Tibet has the Tibetan Mastiff which is believed to be “the oldest of the large breeds of dogs” (Sims 36). The Tibetan Mastiff is generally black or black and tan.
     Turkey developed the Anatolian Shepard Dogs with both short and long coats. This dog comes in almost every color with tan and a black mask being the most common. The Anatolian Shepard dog is not as uniform in look as it developed over a huge area. The official breed name was decided in “1983 by The Kennel Club in England. After years of hearings and what is said to have been thousands of pages of testimony, a geneticist appointed by the organization testified that Karabas/Karabash and Akbas/Akbash were simply color descriptions and that using those terms to indicate distinct breeds was incorrect … the breed’s name was officially established as Anatolian Shepard Dog” (Beauchamp 17).  All LGD’s are large to fend off predators yet have a low metabolism enabling the dog to eat off the land. These dogs need only as much food as a medium size dog.  (Beauchamp 17)
     In North America the LGD breeds were almost unheard of before 1970’s. It was at this point the “Endangered Species Act triggered a search for a means of controlling predators without killing them” (Shook).
      How can a dog that is naturally a predator himself be left with the herd? Six to seven hundred years of ruthless culling or selective breeding made these dogs what they are today. If the dog had any defects it was cast off because there was not enough to feed an animal that could not pay for its keep. Only a pup or two where kept from a litter. By today’s standards this is merciless, but necessary for the survival of the Sheppard and the protection of the herd. The dogs are independent thinkers and have been bred to stay with the flock for long periods of time to guard without human contact. The dogs fend for themselves eating mice and rabbits leaving their charges safe. Livestock Guardian Dogs have “remained relatively unchanged from its ancestors because of the nature of its isolated existence” (Anatolian 1).
     In Turkey when mothers would work in the field they would sometimes tie a rope around their small children’s waist and the other end to the collar of their Anatolian. The women could then work with no worry for the safety of their children (Beauchamp 15).
     Meet the Burfitts, they moved to twelve hundred picturesque acres in Newport, Washington. They stocked their farm with goats, sheep, horses, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, rabbits and Anatolian Shepherds. For a year before the dogs were acquired a member of the Burfitt family stood guard in the pasture with a rifle. A bear got three lambs and sometimes the horses would come in with slash marks from cougars. When the Anatolians arrived it was “instant understanding with the area’s indigenous meat-eaters” The farms around the Burfitts lost several animals while one neighbor lost cows to a cougar attack. The mountain lion outright killed one cow and injured three others so badly they had to be put down. The Burfitts state “We've never lost anything since” we got the dogs (Shook).
     In Montana, Rose Qualley better known as Andie MacDowell worried about her young son hunting frogs or hanging with friends out in the meadow so the actress got an Anatolian. Buddy the new dog “never takes his eyes off him… he is his lamb”. Her fear was the mountain lion. (Shook).
     Using the almost forgotten breeds of guardian dogs is easier than trying to kill predators with poison, traps and bullets. Large predators are valuable for environmental health. It is an expression of “cultural wisdom” (qtd. in Shook). While 99% of the time the dogs’ mere presence is enough to keep a predator away. The dogs “protect predators by minimizing conflict with humans” (Shook)
     Several zoos use LGD’s as partner animals, one of which is Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary (City). If visiting San Diego Safari Park or Zoo “you might be able to have the opportunity to meet the Anatolian Shepard Dogs that live” there (King). One of the dogs is Duke the companion dog to Taraji the Cheetah. 
     Mr. Loxton, a forest contractor puts it this way, “Guardian dogs want to guard you, they can’t help it, that’s their strongest instinct” (Livestock). Bred to guard sheep and goats the LGD trade over to alpacas, horses, cheetahs, etc. and the human family if bonded when young. In a farm setting they will protect ‘their family’ including cats and chickens along with the livestock. When on guard the dog will patrol the perimeter of his ranch then will take a vantage point to keep watch. These dogs are suspicious of strangers and like a “formal introduction’ to any new comers (Anatolian).
      The story I am about to relate could be any one of these awesome breeds. They are all courageous and serious guardians. As we know many species of animals are endangered one of which is the Cheetah. The Cheetah Outreach uses the Anatolian Dog as a tool for the preservation of the Cheetah. 
     The use of Anatolian Shepherd dogs as a non-lethal method of predator control for farmers is proving to be a valuable conservation tool.  Cheetah Outreach placed many Anatolian Shepard’s on “South African farms in an effort to reduce conflict between farmers and predators”.  The farmers in the program are instructed in care of their dog to provide the best outcome. Cheetah Outreach is involved in the collection of livestock loss data before, during and after the placement of livestock guarding dogs in order to quantify the success of this program, as well as to identify where the program may be improved. “Since the programme [sic] was implemented, Anatolian guard dogs have been placed on farms in cheetah range in Limpopo, North West and Northern Cape Provinces, where they have reduced livestock losses from 95 to 100%” (Cheetah). “How does this help Cheetahs? If the cats stay away from the livestock, they won’t be killed by farmers or ranchers” (King). 
     A third of the way around the world in Canada Mr. Loxton a forest contractor granted permission to the Great Pyrenees Club of Southern Ontario to tell his story. 
“I have been a silvicultural contractor for 34 years (17 years tree planting contracting, employing 100 to 200 planters per year, and 17 years as a sheep vegetation management (sheep veg. mgmt.) contractor using approximately 6,000 sheep per year”. During his early years Loxton learned he never wanted to go into the forest without a LGD. He learned this all in one day. The first day coming back to camp he caught three bears eating half their food rations. It was lean pickings till they were air lifted out. They had a rifle but warning shots didn’t affect the bears. The bears continued to hang around till they finished the month long project. Loxton states having large fires at night but the bears got used to them after a while. After that Loxton decided to become a forest contractor and to get serious about contracting. The supplies he would need would include bear dogs. Loxton soon was the best tree planting contractor in the world. There is always more to learn about living safely in bear country though.  
While out planting trees with the dogs, the camp was raided by bears and several tents were ruined. “The cooks were angry with me for taking the dog to the block, and demanded their dog back”. Next day the bear showed up with the sheep. Loxton was fed up so he shot the bear. The workers were then angry and threaten to quit after the second bear killing. Loxton decided to add more dogs (Livestock).  
     Loxton was especially fond of Tiger a one hundred and fifty pound Great Pyrenees. The pyrs are his favorite LGD breed and here is another of his stories:
     Herders including my son Daniel were trailing fifteen hundred sheep around a bend. I heard told at the perfect spot for an ambush a grizzly charged into the rear of the flock. Two of the Prys held the grizzly off till the other dogs could get there. Bears are opportunists and want an easy meal so with so many snarling dogs after him the bear decided to leave with the dogs chasing after him into the density of the forest.  No sooner did the dogs get back to their positions alongside the sheep did Daniel turn around to see the grizzly headed at him in a dead run.  Paralyzed Daniel thought it was the end when the bear veered off at the last second. Tiger lead the pack fighting off that bear. While the dogs lunged, growled, darted, and snarled that bear was soon out of there with the dogs on its tail. The flock was again moving and turning into an open area. Here comes that bear again this time headed for a female herder. The girl was frozen in fear and just stood there rather than getting into the center of the flock where she would be safest. (It is thought that the bear would rather take the closest easiest dinner at this point.) Here comes Tiger again holding off the bear till the other dogs arrived and “another huge battle erupted” (qtd. in Livestock).  
     Loxton handles sheep with the help of herding dogs as well. These are smaller dogs and used to herd although they join the LGD’s making such a big commotion it rushes the predator off.  Loxton feels eight Pyrs. per fifteen hundred sheep is a good number with as many as 50 dogs handling six thousand sheep. Little blood is shed because it is the intent of the LGD to “be as intimidating and as big a hassle as possible” to handle the job (qtd. in Livestock).
     Tiger might be Loxton’s favorite dog as he was also a movie star. “A movie crew filmed a documentary for the television program Dogs With Jobs featuring “Tiger: Bear Dog,” which showed in sixty three countries. Tiger … actually treed a black bear for the film crew, but he was only playing and wagged his tail the whole time” (qtd. in Livestock). 
     Part of Loxtons’ initiation of new workers is a little speech: 
“Bears live here and bears eat people. They don’t prefer to eat people, its [sic] just that they eat pretty well anything including vegetation, berries, fish, carrion, apple pies, garbage, toothpaste, grubs, insects, people, deer, moose, cows, sheep, bears, candy, etc. They don’t hate you or like you. They don’t care. You are just protein to them.” 
     This was a good idea in light that for thirty nine days they were visited by a different black bear every day. Later in the season and at another location not too far away “grizzly’s visited every day for eight days. In downtown Hyder (only 100 km from our work site) a grizzly killed and partially ate a man behind the pub” (qtd. in Livestock).
     Loxton states being a little further north and seeing firsthand the amazing size of the grizzly bear when two come walking into camp. He felt his days were numbered with the dogs being out with the sheep. Fortunately the bears turned around and left. It was a reminder of his vulnerability. Loxton “realized that [the] travel trailers were basically cardboard boxes and his .303 rifle was a toy”. The fact that Loxton lost only eight sheep in his seventeen years of sheep management speaks for itself and his LGD’s (qtd. in Livestock).
     The wolf packs have been growing in size in Montana and are a huge concern to the ranchers there. Montana Cattlemen’s Association believes the wolf population is getting out of control and at times the LGD’s are killed in the line of duty. The wolves are being accused of “joy killing”, killing many animals and not eating what they kill (Montana).  A lesson can be learned perhaps from Loxton on the number of LGD’s needed to do the job. 
     Dr. Nina Ward rescues Anatolian dogs so some training is needed constantly with the turnover of dogs. Dr. Ward tells this story:
One night a bitch that was usually sensible began to bark and bark. Dr. Ward after yelling several times to the offending dog to shut up went out to yell “Enough”. It was raining and cold so after dressing to go out to scream in the dogs face, a method she used. She found the dog standing over a new born kid the mother goat had abandoned it. The dog was keeping the other goats from the kid and shielding it from the rain with her own body. After apologizing to the dog she brought the kid in and was able to save it. The baby goat would have surely died that night if it wasn’t for the independent thinking of her dog.  This was early in her Anatolian career she says. Now dogs that don’t usually bark I tend to believe and go out with a flash light to see what is happening (King 27).
     Dr. Ward also had a LGD that hated birds and “for years [I] had no Great Blue Herons, Egrets, Turkeys, Vultures or Canadian geese on the property” (qtd. in King 27). One day the dog was barking and barking so she went out to check what the barking was about and found a helium balloon stuck in the tree. When there is a perceived threat these dogs will not back down. (King 27).     
     Nick and Mike Hager local nature loving men (and my sons) took a hike along the Pacific Crest Trail bringing along  Patches our Anatolian for reassurance of safety. Patches carried her own water and food. She was a real trooper letting the boys know when the hike was over. They went about 8 miles. Disclaimer: Dogs have to get the pads of their feet toughened.  
     A livestock guardian dog is the sustainable way to discourage predators. In Africa the cheetah is protected by the Anatolian Shepard Dogs by keeping the farmers livestock safe and saving the cheetahs from the ranchers. In Montana the LGD is being used to suppress the wolf’s predatory nature while cougars stay away from farms with LGD’s. In Canada when working with Loxton the sheep and sheepherders are safe from the bears because of the vigilance of the Great Pyrenees Dog. Turkish women working in the field feel secure with Anatolians watching over their children. Little boys hunting frogs and men hiking the Pacific Crest Trail can be safe with LGD’s as their companions.
      Research should be done before adding this dog to the family. Most breeds can be found through their Dog Club of the same name. An established breeder is important for healthy puppies, support and guidance. Livestock Guardian Dogs are not a dog for a first time dog owner. The dog will be happiest with a job to do so please keep this in mind when selecting a LGD. Below is an excellent source of reference books, articles and newsletters. 
     You can see Anatolian puppies at hcwalpacas.yolasite.com