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most common guardian dog, primarily because it is a good guardian breed and is the least aggressive towards people and livestock. Since most people who own sheep and goats have small flocks and live in more populated areas, these dogs are a good fit. However, larger range flocks might require a more aggressive breed to control predation. The Akbash is regarded as the most aggressive and protective breed for small ruminants. Regardless of breed, animals within them differ widely and you should pay particular attention to the tendencies of the individual dog. Sex of LGDs Either sex can be an effective LGD and spaying or neutering does not seem to decrease a guardian dog’s protectiveness. Females tend to stay with the flock/herd and males tend to roam more and pro- tect the perimeter. Some ranchers find that having both provides the best protection. Others prefer only males or females. Neutering males tends to reduce how much they roam and can be beneficial, especially when this roaming conflicts with neigh- bors. Heat cycles for intact females can disrupt pro- tection by drawing in outside dogs or distracting male LGDs from their duties. In addition, when females whelp and rear a litter of puppies, they are not as effective in their role as protectors. How many dogs do you need? The number of dogs required for optimal protec- tion varies according to the size of pasture, num- ber of herd groups, topography, flocking instinct of the livestock, number and species of predators, fencing, and guardian dog behavior. The general recommendation is one dog per 100 ewes or does. However, this number is not absolute. Except for small flocks that are close to the house, two dogs are probably more desirable because if one dog is lost the animals will still be protected. On the other hand, flocks of 1,000 or more seldom have more than six LGDs. Start with one or two dogs and evaluate their effectiveness after they reach maturity. Adding newly bonded dogs to a herd that has a mature and effective LGD already in place, is often more successful than starting with three or more untrained dogs. Younger dogs learn from 5 mature guardians. Add new LGDs periodically to achieve an even age distribution and ensure there are always adequate numbers of mature, effective LGDs with the flock. Proper care Feed your guardian dogs high quality dog food, especially adolescent LGDs. This will help ensure good health and keep dogs from roaming in search of food. Dog food is usually dispensed via self-feed- ers or daily feeding. If you do not visit the herd daily, you can use self-feeders that exclude the livestock (Fig. 5). However, these self-feeders often draw varmints, such as raccoons. These varmints will greatly increase annual the cost of dog food if they are not dealt with. If you check the livestock daily, LGDs can be fed during normal flock checks. This rewards the dogs for remaining with the herd and provides a structured feeding pattern. Hand feeding eliminates varmint issues and cuts down on waste by reducing overconsumption by the dogs. LGDs often seek out birthing ewes/does to feed on the afterbirth (Fig. 6). Most ranchers allow this because it helps LGDs gain body weight during the lambing/kidding period and they provide added protection from raccoons, skunks, foxes, and crows, etc., that prey on newborns. Figure 5. This self-feeder is made from three panels arranged as a triangle. The right side of the pen and has a small panel with a 2-foot space at the bottom for dogs to go under. Photo provided by Reid Redden