Social factors are important in conflicts between humans and predators. Predation has direct economic costs related to loss of income and food, and indirect economic costs such as time spent avoiding predation. There are also underestimated non-economic costs, related to the sense of uncertainty, insecurity and general disruption to livelihoods caused by the unexpected loss of livestock, which strongly influence human-carnivore interactions. Livestock keepers who choose to join this programme must be prepared to make cultural and behavioural changes, including changing their cultural relationship with predators and dogs. They must be committed to caring for and managing LGDs in a different way to how they normally interact with dogs. The herder must spend time with the dog in the first few months to ensure that it does not get lost, and must provide food and water on a daily basis.
Commitment of the producers to work with, care for and complete the training of the LGD.
Logistical and technical capacity to visit and train the herders during the first months after receiving the puppy. This should be done until the puppy is at least one year old. This is essential to ensure that the puppy does not develop undesirable behaviours.
Producers must be fully committed and convinced that they want to keep, train and care for a puppy and know what is required from them. LGD puppies must be accessible to low-income producers, who are most vulnerable to predation events.