Livestock guardian dogs and donkeys perform important welfare functions for the animals they protect, but their own welfare needs are frequently overlooked in farm management planning.
Livestock guardian animals occupy a paradoxical position — working to protect the welfare of other animals while their own welfare is sometimes neglected. LGDs that bond exclusively to livestock without adequate human socialization cannot be handled for veterinary care without significant stress and risk. Donkeys used as guardians often receive no routine dental or hoof care because their owners are not familiar with equine husbandry needs. Working farm dogs of all types are at higher risk of welfare neglect than companion animals because their value is perceived as functional rather than emotional. The welfare of guardian animals is both intrinsically important and instrumentally significant — a healthy, well-socialized LGD is more effective at its job than a neglected one.