Livestock guardian dogs and other guardian animals protect flocks but have their own welfare needs. Ensuring the welfare of animals used to protect other animals is an ethical responsibility.
Livestock guardian dogs provide enormous welfare value to the animals they protect, but their own welfare requires attention. LGDs that bond strongly to livestock may have limited human interaction and miss routine veterinary care, vaccination and parasite control. Dogs working in harsh climates need shelter, adequate nutrition and monitoring for injury from predators or livestock. In some LMIC deployments, dogs are used for predator control with minimal husbandry investment, resulting in poor welfare outcomes for the guardian animals themselves. Effective LGD programmes include comprehensive dog welfare protocols alongside flock protection objectives.