The livestock guardian dog is an essential part of so many farms and ranches around the world. Livestock guardian dogs or LGDs are a group of dog breeds bred to live with and protect stock.

Most people have heard of Great Pyreness dog which originated from the Pyrenees mountain region between France and Spain. There are the Anatolian and Akbash from Turkey. The Maremma from Italy, and the Kuvasz and Komonder from Hungary. And there are many other LGD breeds, but they all have one purpose to protect their “family or herd”. These dogs are big and powerful and can take down whatever wild beast tries to infiltrate their flock or herd.

They are not not what we would consider an “easy to train” breed, say like a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd (which are actually a herding breed and thrive on pleasing their owners). The LGD breeds are bred to be independent thinkers. They are there to watch, protect and act when the situation arises without the owner telling them to.

These dogs are purposefully raised from puppyhood with whatever livestock they may be protecting. Whether it be hundreds of sheep on a large sheep ranch (there would be several LGDs living within the flock) or a small farm where the LGD may be protecting a herd of goats or a flock of ducks and chickens.

So they do not do well in the city or town as they tend to roam and bark. That is just part of their make-up and what they are bred to do. They are much happier with room to move around and something to protect.

Or in our case, our LGD  was raised with the family and all the other small animals; chickens, cats, dogs, puppies etc so we are her “herd” that she protects. She’s what we would call a LGD that is a farm guardian.

We got our first LGD several years ago when we had problems with coyotes to close to the house and small dogs. Ben was actually half Great Pyrenees and half Newfoundland (which is not a livestock guardian breed). But the Great Pyreness half made him the best farm guardian and his Newfie half made him the sweetest friend.

Later we bought a purebred Great Pyreness to join Ben. We hoped that he would help raise and train her as he was middle-aged by then. (Unfortunately, the giant breeds do not live as long as small dog breeds). And it’s always good to have more than one LGD so they can work together to protect their herd.

Unfortunately, the new addition ended up with congenital health issues and we had to lay her to rest at about a year of age as her health with so bad and there was no remedy.

Then a few years ago, I started researching LGD breeds again hoping to add another before Ben was gone. I was leaning towards another Great Pyrenees but was a bit hesitant with what happened with our last one.

I came across information about the Bulgarian Karakachan. Hmm…this sounded interesting. They weren’t quite as big as some of the other breeds, had a nice thick coat for winter weather and were more family-friendly and not as strong-willed and independent as some of the other breeds.

And then I found Zuma puppy at a family farm on the west side of Washington. And she joined the pack at Pinewood. Ben was ever patient with her puppy-ness and of course, Cajsa, the German Shepherd made sure Zuma knew from the start the she was the boss lady.

Zuma has grown into such a good dog. And now that Ben is gone she is an ever-important member of the farm and “patrol squad”.

When the puppies are outside playing she is almost always leaning on the fence next to them. When they reach through and chew on her hair or pull her tail she doesn’t mind.

And recently when we had a friend visit I found out what a great farm guardian she has turned into.

This person has only been to our home a couple times. She dropped her car off for my hubby to work on. The big dogs slowly warmed up to her as she was there talking with hubby. But as she was leaving she saw the puppies playing over in the garden so she headed that way to say “hello”. But Zuma stopped her from getting to close to “her” puppies by giving a low, warning growl. (I think hubby had gone back into the garage and I was in the house). So our friend obliged and headed to the gate instead of towards the puppies. (She told me this story when she came back a week later for her car.)

Zuma probably would’ve been fine if one of us were out there with our friend and the puppies, but she did what her instinct told her to do. I must protect my “herd”.

We are so blessed to have (and had) some amazing farm guardians to keep our “family” safe!

❤️