The first experience of livestock guarding dogs preventing large carnivore damages in Finland

Abstract

Livestock guarding dogs (LGDs) have been for millennia an effective means of protecting rangeland, i.e. cattle or sheep, from predators in Central and Southern Europe and Asia. In contrast, there is no LGD tradition or local breeds in the Nordic countries. The objective of this study was to collect descriptive information about the experiences of LGDs in Finland acquired by early farm adopters through semi-structured interviews, narratives, and on-site visits to farms. The experiences were encouraging: no predation was observed since LGD(s) presence. The presence of LGDs had multifunctional character by increasing the feeling of security. Unlike in Norway the farmers in Finland did not describe high costs or serious difficulties in relationships with guarded animals, herding dogs, other animals, or village neighbourhoods.