livestock protection dog study update...kangal, karakachan, cão de gado transmontano, white dogs...

Julie K. Young, Ph.D. & Daniel Kinka

Livestock Protection Dog Study Update

Objective

Identify which breeds of LPDs are effective at protecting livestock from wolves & grizzly bears

Study sites

Kangal, Karakachan, Cão de Gado Transmontano, white dogs

Breeds

Behavior data via focal sampling & simulations

Methods

Simulation tests

Methods

Results - behavior

Results - behavior

Behavior~Decoy+LGDBreed+LGDSex+LGDAge+Decoy*LGDBreed

3 breeds = more vigilant to wolfWhite dogs & transmontano = more investigatory to wolf

Deer Wolf

Results - posture

Posture~Decoy+LGDBreed+LGDSex+LGDAge+Decoy*LGDBreed

Kangal & Karakachan = more likely upright to wolf & deerKarakachan = 2x more likely upright vs whitedog to wolf

Deer Wolf

Results - proximity

Karakachans = more likely to attend to sheep* Transmontanos = more likely to attend to wolf decoy*Kangals = equally likely attend to sheep or wolf decoy*

*compared to whitedogs

Deer Wolf

Proximity~Decoy+LGDBreed+LGDSex+LGDAge+Decoy*LGDBreed

Results - sound

Kangals & Karakachans = bark less than whitedogsTransmontano = bark less, but not significant

Deer Wolf

Sound~Decoy+LGDBreed+LGDSex+LGDAge+Decoy*LGDBreed

Preliminary conclusion

A dog is a dog is a dog?

More to come!

Sheep survival across treatmentsvia competing risk analysis

Predator/Dog/Sheep space usevia co-occurrence models

Human perceptions via hazard-acceptance model

Other studies

Who visits M-44s?

832 site days (n = 22 M-44s)

1,597 visits by 18 species other than coyotes & 29 visits by coyotes (2.8:1)

Coyotes more likely to touch M-44s (0.24:1)

Highly selective for canids

M-44s

• Captive coyote study

• Determine height: 15-18 cm ground

• Field study in North Dakota

• Paired modified & normal heights @ sets

• Coyotes only pulled 1 modified height BUT there was no pulls by nontarget canids

Modifications not useful in areas with just coyotes but may allow use of M-44s in areas where non-

target species are a concern

M-44s – reducing nontarget canid uptake

Designs least likely to coil: shower curtain & top-knot

Fladry – improve product design

Thank you