Day by day, farmers are counting their losses. Human pests, thieves, compound production costs and add to the stress of farming. Security services or gadgets often cannot help much, due to high costs, limited application, or restrictive laws in the case of drones or CCTV.

This makes dogs highly competitive in farm security. They are relatively affordable and highly perceptive. Their sense of smell, sight, and hearing allows them to detect intruders from a distance. Occasional droughts have forced baboons to raid farms for food, but dogs chase them off just as they would hunt wild cats, rats, or snakes.

Caesar, a local dog expert and breeder, not related to the US Caesar the Dog Whisperer, speaks passionately about dogs as ideal security companions. Before exploring the DNA of dogs, it is important to understand why farm insecurity has become an epidemic in Lusaka and beyond.

If farm thieves have not yet hit you, rest assured you are next. They move unpredictably, leaving farmers shell-shocked. Crime scenes could include blood and carcasses, vandalised boreholes, uprooted metal fencing poles, strangled chickens, or hurriedly ripped solar panels.

Land Theft and Encroachment

Land theft is another growing nuisance. Some thieves, claiming political connections, carry out Zimbabwe-style land grabs with impunity. Illegal gold mining by thugs has also emerged as a new threat.

Evolving Motivation

Thieves’ interests have evolved. Initially, stock theft or cattle rustling responded to local beef shortages, but now scrap metal and plastic have become highly appealing. Many thieves fear neither owners nor the law. For example, one military general had his farm fence vandalised, while another farmer in Lusaka West discovered his borehole pump stolen overnight, hauled away using a rope tied to a 4x4.

Plastic theft is also rampant. Greenhouse covers, irrigation pipes and flower pots are often stolen. In Bonaventure, one gardener lost all her pots, though thankfully the plants remained.

Causes

Local authorities share some blame. Indiscriminate subdivisions have spread into traditional farmland, creating water, sanitation, and security challenges. Influxes of caretakers occupying incomplete houses or renting to dubious characters compound the problem. Cooking and roasting activities at taverns have also contributed to increased thefts of goats, sheep, and cattle.

Dogs as Protectors

Caesar explains that both small and large dogs can fend off intruders. Smaller breeds like Jack Russell Terriers or Ridgebacks are alert and agile. Bigger breeds such as Boerboels, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers possess formidable strength and sight. He recommends keeping both, as they complement each other.

Jack Russells are not only excellent for security but also help clean the farm by catching snakes, rats, cockroaches, and lizards. Dachshunds are another good alternative. Dogs are superior as guards because they are trainable, vigilant, and less predictable than humans.

Dog Poisoning and Safety

Thieves sometimes poison dogs, often because the dogs are untrained and free-ranging. Caesar recommends a training method called Food Refusal, ensuring dogs eat only at designated times and places. Farmers should also be ready with first aid for bites from frogs, lizards, or snakes.

Cost and Availability

Demand for dogs has soared, pushing prices up. Small dogs range between K3,000 and K5,000, while larger dogs start at K5,000, with good Boerboels averaging K7,000. Zambia currently has no truly local breed. Mongrels and Popis are unpredictable, but crossbreeding could create a Made in Zambia breed.

Dogs and Livestock

Dogs do not harm livestock if raised together. If not, they may attack calves. Cattle-Sheep dogs or Afghan sheep-herding breeds are ideal, also chasing hyenas, jackals, and thieves. Boer farmers often patrol with dogs, proving their effectiveness.

Training and Care

Most dog attacks on humans result from carelessness. Proper early training ensures compliance. Dogs raised alongside humans perceive them as family, not intruders.

Health and Permits

Dogs do not spread diseases to humans if properly cared for. Routine cleaning, shampooing, and veterinary care ensure healthy dogs. Permits and licensing are currently managed by local councils, including breeder registration and vaccinations.

Feeding and Cost Effectiveness

Feeding dogs is straightforward. Scraps from birds and animals are sufficient, though Caesar also provides nutrition formulas. Dogs are more cost-effective than human guards, who require salaries, NAPSA, ZRA contributions, and other benefits. In some security companies, dogs hold higher ranks than humans due to efficiency and reliability.

The Farmers Digest wishes you and your dog safety and security, united in your shared mission.

For more details contact:

msokacaesar @ gmail. Com

Phones: 0966340055 / 0974480380

Thanks