Guardian dogs protect flocks from predators

Livestock guardian dogs are medium to large sized dogs that live permanently with livestock in the paddock to protect them from predators.

In the Northern Hemisphere, where guardian dogs have been used for centuries, the dogs are usually accompanied by shepherds. In Italy, where Maremma Sheepdogs originated, the sheep are herded to summer grazing in the mountains and valleys in the presence of shepherds who assist in warding off any predators.

Similarly, in the US, the larger sheep ranching properties take their sheep up into the summer forest grazing leases. These sheep are also accompanied by guardian dogs of various breeds and shepherds that live with these mobs 24/7 during the spring and summer.

Guardian dogs in the Northern Hemisphere protect sheep from predators like wolves, bears, coyotes and mountain lions. Here in Australia, the main predators they deal with are dingoes, foxes and roaming domestic dogs.

Unlike in the Northern Hemisphere, guardian dogs in Australia are not assisted by humans or shepherds to protect livestock.

Guardian dogs regard the sheep as their social companions, protecting them from anything that they see as a threat. They have been bred to be non-threatening to sheep in their appearance and behaviour. This allow the guardian dogs to integrate themselves with groups of sheep, be accepted by them and live amongst them. They make their own decisions and work unsupervised and independent of humans.

Guardian dogs should not be confused with herding dogs, even though both are working dogs. Herding dogs work by gathering livestock in groups and moving them from place to place. Guardian dogs protect livestock but do not herd them on command.

Bonding, training and management

In Australia, there are a limited number of available breeds of livestock guardian dog. The Maremma Sheepdog is by far the most numerous. Maremmas weigh 30–45 kg and stand 60–74 cm tall.

If properly bonded to livestock, Maremmas will spend most of their time with their charges without wandering. During the day, they tend to rest among their livestock or they may seek an elevated spot from which to keep watch. Maremmas are most active at night, making their presence known and confronting predators if needed. They are fast, agile and strong dogs but use no more force than is necessary to see off a predator.

Bonding and training of guardian dog pups, or even integrating a pre-trained mature guardian dog into a property, takes a significant investment in time. Sourcing trained adult guardian dogs can be difficult, so it is usual to start off with pups. For guardian dogs bought as pups, it can take two years for them to properly bond with livestock to enable them to become an effective guardian. Even then, their first experiences with serious predators must not be overwhelming; the guardian dog needs to gain confidence in its ability as it matures, which can take another two years.

Established guardian dogs are not a “set and forget” option; there are ongoing time and financial considerations including feeding, maintenance and healthcare.

Guardian dogs in Australia protect sheep without the help of humans. Therefore to be effective, the number of guardian dogs needed to adequately protect livestock depends on various factors including the size of the main predator (e.g. wild dog vs fox), number of predators (e.g. pack of wild dogs vs single wild dog), type of livestock (e.g. lambing ewes vs wethers), size of area (e.g. large paddock vs small paddock), terrain (e.g. hilly and/or timbered vs flat paddock), and other control measures (e.g. fenced vs unfenced paddock).

In most cases, other wild dog and fox control methods will still need to be used. The use of guardian dogs has been most successful in areas fenced off to reduce predator pressure (and prevent guardian dogs wandering off).

How do guardian dogs protect livestock?

Because predators are more likely to attack when there are no people present, most confrontations between guardian dogs and predators are not observed. However, it is thought that guardian dogs protect stock from predators primarily through disruption and confrontation.

Disruption is caused by the presence and behaviour of the guardian dog interrupting the hunting behaviour of the predator. Most guardian dog breeds are large with a deep bark, and they become noisy and active when any unfamiliar animal approaches. In most cases, the predator chooses to withdraw and seek different prey elsewhere.

Confrontation involves the guardian dog directly confronting a predator that is attacking, chasing or approaching livestock, in an attempt to force it to withdraw. If necessary, the guardian dog will attack and fight off the predator. However, violent interactions between guardian dogs and wild predators are generally rare.

This article appeared in the Autumn 2025 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine that was published in March 2025. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.