True North Guardians

Q. & A. with Rebecca

• Why did you start breeding?

  The farm is surrounded by 1,000 acres of mostly open farmland and woods. It is a haven for wildlife, including predators of various types — namely, coyotes and foxes, but also the occasional black bear, bobcat, stray dog or bird of prey. Prior to building up our livestock guardian dog pack, we routinely lost sheep to coyotes. Livestock guardian dogs have been a part of our predator management strategy for more than 15 years. In that time, we have had difficulty finding dogs that have a correct working temperament and sound mind, discernment and athleticism to protect our sheep, so after substantial research, I began to source breeding dogs with the characteristics best suited for what we need. The goal is to reach a balance with the local ecosystem, as well as to reliably produce my own replacements and provide working dogs to other farms. In addition to protecting the farm, these dogs have taught me a lot about myself. True North honors what they have taught and will continue to teach me.

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• What makes your program special?

  The goal at True North is to produce working livestock guardian dogs with sound minds and temperaments. It has taken years to get to the point where that is a possibility; we are tough critics. Before any dog is considered a breeding quality candidate, it has to demonstrate a steady and measured mind, a desire to work alongside its shepherd while still maintaining its ability to operate autonomously as the situation requires, and be able to work well with a variety of livestock, in a dynamic environment. Those are the first priorities — it is far too easy to lose work ethic, ability and good character with poor breeding decisions. A True North breeding dog also has to prove itself capable and healthy, through the test of real-time work on rocky strip-mined Appalachian foothills terrain. We believe in thorough health testing as well, particularly because most of our dogs are imports with often sparse histories. We work with one of the country’s top reproductive clinics to gather data. Overall, we consider all information gathered within the context of research available, and most importantly, how our dogs perform over time. A successful livestock guardian dog’s form will follow how well it functions. Breeding decisions are not limited to on-farm dogs. In order to produce well-balanced dogs with strong work ethic, sometimes the best pairing may come from an outside stud. Whenever that decision is made, it is done after an assessment of True North dogs’ strengths and weaknesses, extensive research and study of lineages, and discussions with other breeders to find the best options available.

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• Where do your breeding dogs live?

  They live in my home.