Good Fences Make Good Neighbors: Implementation of Electric Fencing for Establishing Effective Livestock-Protection Dogs

• Main Authors: Gehring, Thomas M., VerCauteren, Kurt C., Cellar, Anna C.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@USU 2011
• Subjects: Canis lupus; depredation; fencing; human–wildlife conflicts; livestock protection dog; Michigan; wildlife damage management; wolf; Animal Sciences
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol5/iss1/12; https://doi.org/10.26077/pmra-h921; https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/context/hwi/article/1256/viewcontent/GehringEtAlSpring2011.pdf

To be effective, livestock protection dogs (LPDs) must be carefully integrated with the livestock they will be protecting. Others have developed guidelines to assist producers in this training and assimilation process. In many areas fencing is necessary; however, guidelines for containing LPDs and their livestock behind electric fencing are lacking. We present results from larger projects involving LPDs where we encountered issues with fencing and preventing LPDs from roaming from their owner’s property. We found that ranging and escaping from pastures was exhibited by LPDs that were not properly introduced and trained to electric fencing at an early age. LPDs that were trained strategically to respect electric fencing were effective guardians and did not leave livestock pastures.