Promoting Livestock Guardian Dogs as a highly effective strategy for preventing livestock predation in Australian Agriculture.
08/07/2024
LEPTOSPIROSIS risks increase with continued wet weather
issues a stark warning to pet owners about the rapidly increasing risk of ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ด๐. https://www.australiandoglover.com/2024/06/leptospirosis-risk-increase-in-nsw.html
๐ง With NSW experiencing some of the most severe downpours this winter, PIA stresses the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures to protect our pets. Learn the ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ฑ and the ๐๐๐บ๐ฝ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ!
08/06/2024
On Wednesday 5th June, we (myself and Robyn Jay of Maremma Support NQ) presented a webinar to the AWL Queensland, & the G2Z memberships, focusing on how shelters, pounds and rescues can better understand and help Livestock Guardian Dogs that come in to their care.
With an increase in the number of abandoned, surrendered and lost LGDs in Australia, these organisations need to prepare for that trajectory to continue.
In the USA, there are thousands of LGDs lost, abandoned and surrendered each day.
11/07/2023
I had the pleasure today to do what I absolutely love - assisting a local rescued Maremma (now 2 months in her new home) to "come into her own" and to reduce her fear about strangers on the property.
This dog has been in suburbia and the pound. You ABSOLUTELY CAN re-adapt a suburban LGD to a working / livestock guarding situation. In this case, it is with chickens too! You just need the right environment and guidance and the right genetics.
Today's process isn't about removing the natural guarding instinct. This dog is highly fearful and reactive to strangers due to a lack of socialisation and she is relatively new to this environment. So via the process of desensitisation, we were creating a more appropriate response to strangers and helping her to respond to her owner's direction or reinforcement, to also guide her responses.
It went very well and she is in great hands now to progress to a reliable working livestock guardian dog with her chickens. Anything is possible. Well done team!
** IMPORTANT!** - DON'T MISS THIS TONIGHT - looking at recent dog bite atracks in QLD from one of Australia's leading Veterinary Behaviourists on Channel 10's The Project at 6.30pm.
MVSCโs Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine Dr Jacqui Ley will be joining tonight at 6:30pm on ! She will be answering questions surrounding recent dog bite attacks in Queensland that have occurred in the past week.
11/02/2023
For anyone who is interested in viewing my webinar - "Understanding Livestock Guardian Dogs is Critical to their Success as Companion Dogs" -
it will expire on this platform on 1st April 2023 so you have just under 7 weeks to view it there. I hope it helps you with your beloved LGDS!
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Innovating Predator Control in Australian Agriculture
Livestock Guardian Dogs Australia, promotes the use of Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) to prevent livestock predation in Australia. This is the first time that a service offering the practical day to day problem solving and expertise in the use of LGDs has been offered to Australian farmers who are prepared to commit to this strategy via workshops, field trips, consultancy services and most importantly, ongoing support. It is the day to day practicalities that can determine the success or failure of this strategy for the farmer and acquiring the requisite skills and understanding are critical to that success.
Erin is passionate about this innovative and highly effective strategy and offers practical help to farmers who feel they are in a hopeless spiral of stock and financial losses, economic uncertainty and mental stress. She recently explained her motivation -
โWhen I heard of yet another farmer taking their life as a result of the devastation of livestock predation on their operation, I decided someone had to take up this challenge and reach out to these people. I am hoping that this initiative will help to relieve those feelings of desperation amongst affected farmers and their communities.โ
This highly effective strategy can not only save a livestock enterprise from financial ruin, there are also so many spin-off benefits for improving mental health for farming families and their rural communities. Letโs not waste this opportunity.
Livestock Guardian Dogs Australia was conceived by Erin Williams, who is internationally recognised for her understanding, experience and expertise in LGD training, management, deployment and support. Livestock Guardian Dogs Australia seeks to draw on that knowledge to educate and support Australian farmers to implement a successful livestock guardian dog strategy in their own operations.
LGDAโs education program also addresses some of the myths that surround the use of LGDs and shows how the strategy can be implemented so that it is reliable and effective.
Livestock guardian dogs have long been considered the โPrimary Strategyโ for preventing livestock predation in their countries of origin such as - Europe, Turkey, Central Asia and Russia. In Australia, LGDs are still only considered to be a โComplimentary Strategyโ in combination with other methods such as trapping, baiting and shooting. Yet there is overwhelming global evidence of their outstanding efficacy in stopping the predation of livestock. Early adopters of this strategy in Australia attest to their usefulness and effectiveness in reducing losses from wild dog attacks on livestock including, sheep and lambs, goats and kids, cattle and calves, all types of fowl and even horses and ponies. In some cases it is possible to achieve a 100% success rate with an LGD strategy in place.
