Every summer, without fail, I start getting messages from LGD owners who are worried they’re doing something wrong.
Their dog is shaking their head. Scratching at their ears. Maybe there’s a little odor. They’re worried they’ve somehow failed their dog — or that something is wrong with the dog itself.
Here’s what I want you to know: you haven’t done anything wrong. And your dog is probably fine.
What you’re likely dealing with is what I call “summer ear”— and it’s one of the most common seasonal challenges livestock guardian dog owners face, especially those of us in agricultural areas.
Think about the environment your LGDs actually live in. They’re outside 24/7, in farm dust that carries pollen, mold spores, and chemical residue. They’re cooling off in water troughs (bless their hearts). They’re working through peak allergy season with no air conditioning, no breaks indoors, and no escape from whatever’s blooming in the fields next door.
Is it any wonder their ears flare up?
The same environmental factors that make your allergies miserable in spring and summer? Your dogs are living in the middle of it — all day, every day.
One more thing: if you haven’t grabbed the free LGD Grooming Checklist yet, there’s a sign-up for it right inside the post. It’s a two-page printable that covers ears, coat, skin, parasites, nails, and bath sequence — the kind of thing you can take straight out to the pasture with you.
Stay cool out there (you and your dogs both),
Kim
Prancing Pony Farm
P.S. Summer ear is manageable. It doesn’t have to be a $300 emergency every few weeks. The post walks you through exactly how to get ahead of it — go take a look.
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