Technical assistance
how to use and train guard dogs properly
Livestock guard dogs play a key role in reducing the frequency and impact of predator attacks. However, introducing them to the herd and training them requires the acquisition of skills and the observance of precise rules. Assistance is available to help farmers build a better partnership with their guard dogs.
Support for puppy integration
Over 4 or 5 visits a year, I help the breeder to gradually integrate the puppy into the farm: choosing the puppy, setting up conditions, familiarisation with people and the herd, training, preparing for the first outing to pasture, etc. In the event of any behavioural problems with the puppy, I give advice and recommend solutions. I suggest ways of improving the relationship with the dog, from its arrival on the farm until it reaches puberty.
Support for adult guard dog training
Protection dogs must develop a bond with the herd and inspire its confidence. They must be able to deter intruders while remaining sociable and respectful towards humans. The requirements you place on your dogs are important! If you get help, you can avoid mistakes in training and save time! During this individual advice session, I try to assess the role and behaviour of guard dogs in their natural environment: attachment to the herd, interaction with domestic animals, level of familiarity with humans, reaction to a stranger, etc. I answer specific questions and provide personalised recommendations.
The deliverables : When visits are made as part of technical assistance, a detailed report is drawn up, in which observations and recommendations are recorded.
Technical assistance: who is it for ? Technical assistance is an individual and operational advisory service. It enables farmers to acquire the skills and knowledge they need to make it easier to integrate dogs into the herd and manage them every day.
The Cistole method
Individual, independent and pragmatic, my advice is based on solid field experience:
- As a breeder-shepherd, I work all year round with around ten guard dogs in different contexts: mountain pastures, plains and sheepfolds.
- For the needs of my own business, I raise and train Romanian Shepherds from Bucovina, using a method that I have tested and refined over the years.
- I reinforce my knowledge through regular study trips. In France and Europe, I have observed protection dogs of all breeds, in a wide range of environments and situations.
Cistole, a structure approved
by the DRAAF Auvergne Rhône-Alpes
My services for livestock farmers and shepherds fall within the official framework of the "National Action Plan on the Wolf and Livestock Activities". As such, they are eligible for financial support, subject to certain conditions. Are you looking for technical assistance to help your guard dogs achieve their full potential ?