© François Meyer / AGRIDEA
How to behave when you meet livestock guardian dogs
On many Swiss alpine pastures, large white dogs protect sheep and goats from large predators. They live with the flock day and night and announce anything that approaches. Understand how they work and you stay calm – and so do they.
5 min read
In short
Stop, speak calmly, walk a wide arc around the flock, don't touch or shout at the dog. Push your bike, leash your own dog and, if possible, avoid the pasture entirely.
Why these dogs are there
Why these dogs are there
Since wolves and lynx returned to Switzerland, many alpine farms rely on herd protection. These dogs are not pets but working animals: they judge for themselves whether something threatens the flock. Barking and running towards you is their normal announcement, not an attack.
Step by step: the encounter
- 1
Spot it early
Watch for information boards at the trailhead and for white dogs in the flock. The earlier you see them, the easier it is to plan a detour.
- 2
Stop and stay calm
Stand still if a dog comes at you barking. Speak calmly, keep your arms down and avoid direct eye contact. The dog just wants to check who you are.
- 3
Let the dog assess you
Wait until the dog settles and positions itself between you and the flock. That often takes only seconds. Then move on slowly.
- 4
Walk a wide arc around the flock
Walk around the animals calmly and without sudden moves – never straight through and never between mothers and young.
- 5
Push your bike, lower your poles
Fast wheels and raised poles look threatening. Dismount, push, and keep poles lowered instead of waving them.
- 6
Extra care with your own dog
Keep your dog on a short leash close to you. If tension rises, unclip it and retreat calmly – it can then get out of the way.
This helps
This helps
- Stand still calmly and keep breathing normally
- Talk to the dog in a calm voice
- Give the flock a wide berth, then move on steadily
- Keep children close and hold their hand
Better avoid
- Running away or cycling past quickly
- Petting, feeding or close-up photographing the dog
- Shouting, threatening or hitting the dog with poles
- Walking through the flock or touching the animals
If a dog keeps pressing
If a dog keeps pressing
Stay upright, turn sideways to the dog and back away slowly without turning your back. It usually loses interest as soon as you move away from the flock. If in doubt, turn back and take another route.
In an emergency
If someone is injured: medical emergency 144, in rough terrain Rega 1414. Also report incidents to the alpine farm or the cantonal herd protection service – contact details are usually on the board at the pasture.
Based on the recommendations of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) on herd protection.