The True Cost of "Affordable" Livestock Guardian Dogs
Some people believe a Livestock Guardian Dog should be cheap and "affordable." They elect to buy an inexpensive dog to save money for other things. We get it. Starting a farm or homestead is expensive. However, a Livestock Guardian Dog is an investment in your livestock's safety and your peace of mind. Many breeders are willing to sell you an "affordable" puppy. But is that a wise use of your money or will that decision come back to haunt you?
Unfortunately, breeders who focus on low prices as a marketing tactic usually cut corners where it matters. Breeding and properly starting LGD puppies takes considerable time and money. Health testing of the parents, proper nutrition and veterinary care, training, and socialization, are all things that can go out the window when breeders elect to sell puppies cheap and fast. And the result can be devastating - things like hip dysplasia and other illnesses, temperament problems, harming, and even killing of stock. The fallout from an "affordable" puppy could far surpass the savings. You could end up with expensive vet bills, a much more challenging task of training the dog, loss of stock, and even the loss of the dog.
And in most instances, many of these bargain basement breeders provide no health guarantee or support after the sale. If the puppy gets sick or the owner has training issues, the owner is told it's not the breeder's problem. Or even worse, these breeders often blame the puppy owner. Playing the blame game helps no one, least of all the puppies, but this tactic is prevalent among breeders who sell cheap puppies.
Some people ask why not adopt an LGD. And while adopting a companion dog can be a gratifying experience, it is risky to adopt an LGD. All the problems that apply to buying from "affordable puppy" breeders apply to rescues. You won't know whether the dog will be safe with your stock. You can't train an older puppy or adult dog as easily as a correctly socialized puppy. It may have learned bad habits such as chasing and harassing stock. It's a lot harder to undo mistakes in a dog's training than to prevent them in the first place. And with adopted dogs, you'll have little to no health history, so you can't know whether it is healthy and sound enough to do the job.
Buying or adopting an "affordable" puppy might be worth the risk for those who like gambling and aren't opposed to a potential challenge. The "save now, pay later" plan might work for those risk-takers. But you are more intelligent than that! You prefer minimizing risk, maximizing success, and having reliable lifetime breeder support. In that case, a Prancing Pony Maremma Sheepdog is the answer!
Unfortunately, breeders who focus on low prices as a marketing tactic usually cut corners where it matters. Breeding and properly starting LGD puppies takes considerable time and money. Health testing of the parents, proper nutrition and veterinary care, training, and socialization, are all things that can go out the window when breeders elect to sell puppies cheap and fast. And the result can be devastating - things like hip dysplasia and other illnesses, temperament problems, harming, and even killing of stock. The fallout from an "affordable" puppy could far surpass the savings. You could end up with expensive vet bills, a much more challenging task of training the dog, loss of stock, and even the loss of the dog.
And in most instances, many of these bargain basement breeders provide no health guarantee or support after the sale. If the puppy gets sick or the owner has training issues, the owner is told it's not the breeder's problem. Or even worse, these breeders often blame the puppy owner. Playing the blame game helps no one, least of all the puppies, but this tactic is prevalent among breeders who sell cheap puppies.
Some people ask why not adopt an LGD. And while adopting a companion dog can be a gratifying experience, it is risky to adopt an LGD. All the problems that apply to buying from "affordable puppy" breeders apply to rescues. You won't know whether the dog will be safe with your stock. You can't train an older puppy or adult dog as easily as a correctly socialized puppy. It may have learned bad habits such as chasing and harassing stock. It's a lot harder to undo mistakes in a dog's training than to prevent them in the first place. And with adopted dogs, you'll have little to no health history, so you can't know whether it is healthy and sound enough to do the job.
Buying or adopting an "affordable" puppy might be worth the risk for those who like gambling and aren't opposed to a potential challenge. The "save now, pay later" plan might work for those risk-takers. But you are more intelligent than that! You prefer minimizing risk, maximizing success, and having reliable lifetime breeder support. In that case, a Prancing Pony Maremma Sheepdog is the answer!
