In areas with free-living wolves livestock guardian dogs can effectively protect livestock herds. Guardian dogs report attackers and scare them off, but do not attack them; they defend the livestock against dangers rather passively. Livestock guardian protection dogs require quite a different approach than herding dogs. This specific knowledge is important to successfully manage these dogs.

Some rules:

• Livestock guard dogs are always kept together with the livestock, on the pasture and in the stable during the winter months. The most important social contact is the bond with the livestock.

• The young dog should be handled in a friendly and caring way. At the age of 12 months (at the earliest) the dog can be used to work; the behavioural development from puppy to adult dog should be recorded.

• The dogs should allow the reference person to touch them without problems. Walkers or other strangers are perceived as a normal part of the environment. If stroked, the dogs still keeps a respectful distance, even with the reference person.

• The size of the herd to be protected and the number of large predators in the region determine the number of dogs to be used. At least two dogs should always be kept together. From a herd size of 500 sheep, 2 to 3 dogs, and from 1,000 sheep more than 3 to 4 dogs are needed.

A combination of fence and guardian dogs is recommended.

The research project “Schutzmaßnahmen vor dem Wolf” (Precautions against the wolf) - conducted by the Land Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG) and the Saxonian Sheep and Goat Breeders Association published the brochure “Herdenschutzhunde und sichere Einzäunung” (Herd protection dogs and safe fencing) with detailed information on the nature, handling and upbringing of herd protection dogs.