Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs
Author: Cat Urbigkit
Like other livestock in the Rocky Mountains, sheep need protection from predators such as coyotes and wolves. That's where guardian dogs come in.
Guardian dogs help ranchers protect their flocks. But they are not native to the region. The breeds were imported from Europe, where they have been guarding livestock for thousands of years.
As puppies, they are placed in fleece and learn to identify with the smell of sheep. It isn't long before they meet their first sheep and mingle with the flock. With little training, the dogs instinctively know that their job is to keep a lookout for danger, and now and then do some baby-sitting.
Cat Urbigkit's engaging photoessay shows how guardian dogs and sheep form a bond that lasts throughout the dogs' life.
