Guard dogs an important segment of sisters’ operation

[KaraKitan]

Guard dogs an important segment of sisters’ operation

by Jane W. Graham | Apr 12, 2016
The Delmarva Farmer

While searching for a solution to livestock predation on their Southwest Virginia farm, two sisters added another facet to their operation in breeding guard dogs.
The answer for them was Karakachan dogs, which originated in Bulgaria and revered in their homeland for their instincts to protect livestock.
Sarah Smiley and her sister Cindy Smiley Kolb operate Syncope Falls Farm in Pulaski County, Va., on 150 acres of steep hilly land surrounded by both farms and the lakeside community with domestic dogs as well as wooded mountainsides that are home to packs of coyotes and black bears.
The carnage to their livestock started early in the operation which consists of a herd of myotonic or fainting goats, Kathadin sheep and chickens. Just before their first lambing season in 2006 about half of their sheep were killed by neighborhood dogs, Sarah said.
“It was horrible,” she recalled with a shudder.
That was the beginning of a search about 10 years ago that led them to the Karakachan dog, which they have found to be the best breed for their purposes.
They now have eight dogs guarding their animals and raise and train puppies to sell to other livestock producers in need of their protection.
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Link to the whole article: https://americanfarmpublications.com/guard-dogs-an-important-segment-of-sisters-operation/