As a Maremma Sheepdog breeder and trainer with years of experience, I’ve noticed a pattern among Livestock Guardian Dog owners. There’s a crucial step that separates those who struggle with their dogs from those who truly thrive – and surprisingly, it’s not about the dog at all.
The Missing Link in Livestock Guardian Dog Success
When clients contact me about problems with their Maremmas (or other LGDs)—whether it’s inappropriate livestock chasing, excessive barking, or challenges with family integration—I consistently offer the same first recommendation: take the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations course. (I give this advice to clients who have bought puppies from me and to anyone who owns a dog from any source.)
This online program teaches the science of dog behavior and communication through positive reinforcement training. It’s not LGD-specific, but it builds the fundamental understanding of how dogs learn and communicate that’s essential for success with any dog – especially independent-minded livestock guardians like Maremmas.
What’s fascinating is that among my clients, those who have completed this course consistently have the best outcomes with their dogs. They understand their Maremmas better, communicate more effectively, and solve problems more efficiently.
Yet surprisingly, this recommendation is the one most frequently ignored, even though it’s the single most important piece of advice I share with my clients.
Why Education Matters With Livestock Guardian Dogs
Livestock Guardian Dogs are working partners with specific instincts and communication styles. They’re not machines that automatically protect whatever animals you put them with and understand your expectations of them – they’re complex canines that need proper guidance and an understanding of their needs and innate temperaments. (This is true of all dogs, but adding the responsibility of guarding and safely interacting with livestock complicates things further for LGDs.)
Consider these realities:
- LGDs speak “dog” – not English, Spanish, or any human language.
- Children and visitors don’t naturally know how to interact safely with livestock guardian breeds in particular or dogs in general.
- These dogs are bred to make independent decisions, so their success requires clear communication and proper management.
Without education, we’re essentially asking our dogs to understand us without learning to understand them. That is frustrating and unfair to the dogs and creates unnecessary problems for the humans. Problems that could largely be avoided if we invested just a little time and money in educating ourselves in preparation for starting this grand adventure with LGDs.
The Resistance to Learning
When I recommend educational resources, I often hear:
- “I’ve had dogs all my life.”
- “I’ll figure it out as I go.”
- “I’m busy and don’t have time for courses.”
- “I can learn all I need for free on YouTube or TikTok.” (Usually from questionable sources.)
This puzzles me. If you were investing thousands of dollars in farm equipment, livestock, or other major assets, you’d likely research proper use and maintenance. Yet many skip the learning component entirely when it comes to the livestock guardian dogs they acquired to protect those investments.
The same is true of becoming parents. Good parents take the time to learn about child development and caring for children through reliable resources like books, podcasts, and trusted mentors. They carefully research topics and decide how to raise their children based on their learning. Bad parents “wing it” or seek out questionable resources and follow fads on social media. Or they don’t invest much time, effort, or care into their children, expecting them to magically “behave” and meet their parents’ expectations with no effort or investment on the parents’ part. The difference shows in their children.
I’m not one of those people who equates animals with human children, and I abhor the term “fur baby,” but there are a lot of correlations here. And I do believe that we have a responsibility to invest some time and effort into learning how to understand and communicate with the animals we choose to bring into our lives. After all, the animals (dogs, cats, goats, or whatever) don’t choose us. We chose them. We owe it to them to do right by them.
And if you are in the position of having dogs (or other animals ) and children, you owe it to your children to do things right and set your kids up to have a great experience with their dogs. Teaching children how to safely interact with and understand dogs keeps the children safe and prevents the dogs from ending up in a bad situation (biting a child) due to mismanagement. 77% of dog bites come from the family dog or another dog the person knows. 80% of dog bites happen in the home. This could largely be prevented with proper education. We keep kids safe with proper education.
Simple Steps That Make All The Difference
Beyond formal courses, there are several affordable or free resources that dramatically improve success with guardian dogs:
- Read “On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals” by Turid Rugaas – This short, accessible book helps you understand subtle dog communication signals that prevent problems before they escalate.
- Watch Kim Brophey’s “The Dog’s Truth” videos. These free resources explain the complex influences that shape dog behavior beyond “training.”
- Explore safe child-dog interaction resources – Programs like The DIAL Method ($50) provide entertaining, educational content for families to learn appropriate boundaries and how to “speak dog.”.
The Reality Check
The hard truth is that when problems arise with Livestock Guardian Dogs, it’s rarely because the dog is “bad” or “broken.” More often, it’s because:
- The owner didn’t understand what normal LGD development looks like
- Communication breakdowns occurred that could have been prevented
- Environmental management wasn’t properly implemented
Each of these issues is directly addressed by proper education.
Every dog owner knows that along with the joy can come the stress and frustration of behavioral problems, which are expensive to diagnose and treat. Enter Kim Brophey, award-winning canine behavior consultant. Using cutting-edge research, Brophey has developed a groundbreaking system that allows owners to identify what their dog is struggling with, why, and how they can fix it. Brophey's approach is unlike anything published before and will give dog owners a new understanding of what motivates and affects their dog's behavior. Brophey's innovative technique rethinks how we categorize dogs and distills information from over twenty scientific disciplines into four comprehensive elements: learning, environment, genetics, and self. With revolutionary tips for specific dog breeds, this book will change every dog owner's life and lead to happier human-canine relationships.
The “Too Busy” Trap & The Time Investment Reality Check
When someone tells me they’re “too busy” for dog training education, I’m genuinely curious about their priorities. Consider these facts:
- The DIAL Method program I recommend for families with children? 40 minutes total. That’s less time than one episode of most TV shows.
- The Karen Pryor Academy Foundations course? About the same time commitment as binge-watching a season of your favorite series.
- Reading “Calming Signals”? Two hours, maximum.
Yet I regularly hear from the same “too busy” families about:
- Weekend trips to livestock shows (8+ hours each way)
- Hours spent researching and shopping for farm equipment
- Wasting hours on Facebook groups discussing their dog problems with people with no actual dog training experience or credentials
- Time spent and money wasted rehoming dogs that didn’t work out
- Countless hours spent watching TV, streaming services, YouTube and TikTok and perusing social media
Great Books on Canine Body Language
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What’s Really Behind the Resistance?
In my experience, “I don’t have time” often translates to one of these underlying concerns:
“I don’t want to admit I need help.” Many people, especially those with livestock experience, feel they should instinctively know how to handle any animal. Dogs are different from livestock – they require relationship-based communication, not just management.
“I expect this to be easier.” There’s a pervasive myth that the right dog will just naturally know what to do. Even the best-bred, properly socialized livestock guardian dog needs guidance to understand your specific expectations and property.
“I’m hoping the problem will resolve itself.” Some challenges do improve with maturity, but communication issues and management problems typically escalate without intervention.
The Math That Matters
Let’s break down the real time investment:
Option A: Skip the education
- Hours spent dealing with ongoing problems: 20-50+ hours over the dog’s lifetime
- Time researching solutions when issues arise: 10+ hours
- Potential rehoming process: 5-15 hours
- Lost investement on an expensive investement in their dog: huge loss
- Emotional stress and livestock losses: Priceless
Option B: Invest in education upfront
- Initial course/reading time: 10-20 hours
- Ongoing practice and implementation: 15-30 minutes per week (clicker training takes literally minutes per day to make huge progress)
- Problem prevention and early intervention: 2-5 hours total
- Peace of mind and successful partnership: Priceless
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Your Dog’s Investment in You
While you’re deciding whether you have time to learn about your dog, remember this: Your dog is investing all day, every day in trying to understand you.
They’re constantly:
- Reading your body language and emotional state
- Trying to predict what you want from them
- Adapting their behavior based on your responses
- Forming judgments about what’s safe, rewarding, and expected
- Trying to bond with you and your family
If they’re putting in that much effort to understand you, don’t you owe them the same consideration?
A Different Way to Think About It
Instead of viewing education as another task on your to-do list, consider it as:
- Insurance for your investment – You’ve paid good money for quality genetics and early socialization
- Livestock protection optimization – Better communication means more effective guardian work
- Family safety enhancement – Understanding your dog’s signals prevents incidents and keeps your children and other family members and friends safe
- Partnership development – Training your dog becomes collaborative rather than adversarial
- Bonding Opportunity – Spending time training your dog is fun for you and your dog and facillitates bonding
The Bottom Line
Every successful farm or homestead requires ongoing education – whether it’s learning about pasture management, animal nutrition, or breeding programs. Your livestock guardian dog partnership deserves the same investment.
You wouldn’t expect to successfully raise livestock without learning about their specific needs. Your Livestock Guardian Dog has specific needs too – and meeting them starts with understanding how they communicate and learn.
The question isn’t whether you have time to educate yourself about your dog. The question is whether you can afford not to.
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Success Story – Violet and Cotton Candy
Violet bought a puppy named Cotton Candy from me in 2022. She completed the KPA Foundations course before picking up CC. She wrote a guest post sharing her experiences with the course and the difference in how things went for CC versus her first LGD, Marshmallow.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Karen Pryor Academy Foundations Course
Q: How much does the course cost?
A: The standard course is $249. There’s also a Platinum Bundle for $348.90 that includes streaming videos and starter equipment (clickers, treat pouches, etc.). The course usually goes on sale for $200 in January and September.
Q: How long does it take to complete?
A: The course provides 12 weeks of access, but most students complete it in 6-8 weeks. It’s entirely self-paced, so you can work through it faster or slower depending on your schedule.
Q: Is this course specific to livestock guardian dogs?
A: No, it’s a general dog training course. However, the material and concepts apply to all dogs, with some modifications.
Q: Do I need any prior dog training experience?
A: Absolutely not! The course is designed for complete beginners. You just need a dog (puppy or adult), basic training supplies, and internet access.
Q: Is this done online or in-person?
A: It’s completely online and self-paced. You can access it from any device with an internet connection, such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Q: Will this make me a certified dog trainer?
A: No, this gives you a certificate of completion, not professional certification. It’s educational for dog owners, not professional credentialing.
Q: What if I have questions during the course?
A: The standard course includes up to one hour of individual instructor support via email or online forums. There’s also a community of other students you can connect with.
Q: Is this just “clicker training”?
A: While clicker training is part of it, the course covers much more – understanding how dogs learn, reading body language, timing, and building effective communication with your dog using positive reinforcement methods.
Q: Will this work with my independent-minded Maremma/LGD?
A: Yes! The principles apply to all dogs, including independent guardian breeds. The key is adapting the techniques to your dog’s personality and working nature.
Q: What if I don’t have time to complete it in 12 weeks?
A: The 12 weeks are just your access period. Most people finish much faster, but if you need more time, you’d need to re-enroll. However, the course is designed to be very manageable for busy people.
Q: Is there a money-back guarantee?
A: There’s a 5-day withdrawal period after enrollment (with a $50 administrative fee), but no refunds after completing the course.
Q: Do I get continuing education credits?
A: Yes, if you’re a professional, you receive credits from CCPDT and IAABC, plus credits toward advanced KPA programs.
My Challenge to You
If you own or plan to own a Livestock Guardian Dog, I challenge you to commit to at least one formal educational resource about dog behavior and communication. The Karen Pryor Academy Foundations course is my top recommendation, but any science-based dog behavior education is a step in the right direction.
Your livestock guardian dog is a significant investment – not just financially, but in the safety of your livestock, family, and property. Give that partnership the foundation it deserves through education.
Remember: Your dog is already studying you intently every day. Isn’t it fair that you learn something about their language too?
What educational resources have helped you most with your guardian dogs? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments!
