Data from: So close yet so far: movement patterns of livestock guarding dogs in a shared landscape in Romania

Abstract

1. Livestock guarding dogs (LGDs) play a key role in reducing livestock losses and enabling coexistence with large carnivores, but concerns persist about roaming behaviours potentially reducing guarding effectiveness and creating conflicts with wildlife and people. 2. This study used GPS tracking to investigate the movement behaviour of 36 LGDs across 11 sheep flocks in the Romanian Carpathians; a region where LGDs are integral to traditional transhumance grazing systems and where recreational activities are common. Analyses focused on quantifying LGD proximity to livestock, differentiating LGD movement behaviours, quantifying the extent and frequency of separation events, and investigating the potential influences of sex, age, breed, and whether LGDs were neutered. 3. Results showed that LGDs typically remained close to sheep, averaging within 100 m at night and 200 m during the day. These distances indicate high attentiveness and effective guarding, even during unsupervised periods. However, all LGDs were separated from the sheep at some point each day; more often resulting from LGDs roaming than failing to follow the sheep onto the pasture. Separation events lasted ~1 h, with LGDs roaming up to 4 km away. There was no significant effect of LGD-specific characteristics on roaming behaviours. 4. While some roaming may aid predator deterrence, frequent or long-distance excursions could reduce guarding effectiveness and increase risks of wildlife disturbance and negative encounters with people while the dogs are unsupervised. Reports of LGDs chasing wildlife and of conflicts with hikers and foragers in this region highlight the need to better understand and manage such behaviours. 5. Practical implication. GPS tracking using pet trackers fitted to dog collars proved to be a low-cost and effective method for monitoring the movement behaviour of LGDs, potentially also offering a tool for targeted training and LGD selection to manage excessive roaming. Maintaining livestock at distances of over 700 m from popular trails during summer months may help reduce conflicts with recreationists, though this approach requires testing and might not be feasible in practice. These findings highlight the need to monitor and manage LGD roaming to balance effective livestock protection with reducing unintended ecological impacts and social tensions in shared landscapes where large carnivores, people, and livestock coexist.