If you’re getting a livestock guardian dog, it’s because you need one. Livestock can’t really protect themselves: a pack of coyotes, a fisher, or even a raccoon can all wreak havoc on your animals. Livestock guardians help keep them at bay and everyone in check.
Anatolian Shepherd stands in front of herd of goats. Image via Shutterstock / Bobby Bradley
The type of dog you choose is really important, too: all livestock guardians are good at their jobs, but just like all dog breeds, they each have their owns needs, pros, and cons. Additionally, LGDs will require extensive training to be good at their jobs, though it does come somewhat naturally.
Recently, one livestock guardian dog had his first-ever encounter with a predator, and it went… It went. When he saw it, he kind of had plans that didn’t particularly involve guarding:
Luckily, Karen Koi has another dog, an Akita, who was willing to step in and scare that raccoon right off. Even though the pup didn’t necessarily do what he was supposed to, he gets a pass. They just got him! He’s still a puppy in training. Just getting close to the predator is a sign that he’s headed in the right direction.
He gets close to it at first, and then he backs away when the raccoon charges at him. The raccoon probably didn’t feel very threatened by the dog because he hasn’t yet figured out how to really guard: the raccoon knows he can scare him and get back to what he wants.
Related: Moment Sweet Anatolian Shepherd Puppy ‘Chooses’ Mom Is Just Pure Love
The livestock guardian dog is also not outside full-time: though he spends a lot of time outside with the family’s Akita, he’s also allowed inside. He’s the family dog! Everyone loves him, and they love to spoil him. He even gets cheesy roll-ups from Taco Bell:
That’s exactly the way I eat my cheesy rollups. I literally have to have one right now.
Raccoons Are Dangerous to Chickens
Okay, I get it: raccoons don’t really look that threatening. I agree. I would absolutely pet a raccoon if I could. Some people have them as pets!
However, if you’re a backyard chicken, raccoons are a nightmare. They’re smart, and they’re nimble: they can break into even the most secure coops and tear them apart. Raccoons have been known to kill whole backyard flocks overnight! Though not every backyard flock needs a livestock guardian, you might need:
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Fencing around your coop.
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Motion-sensor lights to scare them off.
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Complex locks that involve multiple steps.
Luckily, this incident happened in broad daylight, and they had another dog ready to go. Hopefully that raccoon has learned their lesson!
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This story was originally reported by Parade Pets on Nov 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.