10/15/2026
In November 2022, Casper, a Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dog, fought 11 coyotes in one night on a sheep farm in Decatur, Georgia. He killed eight before disappearing for two days and returning with severe, infected wounds.
His owner, John Wierwille, told the Georgia Farm Bureau that three coyotes entered the sheep pen where Casper's pregnant companion, Daisy, was staying. Casper attacked and killed all three within seconds. He then leaped over a four-foot fence and chased the remaining pack through neighboring yards and carports for about 30 minutes. The next morning, eight dead coyotes were found near the railroad tracks.
Casper did not return that night or the following day. On the second day, he dragged himself home with deep cuts across his body. Wierwille rushed him to a veterinarian, fearing he would not survive. Fortunately, Casper recovered.
A year later, the American Farm Bureau and Purina nominated him for the People's Choice Pup award in the national Farm Dog of the Year competition.
Great Pyrenees dogs originated in the mountains between France and Spain, where they were bred to protect livestock from wolves and bears. Unlike herding dogs, they live alongside the animals they guard, forming strong bonds with the flock from puppyhood. Their thick white coats help them blend among sheep.
Naturally suited to nighttime protection, these dogs patrol their territory and use deep, powerful barks to deter predators. Their usual response escalates gradually: barking first, positioning themselves between the threat and the flock, then charging if the predator refuses to retreat. Most encounters end before a fight begins.
A 2010 American Sheep Industry survey found that 90 percent of producers using guardian dogs reported an average 62 percent reduction in predation losses.
Casper's remarkable ordeal highlights the courage and protective instincts of dogs that risk their lives defending the animals they consider family.
Image is for illustration purposes only.
Sources: Georgia Farm Bureau, American Farm Bureau, Purina, USDA APHIS, American Sheep Industry Association, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.