Dogs in sheep’s clothing

The wolf is back in Switzerland. Its return to a former habitat may be good news for environmentalists, but it spells trouble for shepherds. One man is pioneering a different way of protecting his herds with dogs.

Walter Hildbrand was mandated by the Federal Environment Office in 2002 to carry out a project on herd protection in the mountain village of Jeizinen in canton Valais. It has since become a permanent centre. He tests his Maremma sheepdogs to see how they can be used to protect flocks of sheep. Opponents keep a close eye on his work.