The PMA is a dog that does not need any training to perform its function, just insert the puppies with the cattle and they, thanks to their genetic memory derived from years of selection, will already know what they will have to do.
Clearly there are some small precautions to follow in order to correctly insert a puppy at work, in order to obtain a good result;
Below you will find some small tips on what to do and what not to do during the insertion, also in consideration of a “new” pastoralism, present in areas increasingly frequented by tourists and mountain users in various capacities, which could come in contact with flocks protected by LGDs.
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INSERTION OF GUARDIAN DOGS
- Puppies / puppies must always be placed in pairs, it is advisable to combine brothers or sisters of the same sex, who normally maintain a higher degree of mutual tolerance and cohesion over time
- In a first phase, if the livestock is not used to the presence of dogs, the puppies / puppies must be placed adjacent, but not together with the animals, the ideal is in visual and olfactory contact, but separated by a barrier or fence. When the cattle are calm and no longer disturbed by the presence of dogs, they can be kept together, always guaranteeing an escape route for the puppies.
- It is recommended not to immediately insert dogs with lambs, kids of a few months, which could stimulate the predatory instinct with their playful behavior, but with adult or semi-adult heads, do not worry, indeed, if they show submissive attitude towards livestock
- The food of dogs and livestock must always be administered separately, competition on resources must not be encouraged at all. In particular, dogs should be discouraged from an early age from taking feed from cattle feeders
- The puppy / puppy must also be socialized with humans, it is advisable to make sure that it comes into contact in the presence of the owner with children, adults of different ages and sexes, preferably at their workplace
- Similarly, the owner must establish a relationship of trust with his dogs, which must respond to her calls, accept when it can be used to be put on a leash.
- The socialization of a protection dog requires a lot of sense of proportion and a certain attention, the dog must feel basically connected to the flock, but not to feel distrust of the people with whom it interacts (albeit to a limited extent), nor fear of cars or strangers. For this reason, in the first 6 months (in particular in the first 16 weeks) he has to stay mainly with the flock / herd, but to have a positive number of experiences
- The most critical period of the insertion phase, given the exuberance and vitality of the dogs, is between five months and a year, in this phase of age, on which it is advisable to observe the behavior more frequently, problems of game, which eventually must be corrected with firm reminders
- From three to four months, the puppies can learn to follow the grazing cattle and must be recalled and brought back there if they tend to return to the stable / fold
In summary it can be said that if there are no genetic defects and the dog has had a good interspecific socialization (in the first 16 weeks), in particular when possible if with functional parents, a good result of the process, through which it will become suitable for the function, it is also entrusted to the owner’s commitment to correctly follow its evolution.