Guidelines for use of guardian dogs

Project Leader: Greg Mifsud, Qld DEEDI

Aim: To increase landholder capacity to effectively use guard dogs to protect livestock from wild dog and fox predation

Project 1.t.5e

Project summary

The need for a best practice manual for the use of guard dogs was identified by the National Wild Dog Management Advisory Group, and in reports to the Vertebrate Pests Committee in 2003. Graziers and producers have shown increasing interest in using these dogs to protect livestock given the rise in wild dog issues across the country but have expressed concerns about the lack of information to effectively apply them to their production practices. This sentiment was highlighted in a series of predator control field days held by Leading Sheep group across western Queensland recently.

The development of a best practice manual for the use of guardian dogs to protect livestock contains information to enable land holders to apply this measure as part of a property-wide approach to fox and wild dog control. The use of guardian dogs has been proven to be a cost effective means of managing predation when applied properly.

The best practice manual provides a range of examples through case studies to demonstrate the implementation and management of guardian dogs to protect livestock in a range of environments and production settings. Participants in the case studies provide detailed information on the trials and errors they made when applying guardian dogs to their enterprise, while also illustrating the financial and emotional gain from utilising guardian dogs to protect livestock.

The development of the best practice manual addresses the issues of animal welfare associated with the use of guard dogs. At present no animal welfare codes exist that directly relate to the use of these dogs and in fact under the various states codes most users would be in breach simply by leaving their animals in a paddock unattended.

Key achievements

• Conducted field days in locations throughout Queensland informing producers of the manuals development.
• Identified seven properties using guardian dogs for the case studies.
• Launched Best Practice Manual for the use of Guardian Dogs on 7 September 2010.

Project team

Greg Mifsud (Qld DEEDI), Linda Van Bommel (JCU), Barry Davies(DAFWA), Dr Peter Fleming (Industry and Investment NSW), Tim Seers (LHPA), Andrew Crocos (Vic DPI), Ben Allen, (SAAL NRM), Peter Lucas, Marilyn Clydesdale, Vic Wild Dog Advisory Group, Dr Lee Allen, (Qld DEEDI), Prof Chris Johnson (JCU), Dr David Jenkins (CSU).

Project partners

IA CRC, Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Victorian Department of Primary Industries, Bureau of Rural Science, James Cook University, Charles Sturt University, WA Department of Agriculture and Food, Industry and Investment NSW, Victorian Department of Primary Industries, South Australian Arid Rangelands NRM, Wild Dog Advisory Group.

Further information

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/sheep/management/general/guard-animals
Guard animals for livestock protection: existing and potential use in Australia, NSW Department of Primary Industries.

The use of guardian dogs in Australia for livestock and biodiversity protection. PhD dissertation. James Cook University, Townsville (unpublished).

van Bommel, L (2010) Best Practice Manual for the use of Guardian Dogs. Invasive Animals CRC, Canberra.