Dogs / December 4, 2020 December 4, 2020 / By admin
I am envious of locations around the world where guardian dogs are not necessary to keeping predators at bay and sheep safe.
I am in the midst of navigating with two young guardian dogs just entering into the challenging juvenile stage of big energy, little brain. Small lambs are being harassed, cows are being pushed off. I have been through this phase before with various dogs and every time I swear that I am going to quit with guardian dogs. I imagine the day when it will no longer be necessary to keep raising them. I imagine a place where guardian dogs are not needed.
And yet, I know if I were to move to such a location it would surely feel as though something were missing.
Dogs / October 16, 2020 October 16, 2020 / By admin
Dog wise, I have some catching up to do here on the blog. Do you recall the post on what we really love about mother nature? Those two pups arrived here in early Spring.
This is who they are today.
Purchasing two pups at one time was a spontaneous choice at time of selecting. They are half brothers, one week apart in age. Early on I figured I’d have to sell one however they have become quite the pair so I’m game to continue on with them.
They are well bonded to sheep so we’ve got that going well. They are also socially glued to each other and hence operate as their own pack of two.
I raised them in the same smaller paddock area I raised all my pups of the past. So far these two are still convinced this is where they must reside and transitioning them to the main flock out on bigger pasture has been a no-go so far. They visit the main flock often, they know all the other adult dogs, they just don’t stay put with the main flock. I’m hopeful that with the arrival of winter when the ewes begin staying in one place, versus traveling to graze, that will change.
The fawn fellow is a bit of twit. He’s the character that stands out in a crowd. He’s a pushy fellow and needs to be reminded of boundaries regularly. He’s a brave son of gun. He’ll try without thinking. He’s got a good grasp of the job and he likes to be with sheep.
The black fellow has all the guardian dog goods as far as I’m concerned. He’s very level headed, he’s a firm character but not rude, he’s alert and he’s keen and he keeps his cool. He wants to be with sheep, and at six months old he displayed a solid grasp of the job. I’m smitten with him – however the ewes are not.
This is the flocks first experience seeing a black guardian dog – the other black dogs they see are the Kelpies, who exist to tell sheep to move. So the ewes still act deeply suspicious when the black pup appears on pasture but they no longer flee the scene. He’s good with the sheep and seeing moments like the one in the photo below has me feeling very hopeful that over the course of winter with everybody hunkering down close to feed they’ll adjust well and learn this boy is just another flock mate.
An injured guardian dog is an obvious sign of overnight trouble but other signs that trouble is afoot are more subtle. In this case the ewes are bedded down tight to one another when warm weather would make it less than desirable to do so. They are also bedded down in an unusual location at the top of our yard. The ewes would not have chosen this spot on their own.
Three guardian dogs are further afield. There are two other dogs right in the midst of the flock, and this girl resting just on the fringe, weary and worn.
One of the two dogs in the midst of the flock was Oakley, our sleepy senior. It seems he is well aware of his increased fragility and knows where he is most useful. In his youth he would always be further afield from the flock but these days his role has shifted to being with the ewes. Moving when the flock moves, resting soundly when they rest. His actions are all vocal now, he’s no longer involved in physical confrontations or doing hard running. These days he spends as much or more time asleep than awake. His awareness of his abilities is likely what kept him out of the scree of trouble. His retirement is very near.
These dogs live a rich, purposeful life, fulfilling the role they are bred for – a life I set up for them by virtue of keeping a flock of sheep. I comprehend that injury is a risk and a hardship on the flip side of that purposeful life but a sense of responsibility and guilt for the hardship the dogs encounter always creeps in.
Confrontations are also a stark reminder that, despite what we wish, there is no control over what takes place in mother natures domain which is precisely where these dogs live and work.
