This archive report was first published on 21 December 2019.
Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, but for many farmers, it's also a time of worry and loss. With the high demand for meat during the festive season, livestock theft is on the rise, and farmers are left to pick up the pieces.
However, there's a simple solution to this problem: farm dogs. Trained to guard and herd livestock, these canine companions can be a farmer's best defense against thieves.
At Redhill Kennel, a dog farm on the outskirts of Nairobi, WAIGWA KIBOI met with Daniel Kariru, one of the dog trainers, who revealed that the German Shepherd breed is the best for training to herd animals and guard houses.
'For the purpose of training dogs to guard and herd livestock, including sheep, the German Shepherd breed is the best,' Kariru said.
According to Kariru, German Shepherds bond faster with new people and are always ready to impress their owners. To make the animal do the job, training should start at three months by socialising it with the animal and making it obedient.
Another trainer, Solomon Salvasa, who has handled dogs for over 20 years, cautioned that dogs that chase after cattle or sheep, look at them as if they want to attack them or bark at them should be kept away from the animal because those are signs that the canines are up to no good.
Salvasa also emphasized the importance of vaccinating dogs against diseases such as parvo and canine distemper, and providing them with a comfortable living space, including a spacious kennel with a warm sleeping area and a well-cemented run for sunlight and proper drainage.
