Anatolian Shepherd ‘Scent Tracing’ Danger Basically Has Spidey Senses
Livestock guardian dogs have to be on top of their game at all times, or a member of their flock will get hurt. They form really strong bonds with those animals: they don't want anything bad to happen to them. So, they work together. They get good at what they do, and they protect their own.
On Sunday, April 7th, one Anatolian Shepherd was caught on video going above and beyond. Her scent-tracing skills are a busy farmer's dream:
If there's one farm that always amazes me, it's Raventree Ranch. They have several LGDs, not just Lily, and the way they all work together is just incredible to watch!
Lily is a 4-year-old Anatolian Shepherd, one of three that lives on the ranch. They also have 4 Border Collies: it's a big farm, and they have a lot of animals. The best possible thing for the herd is to have as many guards as possible: three of them are true guardians, but a herder would lay down its life for a herd member if it needed to. It's a lot of love on those farms!
Lily is their "perimeter" dog, which means she spends a lot of her time patrolling the outskirts of the farm, while Bo and Judge are more of the middlemen: they stay near the herd. Lily is the first line of defense: she spots the danger and alerts the other dogs.
How do Livestock Guardian Dogs Actually Work?
Anatolian Shepherds are amazing, but they're not scent hounds, so the fact that Lily is able to sniff out danger is really a feat. However, like all dogs, they have a keen sense of smell, and the smell of a close-enough coyote is foreign enough to set them off.
Once the perimeter dog finds out that there are coyotes, bobcats, or other predators close by, they start barking. That barking triggers the others, and they get into their positions: typically, one stays close to the animals, while the other is able to advance a little further out. If absolutely necessary, that last dog will leave the herd and join its pack.
Livestock guardian dogs are often outfitted with spiky collars to keep predators from grabbing them by the neck. They are trained to identify danger and scare it off - they're not necessarily supposed to kill, but they will if there is no other option. There have been reports of livestock guardian dogs losing limbs and even being killed in fights with predators.
The hope is that an LGD (or a pack of them) will be sufficient enough to scare off a pack of coyotes or other animals. Their scent all over the farm and their vicious bark are thought to be enough of a deterrent that no animals, not even the coyotes, need to die - they just need to find their meal elsewhere. With Lily at the helm, that herd is safe and sound!
🐶 SIGN UP for Parade’s weekly pet newsletter for more inspiring and entertaining stories about our furry and feathered friends 🐾
