The Livestock Guardian Dog:

The livestock guardian is a primitive dog with many ancient traits such as independence and alertness to the environment. It takes time for them to warm up to new people and will bond very closely with just a few selected humans. They are bred to protect livestock from large predators such as bears and wolves and will guard any yard they see as theirs. The livestock guardian is not hesitant to leave their property to drive off potential threats. It’s therefore a good idea to keep them in a fenced in yard. It can be difficult for adolescent livestock guardian dogs to learn good manners around people if they haven’t been exposed correctly during early developmental stages. It is possible to train with positive reinforcement training but it will take a lot of effort and patience from the owner. It is important not to use aversive training methods as it can backfire easily. We need to be respectful of the livestock guardian breed and place them in environments where they can thrive and be successful. The livestock guardian will charm anybody with their fluffy polar bear look, but they are not for the first time dog owner.

Oden is a 1-year old, 77-pound livestock guardian dog mix. He absolutely loves other dogs and is great with other animals as well. Oden is fearful of strangers and is on high alert around his property. His ideal home would be on a farm or a rural place, where he feels safe to be outside without unknown people coming up to him.

Oden should live with another dog as it boosts his confidence to have a canine friend. Still in his adolescence, Oden is a high-energy dog, and needs a lot of physical and mental exercise. He loves playing with stuffed toys and chew toys. He has a strong bond with his person and it will take him a long time to warm up to new people. Oden should not live with children.

For questions about Oden or to schedule an appointment to meet him, please call Homeward Bound, 802-388-1100, extension 110, or email canine@homewardboundanimals.org.

Dog meet and greets are by appointments only, Mondays through Saturdays.