Research overview: livestock-guarding dogs as a tool against carnivore depredation

This overview surveys the global evidence on livestock-guarding dogs (LGDs), breeds such as Anatolian shepherds, Kangals, and Maremmas, bonded to herds to deter predators through presence, barking, and confrontation. It traces deployment against cheetahs and leopards in southern Africa, wolves and pumas elsewhere, and the mechanisms by which dogs reduce losses. The literature reports frequently substantial declines in depredation, alongside complications: dog mortality, predation on or harassment of wildlife by dogs, disease transmission, cost of feeding and veterinary care, and variable working quality. The survey frames LGDs as effective where properly bred, raised, and managed, but not a universal fix.