Livestock guardian dogs holds a very important place and job at their farms. However it is very easy to lose sight of what they are - livestock guardian DOGS. They are still dogs that have needs like any other dog. Many issues with behavior can be boiled down to a need not being met. This gets discussed often with people (in order to learn and do your job well, your needs must be met first). Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a well known idea in the field of psychology. It breaks down what needs are necessary for someone to fulfill their potential. Those needs apply to all living things! If you want a dog that will actually learn from the training you give it and perform its job properly, the dog's needs must be met!
Physiological needs always come first. These are the needs of hunger, thirst, and sleep. Does your dog get enough food? Are they underweight? Overweight? Is the food meeting their nutritional needs? (If not check out our sister group on health, Livestock Guardian Dogs - All About Health). Do they have access to water at all times? Do they get enough sleep? That can be an issue for solo dogs. Even on a small property, a partner can be helpful even if just to take turns sleeping and guarding. Does the dog get enough exercise? If your dog is too playful with stock it probably needs a walk or enrichment.
Once those needs are met, consider the need for safety. Does the dog need to fear anything? Loss of resources? Feeling vulnerable? Not secure in their environment (especially for a dog in a new place!)? Health conditions that make them feel insecure? Does the dog have a good shelter option they can use if they choose? Any phobias? Any bad experiences with the livestock, people, or dogs they may be worrying about?
If you are certain your dog's basic physical needs are met and they feel safe and secure the next thing to consider is their need for belongingness. Do they have their social needs met or do they feel neglected and lonely? Play time with people and other dogs really helps in this regard. Also building a relationship with your dog and earning their trust is important as well.
A dog with sufficient social outlets will need to make sure they are confident. They need to build up their esteem just like we do. By praising them for what you want them to do (even if you know they know what they are doing) you help them stay confident! Make sure to respect them and listen to their communications just as you want them to respect and listen to you. Help them feel a sense of achievement to continue what they do best!
Now the best part! If all of your dogs needs have been met (and they really build on top of each other well) you can now think about their need for Self-Actualization! This is their learning potential, their problem solving skills, their guarding instincts. Help them practice what you want them to actually do! Manage them and their behaviors to help avoid them doing something that you don't want to see in a LGD. Set them up for success to be the best guardian and partner they can be!
Hopefully this has helped clarify the needs your dog has. This is why it is important to think about everything in your LGDs life when dealing with a behavioral issue. There are so many factors to consider that can contribute to certain behaviors. As much as you may want a quick fix, getting to the root cause of what is happening will help guide your dog on a wonderful path for success that will be a much more long term solution!
Check out Training Support for Livestock Guardian Dogs for more information on these fantastic dogs!
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