How a family ranch in the Yampa Valley is helping Colorado ranchers bring in guard dogs

As Colorado reintroduces wolves into the landscape, tensions continue to rise between ranchers and the state as both try to limit conflict with the predators..

While many conflict mitigation methods have been around for a long time, there is new energy—through conversations, investments, and training—around non-lethal methods such as fledries, ranger riders, electric fencing, and livestock guard dogs as the state continues to import wolves..

In 2020 and 2021, the USDA Wildlife Service, in partnership with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, received $1.38 million in funding to establish a research program on non-lethal livestock protection. He realized Range riding, fledry, electric fencing and guard dog projects in 13 states including Colorado.

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In Colorado, this project was posted Livestock guard dogs, sheep and cattle owners in areas where wolves, black bears, cougars and coyotes pose a threat to livestock.

Tanya Espinoza, a public affairs specialist for the federal agency, said that while the Wildlife Service provides other non-lethal tools to Colorado, the decision to focus investment and efforts on guard dogs was based on conversations with ranchers, discussions with neighboring states and previous research conducted by the agency regarding dogs.

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“We thought this would be a great opportunity to study and expand the practical use of livestock protection dog breeds in a variety of Colorado landscapes,” Espinoza said.

The program provides producers with two free guard puppies, medical expenses covered for the first year and training assistance.

These dogs are bred and trained to stick and protect herds and packs of animals, adding an extra set of eyes and protection for ranchers from predators.

In April, the agency began working with Colorado breeders of these dogs, seeking to “match specific breeds (of livestock protection dogs) with the manufacturer, their job, needs, ease of training and the dogs’ specific traits.” Espinoza said.

Raising Turkish Boz Herders in the Yampa Valley

This year, Jan and Pat Stanko became one of the suppliers of the USDA program. They have shipped Turkish Bose Shepherd puppies to Yampa, Glenwood Springs, Walden, Morrison and Craig.

The Stankos run Pat’s family ranch in Steamboat Springs. Emerald Mountain. Ranch has been operating for more than 100 years, and if one day their son takes over the management of the enterprise, then for five generations. Today, in addition to livestock guard dogs, they also raise cattle, poultry and sheep.

Jan and Pat Stanko began owning and breeding livestock protection dogs about 15 years ago.

When the couple lived on the Front Range, they had several break-ins and a predator that ate their chickens. While searching for ways to help, they eventually came across Bo, a livestock guardian dog who is a Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherd mix.

When they returned to take over the Steamboat Ranch, they came with Beau in tow.

“But the predators here were different,” Yang said. “He was taking three bears a night, and then we had some larger coyotes coming up to the fence line and the packs were trying to get him to come out, so we thought we probably needed another one.”

This is how Kiba was born, a mix of Maremma and Great Pyrenees.

Jan then began doing more research into different dog breeds suitable for the job until she found a breed called Turkish Shepherd Bozo.

“That’s what we ended up getting and never looked back,” she said.

As the name suggests, the breed originates from Turkey, translated as Boz. “a big, strong fighter.” Mature males can weigh from 120 to 190 pounds, and females from 100 to 170 pounds. With a large, muscular build and webbed feet suited to snow, the dogs are large enough to repel predators but are also fast and agile. – said Yang.

Temperamentally, the breed is also well suited as a guard dog. Yang described Boses as independent thinkers, problem solvers, good with people (which she said is especially important for them in a resort community with lots of outdoor activities) and not prey-minded.

While it may seem counterintuitive, Yang said the latter is important to her because Boz will take an observant stance, assess what’s going on around him and won’t engage unless something physically enters the area, which will also reduce the threat to the dogs. .

“They’re always watching,” she said.

Although they share many characteristics, Boses are slightly different from Turkish Kangals, a popular guard dog breed that is also part of the USDA’s non-lethal program in Colorado.

Espinoza said kangals were included on the list because they readily investigate potential threats, remain vigilant, distinguish threats from non-threats and are friendly to people.

“The Kangal is more of a perimeter dog, which means they will usually move further…they’re probably a little faster,” Yang said. “Then if something happens, Boz is more of a backup if they have to take something away… they’re the muscle behind it. Every breed is a little different.”

Preparing dogs for work

Although many of their protective characteristics are innate, Ian spends a lot of time teaching dogs specific qualities that ranchers may need.

For puppies, this includes exposing them to things like bubble wrap to get them used to the sounds of guns, teaching them to understand electric fencing, and introducing them to a variety of animals, including cats, poultry, sheep and cattle, which they will be able to meet one day. to be near or protect.

Although Ian does most of the training, some of it is with older dogs. The longer she has the puppies, the more they learn about how to protect themselves, where they are in the pack and “bite suppression” or learning to control the strength of their bites..

While the USDA program released puppies to ranchers at 8 to 10 weeks of age, Ian prefers to keep them a few weeks longer to better understand the dogs’ personalities and what kind of families and jobs they would be suitable for. .

Even when the dogs leave Emerald Mountain. Ranch, their training will continue.

“It takes about two years, especially if you’re dealing with larger predators, for them to become more of a formidable deterrent,” Yang said.

“This will take some training with your dog and livestock and getting them used to each other, you’re not just throwing the dog out,” Pat added.

Fighting Colorado’s New Predator: Wolves

While ranchers in Colorado have always faced conflicts posed by predators, each one faces unique challenges.

“Every predator is going to have a different approach to how they hunt and what they do,” Pat said.

“How many guard dogs you need depends on how much more of the ranch’s area the predator will occupy,” Yang added.

One example is the situation with wolves, as they hunt in packs, so a pack of dogs is needed to protect livestock.

“Sometimes having dogs can actually lead to wolves, so if you have a problem with that, you need to make sure your pack is large enough that the risk versus the reward for the predator isn’t worth the risk. – said Yang.

The success of livestock protection dogs depends more on how the “team” works together, Espinoza said.

“(Livestock protection dogs) are initially bred for a specific purpose, but they work in teams with their handler, on their terrain, with other (livestock protection dogs) and in different situations,” Espinoza said.

As Colorado brings gray wolves into the state as part of its recovery efforts, it has changed the landscape for ranchers, Stankos said.

Espinoza said the USDA has seen “continued interest” from ranchers in using livestock guard dogs throughout the wolf reintroduction process.

As wolf reintroduction began, the Stankos attended various meetings throughout the state with Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials, other ranchers and wildlife advocates.

“We went to wolf meetings and talked to other ranchers and other people and what they were dealing with,” Yang said. “There’s a lot of stress out there, so if there’s anything we can do to help both sides, I feel like we’re in a unique position to be able to help others and try to keep the doors open, especially with ranchers who are on on the verge of closure.”

Yang said she felt her niche as a breeder was being integrated into the local community and the sheep and cattle industries.

“What I’m trying to do is something completely different, and I really just want to help people,” she said. “We’re trying to spread the word about these dogs and trying to help and educate people.”

Livestock protection dogs can help combat predators such as wolves as each situation is different, but they are not a panacea, Ian said.

“Livestock guard dogs are another tool,” she said.

“It’s just a matter of trying to figure out how to use (livestock guard dogs) in your operation. And one operation is different from another, so what looks good on paper doesn’t mean it actually applies to everyone,” Pat added.

In terms of matching ranchers and breeders, Espinoza said they want ranchers to always be aware of the benefits of using a variety of non-lethal tools, including using several in unison.

“The real magic happens when you match the right qualities in a pair of dogs to work together as a team, match that pair of dogs with the personality of the sire, and end up with a sire who is just as committed to learning and success. their dogs because dogs strive to protect their herd,” she said.

Like many other non-lethal means, guard dogs are more effective as a preventative approach.

“I don’t need people who are already in a crisis situation and say, ‘I need a dog,’ because then you’ll have problems with that too, because it’s a job and it’s an investment.” – said Yang.

With wolves in particular, she said it’s important to have dogs in place before a wolf pack claims the area.

“Then you’re not trying to push (wolves) out of territory that they say is already theirs,” Yang added. “And then you have (livestock) injuries because of the wolves that are there.”

More puppies, more connections

As the Stankos look to the future, they are preparing for more puppies to be born in late winter and early spring by continuing to improve their training and placement as the USDA program continues.

The Wildlife Service program is working to create a training support network between breeders and ranchers to ensure the success of using these protection dogs in Colorado, Espinoza said.

“In Colorado, we have learned that building a community and network of breeders and owners (livestock protector dogs) is important, along with proper networking and education for young dogs,” she said. “It takes generations to build up a wealth of knowledge about livestock protection dogs and their use in various livestock operations in different landscapes, and we just need to be willing to listen, learn and adapt our behavior to ensure these dogs have a good foundation . build further.”