We lost more than twenty sheep during the period when fencing and predator protection were not where they needed to be. Finding dependable livestock dogs changed that. In the last couple of years, after getting the right dogs working with the stock, we have not lost anything.
Everybody can say they have a livestock guardian dog. The question is whether the dog is bonded to the animals and chooses to stay with them when comfort is available somewhere else.
A dog raised to live on the porch may love the farm. That does not automatically make it livestock-sticky.
Look at function
A working guardian should be evaluated by how it behaves around the stock, how it responds to pressure and whether it returns to its responsibility. One of mine, after a snake bite, jumped the fence to get back to the sheep. That choice tells me more than a label or a promotional story.
Dogs are only one layer. They do not excuse failed fencing, poor introductions or an impossible amount of ground to patrol. Good protection is a system: workable acreage, containment, bonded dogs and management that fits the predator pressure.
Raise for the job you need
Temperament and livestock focus matter more than novelty. Puppies intended for guardian work need controlled exposure and clear boundaries around the animals they will protect. The goal is not an impressive dog near livestock. The goal is livestock that remain alive.