RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS BREEDS OF LIVESTOCK GUARDING DOGS FOR REDUCING PREDATION ON DOMESTIC SHEEP IN COLORADO

We surveyed 59 livestock producers that used multiple breeds of livestock guarding dogs to determine their ratings of the relative effectiveness of guarding dogs for deterring predation on domestic sheep in Colorado during 1995. Significantly (P \u3c 0.05) more producers rated Akbash dogs as more effective than Great Pyrenees for deterring predation by coyotes (Canis latrans), black bears (Ursus americanus), mountain lions (Felis concolor), domestic dogs, and all predators combined. Significantly more producers also rated Akbash dogs as more effective than Komondors for deterring predation by coyotes and all predators combined. Great Pyrenees and Komondors were rated as similar in effectiveness for deterring predation. Significantly more producers rated Akbash dogs as more aggressive, more active, faster, and more intelligent than Great Pyrenees. Significantly more producers also rated Akbash dogs as more aggressive, more attentive, more trustworthy, more active, and faster than Komondors. Anatolian dogs were rated as faster than Komondors. Great Pyrenees were rated as less active than Komondors. Most producers felt that the most important attributes of guarding dogs for deterring predation were high aggressiveness to predators, high attentiveness to sheep, and high trustworthiness, whereas less producers felt that high activity levels, fast mobility, and high intelligence were important attributes of guarding dogs