Livestock Protection Dogs

Heavy recreational use on federal lands that have been historically used for sheep grazing and continually expanding rural/urban interface on private land have combined to create occasional conflicts between recreationalists and livestock protection dogs (LPD).

Based upon recent events and incidents, the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) strongly believes that the use of LPDs on federal grazing allotments is in serious jeopardy and anticipates three possible outcomes: 1) Federal land management agencies develop their own mandatory regulations for the use of LPDs on grazing allotments; 2) Federal land management agencies completely eliminate the use of LPDs on grazing allotments; or 3) ASI takes a proactive management position and adopts a LPD management program that sets industry standards for the use of LPDs with the intent to effectively manage and maintain the use of LPDs on federal grazing allotments.

We dislike developing a program that will increase the workload for producers; however, we remain gravely concerned that if dogs aren't more intensely managed, producers won't be able to use them at all on grazing allotments in the near future.

In response to this concern, a Recommended Best Management Practices for Livestock Protection Dogs was proposed in January of this year during the Nashville convention. Comments were requested and we thank all of you who responded with concerns. We received a great amount of guidance for the second draft.

There were two main concerns voiced on the original draft: 

1. The sheep industry needs to "push back" on recreational users and keep them away from sheep.
   The sheep industry has always been a multiple-use advocate of federal lands. As such, the industry needs to acknowledge recreational resource users and work with them for collaborative solutions to conflict issues.
    
2. ASI would be "micromanaging" the producer and their LPDs with its recommendations on spaying, neutering, feeding, training, etc. for Livestock Protection Dogs.
   When writing the original draft of Recommended Best Management Practices for Livestock Protection Dogs these issues were brought forward as a response to actual and known problems that have caused, or could possibly cause the producer problems regarding the use and management of LPDs.

We have revised the original draft based on comments we've received. You will find a link below with the full version of the second draft. We again ask for input, alternative options or comments from ASI members on the second draft of the Recommended Best Management Practices for LPDs.

Comments will be accepted until July 6, 2010. Please send an e-mail to info@sheepusa.org with your comments.

Link to the full Recommended Best Management Practices for Livestock Protection Dogs.

The main changes from the January 2010 to the June 2010 draft of "Recommended Best Management Practices for LPD's:" 

1. The "Self-Certification Program" was cancelled and changed to "Recommended Best Management Practices of Livestock Protection Dogs."
2. Two paragraphs were added in the introduction section discussing the concerns of producers, the recreational pressure on producers and why the sheep industry should address these issues.
3. A new section was added on the "Fundamental Program Principles."
4. A "Future Plans for Consideration by ASI" section was added including LPD information signs and brochures.
5. Within the "Health Management Recommendations" section, an explanation of why sexually intact dogs should be monitored was given and that producers should be prepared to remove them from federal lands if their disposition confines them to private lands.
6. In the "Health Management Recommendations" section, an explanation was given on why LPDs should be discouraged to feed on sheep carcasses.
7. Also in the health management section, the shearing/clipping/grooming was altered be done as appropriate to maintain the health of the LPD.
8. In the "Livestock Protection Dog Training and Management Recommendations" section, LPDs that show "aggressive" behavior toward people should not be allowed to work on federal lands was vague and so "hyper-aggressive" was substituted.
9. The certification statement allowing the LPD owner to agree to comply with the recommended "Best Management Practices for LPDs" was removed.

     Click here to read the original draft proposal.

A presentation regarding the Livestock Protection Dog Program was presented during the 2010 ASI Annual Convention. It provides some additional background to the development of this program and why there is a need.

     LPD Presentation

Read a real life story about how a rancher is dealing with a Livestock Protection Dog allegation. Click Here.