During your walks and hikes, you can meet some livestock guardian dogs.
Livestock guardian dogs: how to react when you meet them in the alpin pastures?
Livestock guardian dogs in a few words:
They are here to protect the livestock from predators attacks (wolves, foxes, stray dogs, …)
Their role is to DISSUADE not ATTACK. They need to identify any intrusive being approaching the livestock.
Depending on the breed, their behavior with the livestock can be different:
The Pyrenean Mountain Dogs also called patous : stay close to the livestock
The Caucasian Shepherd Dogs : go a little further but still stay close to the livestock
The Kangal Shepherd Dogs : can go very far away from the livestock to chase intrusive beings
Do not mistake them for herding dogs (often breeds such as the Border collie), which are dogs that help the shepherd in his work with the livestock.
The good way to behave:
When approaching the livestock:
🐾 Do not cross the herd and GO AROUND it (if possible)
🐾 Put aside your hiking poles
🐾 Talk so that the dog will not be surprised
If the dogs react, run or bark → it is normal, they are doing there job:
🐾 STOP the dog needs to identify you but NEVER turn your back on it
🐾 Put your hiking poles alongside your body
🐾 If the dog comes close to you, put an object between you and the dog, e.g. a cap or bag.
🐾 Do not hesitate to talk to it calmly like you would talk to a child
🐾 If you are on a bike, get off your bike and put your bike between you and the dog.
Once the dog has identified you, calmly continue your walk while checking the dog’s behaviour, it will return to its herd.
With children:
🐾 Make sure they don’t make any sudden movements or run around
🐾 Keep them in front of you or close to you but do not hide them behind you
🐾 Do not carry them in your arms
With bikes:
🐾 Stop and get off the bike
🐾 Put your bike in front of you
With dogs:
🐾 Do not carry your dog in your arms
🐾 Keep your dog on a lead close to you EXCEPT if the dogs react aggressively, let go of the lead
🐾 Let the guardian dog smell your dog so that it can identify it
Warning dogs are forbidden in the Nature Reserve and outside the reserve, in summer, it is better to avoid going into the mountains with your dog, as encounters with guardian dogs can end badly (dogs are considered a threat, especially if they want to play).
Why are dogs not allowed in a nature reserve?
The smell left behind by dogs can disturb wildlife and cause them to change their habits, as dogs are considered to be predators.
Dogs can carry parasites and transmit diseases to wildlife.
A dog is likely to chase wild animals and bark at them with the intention of playing, which is harmful to wildlife.
The presence of “visiting” dogs is also likely to generate conflicts with domestic herds, shepherds and their dogs.