Field observation data.

<div><p>Over recent decades, several predator species have returned to human-dominated landscapes in Europe, with wolves (<i>Canis lupus)</i> causing the most damage to livestock. In Germany, some ‘pioneer’ farmers started keeping guard dogs (<i>Canis lupus familiaris)&...

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Päätekijä: Konstanze Krueger (6750239) (author)
Muut tekijät: Kimberly Scarlet Camenzind (22683241) (author), Aida Kumpf (22683244) (author), Kate Farmer (22683247) (author), Maren Bernau (22683250) (author)
Julkaistu: 2025
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author Konstanze Krueger (6750239)
author2 Kimberly Scarlet Camenzind (22683241)
Aida Kumpf (22683244)
Kate Farmer (22683247)
Maren Bernau (22683250)
author2_role author
author
author
author
author_facet Konstanze Krueger (6750239)
Kimberly Scarlet Camenzind (22683241)
Aida Kumpf (22683244)
Kate Farmer (22683247)
Maren Bernau (22683250)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Konstanze Krueger (6750239)
Kimberly Scarlet Camenzind (22683241)
Aida Kumpf (22683244)
Kate Farmer (22683247)
Maren Bernau (22683250)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-11-25T18:24:30Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1371/journal.pone.0337432.s001
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Field_observation_data_/30713341
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Neuroscience
Evolutionary Biology
Ecology
Sociology
Science Policy
Virology
Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
several predator species
guarding various species
farmers ’ training
div >< p
direct field observation
canis lupus )</
asked equine science
animal body lengths
agriculture students trained
reports included observations
frequent public contact
guard dogs appear
113 guard dogs
dog management practices
general public unfamiliar
dogs ’ behaviour
behaviour towards goats
farms across germany
guard dogs
behaviour observations
unfamiliar persons
older dogs
external dogs
wolves (<
two approaches
recent decades
large variety
large mixed
known persons
initial visits
external individuals
dominated landscapes
consistently watchful
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Field observation data.
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Dataset
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
dataset
description <div><p>Over recent decades, several predator species have returned to human-dominated landscapes in Europe, with wolves (<i>Canis lupus)</i> causing the most damage to livestock. In Germany, some ‘pioneer’ farmers started keeping guard dogs (<i>Canis lupus familiaris)</i> to protect their livestock, but these ‘pioneers’ faced opposition from a general public unfamiliar with methods of protecting against predators. To evaluate the use and management of guard dogs to protect various farm animal species against predators in rural areas frequently used by the public in Germany, we studied the behaviour of 113 guard dogs on farms across Germany that have frequent public contact. Two approaches were used: I) we observed guard dog proximity to and behaviour towards goats and horses with direct field observation, and II) we asked equine science and agriculture students trained in behaviour observations and official herd management commissioners to report their experiences of guard dogs during their initial visits to farms keeping various livestock species. These reports included observations of the dogs’ behaviour and information about the farm and dog management practices, and showed that guard dogs preferentially stay within 1 farm-animal body lengths of goats and horses. They adapted to a large variety of tasks and could protect various species. They displayed friendly behaviour towards the owners of the farms and known persons, and all behaviour categories towards farm animals and unfamiliar persons in the presence of the owner. They were dominant and watchful towards unknown persons and external dogs. The farmers’ training and socialising of their guard dogs appear to be successful, as older dogs, and large mixed-sex guard dog groups were consistently watchful against external individuals, but friendly towards farm personnel. In conclusion, guard dogs adapt well to guarding various species on German farms.</p></div>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara_6c628159ed45b30d093d89b19073c809
identifier_str_mv 10.1371/journal.pone.0337432.s001
network_acronym_str Manara
network_name_str ManaraRepo
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/30713341
publishDate 2025
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository_id_str
rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling Field observation data.Konstanze Krueger (6750239)Kimberly Scarlet Camenzind (22683241)Aida Kumpf (22683244)Kate Farmer (22683247)Maren Bernau (22683250)NeuroscienceEvolutionary BiologyEcologySociologyScience PolicyVirologyEnvironmental Sciences not elsewhere classifiedBiological Sciences not elsewhere classifiedseveral predator speciesguarding various speciesfarmers ’ trainingdiv >< pdirect field observationcanis lupus )</asked equine scienceanimal body lengthsagriculture students trainedreports included observationsfrequent public contactguard dogs appear113 guard dogsdog management practicesgeneral public unfamiliardogs ’ behaviourbehaviour towards goatsfarms across germanyguard dogsbehaviour observationsunfamiliar personsolder dogsexternal dogswolves (<two approachesrecent decadeslarge varietylarge mixedknown personsinitial visitsexternal individualsdominated landscapesconsistently watchful<div><p>Over recent decades, several predator species have returned to human-dominated landscapes in Europe, with wolves (<i>Canis lupus)</i> causing the most damage to livestock. In Germany, some ‘pioneer’ farmers started keeping guard dogs (<i>Canis lupus familiaris)</i> to protect their livestock, but these ‘pioneers’ faced opposition from a general public unfamiliar with methods of protecting against predators. To evaluate the use and management of guard dogs to protect various farm animal species against predators in rural areas frequently used by the public in Germany, we studied the behaviour of 113 guard dogs on farms across Germany that have frequent public contact. Two approaches were used: I) we observed guard dog proximity to and behaviour towards goats and horses with direct field observation, and II) we asked equine science and agriculture students trained in behaviour observations and official herd management commissioners to report their experiences of guard dogs during their initial visits to farms keeping various livestock species. These reports included observations of the dogs’ behaviour and information about the farm and dog management practices, and showed that guard dogs preferentially stay within 1 farm-animal body lengths of goats and horses. They adapted to a large variety of tasks and could protect various species. They displayed friendly behaviour towards the owners of the farms and known persons, and all behaviour categories towards farm animals and unfamiliar persons in the presence of the owner. They were dominant and watchful towards unknown persons and external dogs. The farmers’ training and socialising of their guard dogs appear to be successful, as older dogs, and large mixed-sex guard dog groups were consistently watchful against external individuals, but friendly towards farm personnel. In conclusion, guard dogs adapt well to guarding various species on German farms.</p></div>2025-11-25T18:24:30ZDatasetinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiondataset10.1371/journal.pone.0337432.s001https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Field_observation_data_/30713341CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/307133412025-11-25T18:24:30Z
spellingShingle Field observation data.
Konstanze Krueger (6750239)
Neuroscience
Evolutionary Biology
Ecology
Sociology
Science Policy
Virology
Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
several predator species
guarding various species
farmers ’ training
div >< p
direct field observation
canis lupus )</
asked equine science
animal body lengths
agriculture students trained
reports included observations
frequent public contact
guard dogs appear
113 guard dogs
dog management practices
general public unfamiliar
dogs ’ behaviour
behaviour towards goats
farms across germany
guard dogs
behaviour observations
unfamiliar persons
older dogs
external dogs
wolves (<
two approaches
recent decades
large variety
large mixed
known persons
initial visits
external individuals
dominated landscapes
consistently watchful
status_str publishedVersion
title Field observation data.
title_full Field observation data.
title_fullStr Field observation data.
title_full_unstemmed Field observation data.
title_short Field observation data.
title_sort Field observation data.
topic Neuroscience
Evolutionary Biology
Ecology
Sociology
Science Policy
Virology
Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
several predator species
guarding various species
farmers ’ training
div >< p
direct field observation
canis lupus )</
asked equine science
animal body lengths
agriculture students trained
reports included observations
frequent public contact
guard dogs appear
113 guard dogs
dog management practices
general public unfamiliar
dogs ’ behaviour
behaviour towards goats
farms across germany
guard dogs
behaviour observations
unfamiliar persons
older dogs
external dogs
wolves (<
two approaches
recent decades
large variety
large mixed
known persons
initial visits
external individuals
dominated landscapes
consistently watchful