Texas LGD Association

info@texaslgdassoc.org

Minimum Standards for Ethical LGD Litters

Minimum Standards for Ethical LGD Litters

The Texas LGD Association promotes ethical breeding practices that prioritize animal welfare, functional working ability, genetic responsibility, and long-term placement success. The following minimum standards represent the baseline expectations for breeders producing livestock guardian dog (LGD) litters under an ethical breeding framework.

These standards are intended to protect dogs, livestock producers, and the integrity of LGDs as working animals.

  1. Purpose-Driven Breeding

Ethical LGD litters must be produced with clear, documented objectives, such as:

  • Preserving or improving working ability
  • Maintaining or enhancing genetic diversity
  • Improving health, soundness, and longevity
  • Conserving functional breed traits

Breeding must never occur solely because dogs are available, convenient, or marketable.

  1. Breeding Stock Eligibility

Age and Maturity

  • Breeding dogs must be physically and behaviorally mature
  • Dogs should demonstrate stable temperament and reliable working traits
  • Breeding immature dogs whose long-term traits are unknown is discouraged

Functional Evaluation

Breeding stock must be evaluated honestly for:

  • Livestock attentiveness and appropriate guarding behavior
  • Stability under pressure
  • Independence balanced with manageability
  • Absence of chronic behavioral problems

No dog is perfect; ethical breeding acknowledges weaknesses and avoids doubling them.

  1. Required Health Screening

Ethical breeding requires appropriate health testing prior to breeding, including at a minimum:

Orthopedic Screening (When Applicable)

  • Hip evaluation via recognized methods (final or preliminary, as appropriate to age)
  • Results must be disclosed honestly to potential stud owners and breeding puppy buyers

Genetic Testing (When Applicable)

  • Known, breed-relevant genetic tests should be performed
  • Breeding decisions must avoid knowingly producing affected puppies

General Health

  • Dogs must be in good physical condition at the time of breeding
  • Dogs with chronic illness or compromised welfare must not be bred

Health testing is a risk-reduction tool, not a guarantee.

  1. Genetic Responsibility and Inbreeding Management

Ethical breeders must:

  • Understand and monitor relatedness between breeding pairs
  • Avoid unnecessary close inbreeding
  • Consider long-term population effects, not just individual litters

Practices inconsistent with ethical breeding include:

  • Repeated use of the same stud to dominate a population
  • Ignoring cumulative inbreeding trends
  • Breeding solely to “set type” without regard to genetic diversity

Genetic predictability must be balanced against long-term resilience.

  1. Reproductive Due Diligence

Disease Prevention

  • Breeding dogs must be tested for transmissible reproductive diseases as appropriate
  • Dogs testing positive must not be bred

Veterinary Oversight

  • Breeders must have access to veterinary support knowledgeable in reproduction
  • Emergency planning for pregnancy and whelping complications is required

Artificial Insemination

  • AI is acceptable when used responsibly
  • AI must not be used to bypass sound breeding judgment or welfare concerns
  1. Whelping and Puppy Care Standards

Ethical breeders must provide:

  • A clean, safe, temperature-appropriate whelping environment
  • Continuous monitoring during whelping and the early neonatal period
  • Prompt veterinary care when complications arise

Puppy losses may occur despite best efforts; neglect or lack of preparation is not acceptable.

  1. Early Puppy Development

Breeders are responsible for:

  • Proper nutrition and parasite control
  • Age-appropriate health care
  • Early handling is sufficient for management and veterinary care

For LGDs, livestock bonding must be prioritized:

  • Puppies should have appropriate exposure to livestock
  • Excessive human imprinting must be avoided
  • Puppies should be managed in a way that supports future working success
  1. Placement and Buyer Screening

Ethical breeders must:

  • Screen buyers for realistic fit with LGDs
  • Educate buyers on management, adolescence, and long-term commitment
  • Refuse placement when an environment is clearly unsuitable

Puppy and dog placement is a welfare decision, not a sales transaction.

  1. Written Agreements and Transparency

Breeders must:

  • Use clear, written contracts
  • Disclose known health, temperament, or management concerns
  • Provide accurate pedigree and testing information
  • Avoid misleading claims or guarantees

Transparency protects both the breeder and the buyer.

  1. Lifetime Accountability

Ethical breeders:

  • Remain available for guidance after placement
  • Take responsibility for the puppies they produce
  • Assist with rehoming when necessary, rather than abandoning responsibility

Breeding creates a lifelong obligation, not just an eight-week project.

Practices Inconsistent with Ethical LGD Breeding

The following practices violate ethical breeding standards:

  • Breeding primarily for profit
  • Producing litters without health testing or planning
  • Misrepresenting working ability or temperament
  • Selling puppies without screening or education
  • Treating LGDs as interchangeable pets rather than working animals

Ethical Breeding Is Stewardship

Producing an LGD litter is not simply reproduction; it is genetic stewardship. Ethical breeding protects:

  • The welfare of individual dogs
  • The success of livestock operations
  • The long-term viability of LGDs as working animals

Meeting these minimum standards helps ensure that LGDs remain effective, healthy, and respected contributors to livestock production systems.