Big Guard Dogs Handle All Predators

Big Guard Dogs Handle All Predators 30-2-7 Guarding dairy sheep against wolves, bear and coyotes requires a special kind of dog. Mary and Dave Falk found the dog they needed in the Spanish Ranch Mastiff. "These dogs are rugged, taller versions of the purebred Spanish Mastiff often seen at dog shows," says Mary Falk. "They were developed by Spanish shepherds who don't worry about how the dog looks, just how it works." Because the Falks run their flocks outside year round and because they live in a forested area loaded with predators, the Falks rely heavily on guard dogs. They often run four flocks in separate paddocks on their 200-acre farm. The goal is for each flock to have two dogs with it at all times. "We always have two dogs together so they can back each other up if one gets hurt," says Falk. Milking sheep guard dogs get twice-daily human contact when the sheep get milked. The Spanish Mastiff is more accepting of people than many sheep guard dog breeds. "I can't have a dog around if I don't trust it, and I would trust mine with a six-month old baby," says Falk. Originally, they started with Italian Maremmas, which they liked for their temperament. The Falks recognized they needed a larger breed that could jump the paddock fence and move from flock to flock if predators threatened. A friend had Polish Tatras, which they crossed with their Maremmas. Although larger, they still didn't have the needed size. On a trip to Spain to visit sheep cheese makers in that country, Falk encountered Spanish Ranch Mastiffs. They had the size she wanted at about 165 lbs., so she brought five pups representing four different bloodlines back to cross with the Falk guard dogs. "They were like our Maremmas, but with the body of a Great Dane," says Falk. "They are suspicious of a stranger, but fine if I am with them. They come over for a few pets and then head back to the sheep." Falk reports the only predator loss in more than 10 years were two lambs attacked by great horned owls. Although they weren't able to carry the lambs off, their talons penetrated the lambs' brains, and the lambs had to be destroyed. She credits her guard dogs with keeping the owls away since. She recommends that livestock producers use guard dogs instead of trapping or shooting at predators. "All you do is kill off the stupid ones and leave the smart ones to breed," she says of hunting and trapping predators. "That just makes it worse for everyone." After seeing how well their full-bred and crossbred Spanish Ranch Mastiffs do, the Falks have started placing them with livestock producers in the region. A full blood (no papers) three-month old is priced at $850 while a half Mastiff, Maremma/Tatra cross is priced at $550. A year-old full blood is priced at $1,000. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mary Falk, LoveTree Farmstead Cheese, 12413 Cty. Rd. "Z", Grantsburg, Wis. 54840 (ph 715 488-2966; fax 715 488-3957; lovetree@grantsburgtelcom.net; www.lovetreefarmstead.com).

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