Yeah, I really don't want a dog that we cannot get near. Does socialization negatively effect their guarding abilities?
check out a forum called Homesteading Today
they have a whole subforum on livestock guards (not just dogs) the lady from Nevada is on it & has lots of good info. it's not the BS that the dogs can defeat anything, she is very realistic about what the dogs can & can't do. in fact she says she won't sell to a person that plans on putting just one dog out on open range w/ a 1000 sheep & expects zero losses. she is a serious educator about the use of LGDs.