Livestock Guardians Using Dogs, Donkeys, and Llamas to Protect Your Herd

The number of Hobby Farmers in the United States is steadily rising. At the same time, predators are increasing in number and range. These predators pose a serious threat to both farm animals and the financial well-being of the farmers who raise them. fortunately, there's a solution that is low-cost, nonviolent, and highly effective: livestock guardian animals."Livestock Guardians" by Jan Dohner, is a comprehensive guide for farmers struggling to reduce predation of sheep, goats, and other livestock. Dohner, who has more than 26 years of exprience with guardian animals, helps owners understand the keys to effective livestock protection: careful selection of the right guardian animal, proper guardian-livestock bonding, dedicated training, and ongoing problem-solving.Three chapters address the use of guardian dogs; collectively, these chapters explain how to evaluate, train, understand, and socialize these hardworking canines. A separate chapter provides detailed information on many guardian breeds from around the world. Additional chapters on livestock guardian donkeys and llamas help readers select and train these animals, as well. The thorough coverge of livestock guardians includes health care information; breed profiles; case studies of real farmers effectively using guard animals; an appendix with resources, organization, and Web sites; and a 16-page colour photographic insert of guardian breeds.Using Dohner's comprehensive, practical advice, farmers will be able to reduce predation, decrease the need for corralling, become aware of disturbances in flocks, better portect their family and property, and use pastures more efficiently.

Janet Vorwald Dohner is the author of The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators, Farm Dogs, and Livestock Guardians. She has 35 years of experience on her small family farm and has relied on livestock guard dogs and corgis with her sheep, goats, and poultry. She writes for magazines, including Modern Farmer and Mother Earth News, and she gives presentations on livestock guardians and predator control at various conferences. Dohner is a board member of the Kangal Dog Club of America and a member of several learning communities for working dogs.