Livestock guardian dogs protect flocks from predators but have their own welfare needs that are sometimes overlooked.
Livestock guardian dogs are working animals whose welfare is sometimes secondary to their function. Working in isolation, exposed to harsh weather, distant from veterinary care, and sometimes poorly fed, LGDs can experience significant welfare deficits despite their important role. At the same time, well-kept LGDs with appropriate nutrition, veterinary care, socialization, and shelter have working lives that align with their genetic predispositions. Recognizing LGD welfare as inseparable from their effectiveness is both ethically sound and practically important.