There are lots of misconceptions and misinformation about LGDs and using them. Most of these myths were rooted in the well intentioned but not fully knowledgeable advice given to the pioneering users of LGDs in the 1970s and 80s. Most of these breeds were uncommon to North America, and their use as true working livestock guardians was completely new to most folks. Ranchers and other folks were told that
LGD pups
should be left completely alone to bond with the stock and they should be handled as little as possible. Today we understand much better how these dogs worked in their
native lands and, most importantly, how humans worked with them. Unfortunately, many of these misconceptions are still widely believed to be true.
Read more:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/misinformation-about-livestock-guard-dogs-zbcz1406.aspx#ixzz3Kl1mzpZv
Here's a post I wrote for Mother Earth that addresses these things -
http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/misinformation-about-livestock-guard-dogs-zbcz1406.aspx#axzz3KhjLVvsJ