Last Updated on February 7, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Frustrated With Conflicting Dog Training Advice? You Need More Than Training—You Need To Understand Your Dog
Whether you own a Livestock Guardian Dog, a herding breed, a family companion, or multiple dogs with different jobs—understanding their LEGS changes everything
Have you cycled through several Facebook groups, websites, blogs and dog trainers seeking help for your Livestock Guardian Dog, your herding dog or family companion dog?
There’s a reason most Livestock Guardian Dog owners (and all dog breed owners, honestly) cycle through multiple Facebook groups and other resources looking for help with their dog, hoping for a better outcome with the next one. These “free” resources often miss the point and lack the comprehensive picture that can finally provide clarity and relief for you and your dog. Even certified professional dog trainers often fail to see the the whole dog and all his LEGS.
You Don't Need Just Any Trainer. You Need a Certified Professional Trainer Who is Also a Licensed LEGS Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediator
Contrary to what you’ve been told, succeeding with your livestock guardian dog (or family companion dog) is not just about choosing between the clicker and dangle stick. It’s not about compliance, conditioning, and control. It’s not only about the choice between training with treats or shock collars. (But please, choose treats, not shocks!)
It’s about meeting your dog where they are, recognizing who they are, and appreciating all that they bring to the table in their unique recipe of interacting L.E.G.S. (Learning, Environment, Genetics, & Self).
As a Licensed Family Dog Mediator and Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner with extensive experience breeding, training, and owning both working and companion Maremmas, I specialize in helping owners understand Livestock Guardian Dogs like Maremmas.
But the LEGS framework I use applies to ALL breeds, which is why I also work with owners of herding dogs, farm dogs, and family companions who need help understanding what their dog was actually bred to do and how that impacts the dog you see in front of you.
I can empower you to understand your dog’s unique L.E.G.S. This understanding will help your dog thrive in their role and deepen the bond between you and your dog. Whether your dog is a working Livestock Guardian Dog, a Family Companion (any breed, LGD or not), or a bit of both, I can help!
Discover the Truth About Your Dog and Live in Partnership with him by Understanding his L.E.G.S.
What is L.E.G.S., you ask? L.E.G.S. stands for all the individual parts (Learning, Environment, Genetics & Self) that make the dog who he or she is.
I completed the LEGS Applied Ethology course in April 2024, becoming a LEGS Licensed Family Dog Mediator. This incredible course validated everything I have always known about what makes Livestock Guardian Dogs thrive (or not) in their role as either working dogs or companions. It also gave me an even deeper understanding of how to help my Maremmas thrive in their future homes and how to best support their owners as they live and work with their dogs. Maremmas can thrive in a variety of settings if we understand their L.E.G.S. and work with them rather than against them.
You may have heard of the ABCs (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequences) of dog training. Well LEGS is the A - the hidden part of the iceburg in the ABC model!
LEGS – understanding changes everything
The LEGS model applies to all types of dogs, not just Livestock Guardian Dogs. It has helped me have a better understanding and appreciation of all of the incredible dogs in the world, including my non-Maremma companion dogs. (In addition to my Maremmas I own a cocker spaniel, a boxer and a shih tzu. All with very different LEGS!
As a Maremma breeder and trainer, my primary focus is helping Livestock Guardian Dog owners—but the beauty of LEGS is that it works for every breed. On this page, I use LGD examples because that’s my specialty. But whether you have a guardian breed, a herding breed, a terrier, or a family companion, understanding your dog’s LEGS is the key to a better relationship.
(If your LGD lives with other breeds of dogs, the LEGS model will help you to understand their L.E.G.S., too.)
What Does L.E.G.S. Stand For?
- Learning: This refers to the Livestock Guardian Dog’s prior and current learning experiences as they relate to relationships between the livestock it guards and the humans in its life. Positive training and socialization as puppies and beyond are vital for a livestock guardian dog to thrive in its job and in the world it will live in. Negative experiences such as aversive training methods, harsh treatement or a lack of socialization can have a lasting negative impact on the dog.
- Environment: The environment for a Livestock Guardian Dog puppy should include a setting where it can learn about livestock, interact positively with humans, and have varied positive experiences with sights and sounds.The livestock guardian dog’s environment in its future home will vary by the individual dog and their intended role, but should consist of a continuation of positive socialization and training.
- Genetics: Refers to the dog’s genetics – what work were they bred for? Maremmas (and other LGDs) were bred to live with and guard livestock in this case. They have certain traits (independent natures, a tendency to bark a lot, wariness with new people, protectiveness towards animals and people they live with, etc) that allow them to excel at that job, but which could be challenging for some owners. Livestock guardian dogs CAN succeed and thrive as companions but only if we understand and accomodate their genetic instincts. (In the case of companion LGDs their protectiveness will be transferred to their human owners and other family pets and their innate natures will remain intact. They are still LGDs, just fulfilling non-traditional roles.) Understanding and accepting who your dog is and working with their nature, rather than trying to change it, will set everyone up for success.
- Self: Finally, we look at Livestock Guardian Dogs as individuals. Male or female, intact or altered, age, health, and unique personality—all the things that make your dog unique.
“In my 49 years (and counting) of working as a scientist with dogs as my primary focus for studies of behavior and evolution, I have never seen such a creative, imaginative and well-coordinated program as the new LEGS initiative.”
Why LEGS Matters for All Breeds—Not Just LGDs”
While I specialize in Livestock Guardian Dogs, I also own and work with other breeds—and I’ve seen firsthand how LEGS transforms relationships with ALL types of dogs.
- Herding breeds like Border Collies and Australian Shepherds were bred to control movement, which is why they chase cars, herd children, and can’t relax. Understanding their LEGS helps you channel those drives appropriately.
- Retrievers and sporting dogs were bred to work closely with humans, which is why they’re ‘velcro dogs’ who struggle when left alone. LEGS helps you meet their partnership needs.
- Terriers were bred to hunt independently—which is why they’re intense, focused, and sometimes reactive. LEGS helps you work with their determination instead of against it.
- Guardian breeds (both LGDs and personal protection dogs) were bred to be suspicious of strangers and make independent decisions—which is why traditional obedience training often fails.
No matter what breed you have, understanding what your dog was originally bred to do explains SO much about their behavior—and gives you a roadmap for working with them successfully.
The Dog's Truth
You haven’t heard the whole story if you believe your dog is just a Livestock Guardian or pet.
YOUR DOG is not broken, and YOU have not failed.
Have you cycled through several dog trainers or methods? Are you tired of seeking help on social media from self-appointed “dog gurus” with no education or training in dog behavior who only leave you feeling more confused and stressed than when you started?
There’s a reason many families find themselves trying multiple dog trainers, watching countless YouTube videos, and surfing Facebook groups – all hoping for a better outcome each time. Traditional dog training often misses the mark. It lacks the comprehensive approach that brings clarity and relief to you and your dog. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not about the “carrot OR the stick.” It’s not merely about compliance, conditioning, or control. It’s about meeting your dog where they are and understanding their unique blend of Learning, Environment, Genetics, and Self (L.E.G.S.).
Like all animals, dogs are complex beings. Their behavior is shaped by a harmonious blend of nature and nurture. It’s not as simple as “good genetics“ or “how you raise them.“
Instead, it’s a complex system where various elements work together to fulfill distinct roles within an ecosystem. Modern breeding practices and captivity have disrupted this natural balance, leading to the “behavior problems“ we see in our pets today.
What Can You Do to Help Your Dog?The first step is getting to the TRUTH about your dog’s behavior. By understanding what’s happening, you can prevent issues before they arise.
Between the myths, there lies the truth.
Prefer Reading? Get the Life-Changing Book!
“With initial skepticism of all that is harmful about breed labels, I was immediately impressed with Brophey’s deft handling of generalities on one hand and individual differences on the other. Her book provides useful information, and an often needed expectation-adjustment, from both perspectives.”
Maremma Sheepdog - Guardian - "Patient Protector"
The L.E.G.S model of applied ethology has ten working groups. All dogs (even mixed breeds) belong to one of these groups. Maremma Sheepdogs belong to the “Guardian” group. This group includes Livestock Guardian Dogs and property or personal guardians. There are similarities in temperament, size, and conformation between these dogs, but only Livestock Guardian Dogs are suitable for guarding livestock.
Livestock Guardian Dogs bond with and guard other living beings, including livestock, family pets, and human family members. (Your Maremma is still a Livestock Guardian Dog, even if there are no farm animals to guard.) In contrast, other guardians protect their territory and the humans living there. (And maybe other family pets, but not usually livestock.)
As a certified Family Dog Mediator and force-free dog trainer with extensive experience breeding, training, and owning both working and companion Maremmas, I can empower you to understand your dog’s unique L.E.G.S. This understanding will help your dog thrive in their role and deepen the bond between you and your dog. Whether your dog is a Livestock Guardian Dog, a Family Companion, or a bit of both, I can help!
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