How do the dogs protect their flocks?
Pego
The way a dog protects it's flock is two-fold.
Firstly, the dog maintains a perimeter in it's territory. It does this by walking the line (fenced or not) and marking territory. This in itself is a deterrent for predators as the air is rich with the smell of a large carnivore (the dog) and a predator will sooner choose something else to hunt.
If a brave or dimwitted predator launches an assault, the dog will mock charge, hackles up, barking and growling, kicking up dirt, tail over its back - it will really put up a performance and make itself seem as big and fierce as it can. The dog will not leave it's flock to chase after the predator - the dog waits for the predator to come to the flock. Then it engages, and the dogs have been known to kill things like jackals, baboons and even cats.
The dog doesn't leave its flock, as that opens the flock up to attack by a second predator (in the case of predators that hunt in pairs or groups). If there is more than one dog, they'll work as a team. One will stay with the flock while the other sees the threat off.
The flock learns that when the dog charges out, something is amiss, and they'll tend to flock together, knowing that danger is close.
Pego, pictured above, helped his farmer reduce his stock losses from one lamb a month, to ZERO losses over his three working years. This on a 2200ha game ranch with resident and transient lion, leopard, jackal, cheetah, hyena, baboons and more.
Firstly, the dog maintains a perimeter in it's territory. It does this by walking the line (fenced or not) and marking territory. This in itself is a deterrent for predators as the air is rich with the smell of a large carnivore (the dog) and a predator will sooner choose something else to hunt.
If a brave or dimwitted predator launches an assault, the dog will mock charge, hackles up, barking and growling, kicking up dirt, tail over its back - it will really put up a performance and make itself seem as big and fierce as it can. The dog will not leave it's flock to chase after the predator - the dog waits for the predator to come to the flock. Then it engages, and the dogs have been known to kill things like jackals, baboons and even cats.
The dog doesn't leave its flock, as that opens the flock up to attack by a second predator (in the case of predators that hunt in pairs or groups). If there is more than one dog, they'll work as a team. One will stay with the flock while the other sees the threat off.
The flock learns that when the dog charges out, something is amiss, and they'll tend to flock together, knowing that danger is close.
Pego, pictured above, helped his farmer reduce his stock losses from one lamb a month, to ZERO losses over his three working years. This on a 2200ha game ranch with resident and transient lion, leopard, jackal, cheetah, hyena, baboons and more.
How to do they learn to do this?
Pego hears something
The main purpose of having these dogs is to protect livestock against predators, both animal and human.
The typical Anatolian will be born amongst a flock/herd of stock, typically goats or sheep. The mother will whelp down among them and the puppies will spend their first few weeks growing up around the lambs. The puppies receive no "cuddles and love" from people. They are dewormed and treated for any parasitic issues but they are not petted. Even their mother is not handled by people during this time.
At the age of 12 weeks, the pups go in with their flock. It is in the next few months that they learn things like play inhibition (goats don't tolerate a rambuncious puppy) and they learn to accept the herd or flock as their family. This is the most critical period of learning for a puppy. Food is left down for the puppy and they get busy becoming a guardian.
By the age of 10 months the dogs are working as they will for the rest of their lives. It is vital that people don't engage or feed the dogs. Feeling sorry for a working dog and feeding it or showering it with affection can end it's career. The dogs are fed but are naturally lean animals, and economical eaters. If you see a lean, dirty LGD, that's exactly how it is supposed to look.
Click here to read a report from 2011 on the progress of many working dogs.
The typical Anatolian will be born amongst a flock/herd of stock, typically goats or sheep. The mother will whelp down among them and the puppies will spend their first few weeks growing up around the lambs. The puppies receive no "cuddles and love" from people. They are dewormed and treated for any parasitic issues but they are not petted. Even their mother is not handled by people during this time.
At the age of 12 weeks, the pups go in with their flock. It is in the next few months that they learn things like play inhibition (goats don't tolerate a rambuncious puppy) and they learn to accept the herd or flock as their family. This is the most critical period of learning for a puppy. Food is left down for the puppy and they get busy becoming a guardian.
By the age of 10 months the dogs are working as they will for the rest of their lives. It is vital that people don't engage or feed the dogs. Feeling sorry for a working dog and feeding it or showering it with affection can end it's career. The dogs are fed but are naturally lean animals, and economical eaters. If you see a lean, dirty LGD, that's exactly how it is supposed to look.
Click here to read a report from 2011 on the progress of many working dogs.