Here is an excerpt from the article I posted above. It is interesting to read the stats about bites on humans. Dogs and Human Welfare Ownership of a guarding dog implies certain responsibilities. The traditional guarding breeds are large, powerful, and protective of their perceived territory. This territory should primarily include the livestock to be guarded, but it may also inclu de the owner’s house, yard, and family members, particularly if the dog was allowed access to these areas during the rearing process. How likely is it that a livestock guarding dog will bite someone? Much is dependent upon where the dog spends its time, and also on breed differences. In the survey of 763 livestock guarding dogs, 7 percent of the dogs had bitten people (17 percent of the Komondors, 9 percent of the Anatolian shepherds, 6 percent of the Akbash dogs, and 4 percent of the Great Pyrenees). Some dogs show more protective and aggressive traits than others, and it becomes the owner’s responsibility to protect people who may be at risk. Neighbors and guests should be alerted, and if necessary, signs or other appropriate warnings should be displayed. A guarding dog will likely include peripheral areas in its patrolling. This activity should be discouraged. Neighbors should be alerted to the fact that a dog may roam onto their property and that some predator control devices (e.g., traps, snares, and M -44’s) present a danger to the dog. (See section on “Integrated Livestock and Predator Management.”) Many counties enforce stringent laws regarding owner responsibility for damage done by roaming dogs. It is in the best interest of the o wner, community, and dog to train the dog to stay in its designated area. Dogs used with herded or unherded range bands or in expansive pastures such as those found in some Western States may also roam at times. Under these circumstances, a roaming dog may pose little threat to safety and property. However, a dog roaming over a wide range provides little or no protection to the livestock it is supposed to be guarding.