Why do they need to be rehabilitated in the first place?
Irrespective of its breed or the job it is supposed to do, a dog is still a dog. A dog has instincts and needs.
In the case of LGDs, the life of a working dog is built on the solid foundations of genetics and early socialisation. With poor genetics, the dog is being set up for a life of conflicts of instinct (shall I protect my stock or should I hunt it?) Good LGDs are purpose-bred for their low prey-drive. Just because the dog looks like an Anatolian, and is in fact an Anatolian, doesn't mean that it is (or will be) a good working livestock dog.
There are a number of elements that make up the attributes of a good working dog. The main focus of our project is to transition dogs from one species of livestock to another. The best way to illustrate this is to give two practical examples.
In the case of LGDs, the life of a working dog is built on the solid foundations of genetics and early socialisation. With poor genetics, the dog is being set up for a life of conflicts of instinct (shall I protect my stock or should I hunt it?) Good LGDs are purpose-bred for their low prey-drive. Just because the dog looks like an Anatolian, and is in fact an Anatolian, doesn't mean that it is (or will be) a good working livestock dog.
There are a number of elements that make up the attributes of a good working dog. The main focus of our project is to transition dogs from one species of livestock to another. The best way to illustrate this is to give two practical examples.
"Jakkals"
Jakkals is a 12 month old Maluti who was pulled from his sheep farm for killing sheep through rough play. Rough play doesn't have anything to do with hunting or deliberately killing. It means the dog wants to play with the sheep and will chase and harass it relentlessly. Often, especially in the case of sheep, the animal will die from shock or exhaustion. Jakkals was brought to us with the intention of transitioning him into being a pet, but after a day or so we saw something different and elected to test him with goats and cattle.
The photo to the left indicates his initial reaction to being placed with our goats. He picked out his "playmate" and started chasing. It's important that humans don't physically intervene at this moment. As with any dog, if the human intervenes, the dog learns that the human is responsible for the discipline, and simply learns to behave well when humans are in sight. However, when the humans are away, the dog will resort to old behaviours.
We left Jakkals chasing the goats, who weren't altogether perturbed and not "scattering" the way he wanted them to. We knew that retribution would come, and it did...
The photo to the left indicates his initial reaction to being placed with our goats. He picked out his "playmate" and started chasing. It's important that humans don't physically intervene at this moment. As with any dog, if the human intervenes, the dog learns that the human is responsible for the discipline, and simply learns to behave well when humans are in sight. However, when the humans are away, the dog will resort to old behaviours.
We left Jakkals chasing the goats, who weren't altogether perturbed and not "scattering" the way he wanted them to. We knew that retribution would come, and it did...
...in the form of this guy. Our ram, Allday, doesn't take kindly to over-enthusiastic behaviour. It's very apparent from Jakkals' body language that he understands what Allday is saying.
Message received, loud and clear.
Jakkals spent just over a month being taught manners by the goats and cattle and towards the end he was not exhibiting even a hint of playfulness.
Jakkals is now working on a goat farm in the Soutpansberg and his farmer sings his praises regularly. He is doing a fantastic job of guarding his herd against leopard predation - no losses since his arrival!
Sheep are just not Jakkals' thing.
Jakkals spent just over a month being taught manners by the goats and cattle and towards the end he was not exhibiting even a hint of playfulness.
Jakkals is now working on a goat farm in the Soutpansberg and his farmer sings his praises regularly. He is doing a fantastic job of guarding his herd against leopard predation - no losses since his arrival!
Sheep are just not Jakkals' thing.
LGDs are bred for a purpose and that purpose is to guard livestock. If we can transition "problem dog" onto another species, that dog can go ahead and work for 10-12 years. That means that in that time, the dog is content and fulfilled by his job, and the farmer isn't needing to resort to lethal or ineffective control methods for resident predators.
If there is a glimmer of hope that a dog can be rehabilitated, we will try. Rehabilitation is typically required when the dog is in it's delinquent stage - basically like a canine teenager! Older dogs do not typically require any form of rehabilitation and will work exactly as they should until the end of their days.
If there is a glimmer of hope that a dog can be rehabilitated, we will try. Rehabilitation is typically required when the dog is in it's delinquent stage - basically like a canine teenager! Older dogs do not typically require any form of rehabilitation and will work exactly as they should until the end of their days.
Introducing the REAL teachers and trainers!
We like to think of Allday as the Sheriff. Allday doesn't take ANY nonsense from unruly dogs. They're allowed to express themselves, but when enough is enough, it really is ENOUGH.
Allday regularly flattens the ill-mannered LGDs and swift lessons are learnt.
A Boerbok does not use its horns for protection - the lesson is dished out by use of a head-butt with the top of the head. That will literally send a dog flying and give them plenty of reasons to sit in a corner and think about what they have done.
The rest of the goat herd is very tolerant of dogs, and only react if a dog gets completely over-the-top, in which case Allday comes to "sort the problem out".
Allday regularly flattens the ill-mannered LGDs and swift lessons are learnt.
A Boerbok does not use its horns for protection - the lesson is dished out by use of a head-butt with the top of the head. That will literally send a dog flying and give them plenty of reasons to sit in a corner and think about what they have done.
The rest of the goat herd is very tolerant of dogs, and only react if a dog gets completely over-the-top, in which case Allday comes to "sort the problem out".
Heidi and her small family are our resident Dexter cattle. They are all very tiny, not bigger than 112cm at the shoulder.
Heidi is very tolerant and safe with dogs. Unless they try and play with her calves. Then Heidi will scoop those dogs up, flip them over and smoosh them into fences. Heidi's heifer calf, Rosie, is equally vicious when it's called for. Heidi's bull calf, Patrick, enjoys interacting with the dogs. He'll lick their heads, lie with them and just be their buddy. But if mum Heidi decides that the game is getting out of hand, she comes in and flattens everyone. This photo shows Heidi (standing to the left) of an Anatolian being successfully rehabilitated and transitioned onto cattle, having been a sheep killer.
Heidi is very tolerant and safe with dogs. Unless they try and play with her calves. Then Heidi will scoop those dogs up, flip them over and smoosh them into fences. Heidi's heifer calf, Rosie, is equally vicious when it's called for. Heidi's bull calf, Patrick, enjoys interacting with the dogs. He'll lick their heads, lie with them and just be their buddy. But if mum Heidi decides that the game is getting out of hand, she comes in and flattens everyone. This photo shows Heidi (standing to the left) of an Anatolian being successfully rehabilitated and transitioned onto cattle, having been a sheep killer.
If you are looking for a working livestock guardian dog, please contact Green Dogs Conservation, or Deon Cilliers from the Endangered Wildlife Trust (deonc at ewt dot org dot za)