This morning the dogs were treated to a pot of soup with a lot of pork meat in it. It was just one day older than it should have been to safely consume and they were happy to devour it. I scooped it out with my hand and fed it to the dogs. They have learned not to growl or fight when being hand fed and to take food from my hand without biting my fingers. They must wait for their turn when their name is called, to eat and cannot steal from the others or they get no more and are sent away. This is part of being pack master where food control is demonstrated. It is my food and I am sharing with the dogs. They must never show any aggression to me or they would be severely reprimanded and get nothing. So, seven dogs it is and I love it. Now, to work on keeping the boys with the sheep...
Hands down, dogs are my favourite animals. When I was a youngster, I used to think that if there was not enough food for me and the dog, if we got stranded somewhere together, I would give him some of my arm flesh to keep him alive. That is how much I love dogs. So, now that I can, I have a lot of them, seven to be exact. There are three rescue dogs, all Maremmas, an Italian livestock guardian breed. They are large white dogs, gentle with their owners and with livestock in general, but killers when it comes to defending what is theirs. One dog will keep most predators at bay on a farm, but seven will work together as a pack and pretty much nothing should come near the animals. I had hoped and worked to keep the two male Maremma/Pyrenees puppies in with the sheep, so they would bond to the sheep and live there as one of the flock, however; their pack instincts are very strong and they want to come out and be one with the rest of the dogs. This is not so bad, if they also return willingly to their sheep and rest there most of the time. Lately, they do not want to go back to the flock, and even though I have tried to patch every escape route and hole in the fence, they keep finding ways to come out. They are good puppies, and were brought here for sheep guardians so that when the sheep are out in the pasture, they stay with them. I could tie them to a board or tire or something that would prevent them from going through the fence and keep them tied up for a few weeks. Perhaps I will try that and see if they will willingly stay in with the sheep then. Otherwise, there will be a pack of 7 dogs, 6 livestock guardians and Robbie, the border collie. Managing the pack will be harder with more dogs, especially since 4 are unaltered males. There is a plan to neuter them one at a time, but the cost is very high, around $350 per animal, in this area. The females are spayed and Robbie is neutered already.
This morning the dogs were treated to a pot of soup with a lot of pork meat in it. It was just one day older than it should have been to safely consume and they were happy to devour it. I scooped it out with my hand and fed it to the dogs. They have learned not to growl or fight when being hand fed and to take food from my hand without biting my fingers. They must wait for their turn when their name is called, to eat and cannot steal from the others or they get no more and are sent away. This is part of being pack master where food control is demonstrated. It is my food and I am sharing with the dogs. They must never show any aggression to me or they would be severely reprimanded and get nothing. So, seven dogs it is and I love it. Now, to work on keeping the boys with the sheep...
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Of all the animals on the farm, the dogs are my favourites for sure. I am dog person and have had a dog pretty much most of my life. My favourite breed is the border collie, crazy as they are, because there is nothing like them. They are perpetual puppies and always in trouble when not given some work to do, because they just go create their own. This is not always what we want them to do either. The livestock guardian dogs are my second favourites. I had no experience with these breeds, the Pyrenees and Maremmas, but they are gentle giants, except when it comes to predators and their farm. Then they turn into killers. I have never seen the remains of a coyote around the farm, and have never seen a coyote either since the dogs have been old enough and big enough to fight them. Ofcharka is the size of a bear and black, and Harley is equally as tall, but slighter in build. The pups, Mike and Joe, will be as big as Harley, I am pretty sure and they are already barking at the bad things in the night. So, with the seven dogs, we do not have predator losses (except to the pigs, but that is another story). Livestock guardian dogs like to elevate themselves to best view their surroundings. They also like the warmth of a composting pile, and since I use manure and spent hay on my flower beds, they do not see much difference in laying on a flower bed or manure pile. I suppose from the perspective of the dogs, it is the same thing only in a different place. To plant anything I have to fence it in or it is soon trampled or laid on and gone, squashed in oblivion. Jenna is sleeping on the new flower bed being created by the new deck. Fortunately, the only flowers planted in it so far are roses surrounded by wire cages. The cages are for two purposes. One is to keep the dogs off the plants and the other is to keep them from marking the rose bushes. Five of the dogs are males. One marks the rose bush, then the other four have to and the first starts again and the rose bush dies. So the wire cage helps with that a lot. Now, to figure out how to best fence the raised bed in place for roses and flowers...hmmm.
Jenna sleeping with her head on a 'pillow.'
Jade and Jenna are the Maremma puppies that came to the farm last winter. As it turns out, there were likely beaten and starved as young pups. When they were at the veterinarian's to be spayed, he said their age was at least 2 months older than I was told they were. Small for their breed and age then, it was suggested that they were not fed. I think they were fed, but the sheep ate the dog food leaving the pups to starve, so the pups ate grain and wool. They were like little wild things when they were here, scared to death of any human, especially men. Jenna still is and lately has been running from me too, even with food in my hands for her. The problem is that she is the low dog on the totem pole and last to eat, so if she doesn't eat when she is fed, chances are she won't get enough. With seven dogs at the farm, there is plenty to go around, but the old saying about a dog in a manger is some what true too. The other dogs will hoard the food and not allow her to have any if given a chance. Jenna barks a lot at night, which is what she is supposed to do, but she has not learned to discriminate and barks are any noise rather than real threats only. Her sister, Jade is the opposite, being dominant over Jenna and she is larger, but she has arthritis at a year old and walks with a limp sometimes. So does Harley, the 4 year old Maremma and he was not taken proper care of either. What gives with livestock guardian dog owners? Do they think these dogs will fend for themselves, do not need shelters and are impervious to bad diets? Grrrrrr! Jenna likes to sleep with a "pillow". She is pretty cute and is the only dog on the farm that smiles, but she also cowers with her tail between her legs, even though it is wagging. Poor Jenna. I want to help her, to make it all better for her, to make her confident and trusting. I love her and will work on this. In the meantime, Robbie is not hard on Jenna and the two are friends, but Jenna isolates herself to sleep away from the pack. The other 4 adult dogs can often be found near their summer houses, snoring away. Robbie can often be found on top, never sitting still too long. Ah, those dogs are amazing!
Robbie loves water play. He has dropped his toy to the bottom of the bowl and loves to stuff his head right in and retrieve it, then do it all over again.
Hands down, dogs are my favourite animal. I have had dogs all my life and could not imagine living without them. My last faithful companion was 14 when she left this world, also a border collie. How I loved that dog. Robbie was the closest replica I could find for my beloved Josie. He is not Josie and brings his own uniqueness to the farm. Water and Robbie go hand in hand. He love it! After playing fetch and jumping to get his toy for a while, Robbie was hot, so he stepped in the duck bowl and dropped his toy in then spent 20 minutes picking it up off the bottom of the bowl, which meant his face was submerged to his ears, and then doing it all over again. He was likely wishing the bowl was much larger so he could dive in himself. Robbie is not allowed to roam free like the other dogs because he is not a livestock guardian and although he is very fast, he is not built to fight predators. The last time he did, he got quite badly beaten up with strips of his fur ripped off and huge gashes in his skin. Fortunately no muscle was torn and he recovered without intervention. Still, he thinks he should go and fight too, so he must be tied or at night, he sleeps in the house. When he gets bored inside, he does a few bad things too, like tear the paper bit by bit of a cardboard box, but generally he is really good. He has slept beside goat kids, lambs, chicks, ducklings and a gosling and not hurt any of them. He also could help himself to eggs, but he doesn't. He is good that way. He sure was cute playing in the bucket though. And Mike and Joe, oh boy, it is hard not pick them up and love them to bits. They are soft and cute and so loveable, but they must not bond to me. In a week, when they are a little older, they will be placed in pens inside the goat and sheep pens, away from each other. They will be alone, but on the other side of their pen, the goats and sheep will be able to interact with them. Once they are not afraid of them, they will be allowed out under supervision and eventually they will simply live with the sheep and goats, one with each group. But in the meantime, they are soooooo cute! Aren't they? Robbie is just over a year old, really, for a border collie, still very much a puppy himself. He wants to work though, and was busy chasing either the horses or llamas and just recently has gotten so much better about not doing that. That gave him more time to do other things and one of those is to play with the puppies. The Maremma sisters, Jade and Jenna, love to play with each other and they were not too sure about playing with Robbie, because he can be a bit rough. Now that they are bigger, at eight months old, they all play together very nicely and the girls are not getting hurt anymore.
Robbie is enjoying them so much that he even was sharing his food with them today. It was adorable. Jade is a little apprehensive when Jenna gets mad and she is always watchful. Jenna can be quite the little handful and Jade is quieter, more observant and definitely more willing to please. Jade and Jenna never share food, so it was interesting to observe the interaction between the three of them. Ofcharka has to be tied until the perimeter wire can be buried to create a barrier for him and his shock collar fitted with an area that is shaved on his neck. He has taken to going to the highway to chase the cars and since two dogs from the farm have met their demise on the highway, for safety, Ofcharka is tied. I let him go three times today when I was out doing chores and three times went to retrieve him from the highway. He did not come when I called him, but instead ran faster away. We must work on that, though he can and does jump the fences, so I am not quite sure how it will happen. In the meantime, Harley has been missing since early yesterday. He has gone before and returned within a day, so this is longer than he has ever been away before. I am hoping, wishing and praying to see him tomorrow morning when I wake up. I love that dog. Now with Ofcharka tied, only the puppies are going to be able to defend the farm. At least they don't know they can jump the fence. I hope they never realize they can. The vet tech said to make sure the cones stayed on the dogs for 10 days at least, 14 preferably. I said that was not likely to happen and she told me to keep the dogs quiet and warm. Hmm, these are farm dogs, vigorous, outside, chase 'em dogs, not pansy house dogs. This is what Robbie's cone looked like at the end of the first day. The little Angora kid is doing remarkably well now. When I go to check on him and his mamma, he gets up and runs to her and calls. This is a far cry from the first day when I questioned his survival at all. Thank you Creator for the miracle of birth and the joy of life for the little boy! The geese are nesting, oh no. It is far too cold for them to be nesting here. Today and yesterday were both minus 20 with fierce winds and over 6 inches of new snow. I went in and messed up the nest twice now, but today the goose hens were busy fixing it and testing it out and making sure I did not come near them or the new nest. The waterfowl winter area will soon be dismantled, so this is not where the geese will nest anyhow. Should I tell them?
There was not much sleep to be had last night. Why of all nights did it have to snow? Ofcharka was first tied to his dog house, where he has been tied lately to learn to quit barking at the neighbour's dogs. This means me opening the window frequently and yelling at him when he sounds off. He needs to learn discernment barking. Of course, the young Maremma pups have followed his lead and bark at the neighbour's dogs too, so they need to learn that is not appropriate. Now that they are spayed, hopefully the dogs will stay home.
But for some reason the removal of their female organs has incited a great interest in breeding the puppies by the other dogs, including Robbie who also lost his boy parts yesterday, so there is ownership aggression to deal with, to see whom the dominant breeder will be. Harley and Ofcharka are double Robbie's size, but he is such a pain in the butt, that they acquiesce to him for the most part and he rules the pack, next to me of course. So, to give the puppies some peace, I tied Ofcharka near the hay bales where the dogs often sleep on the fallen hay. Then the snow started and he was miserable, not wanting to stay there, crying like a baby. Just after midnight, then I donned my coveralls and boots and released him. I have no idea where he slept though. There are quite a few choices, since Jenna was in his house and Jade was in Harley's because with the cones on their heads, it was the only place they could fit. One of both of them slept in the barn, judging from the newly rearranged hay. Then the morning came too quickly. Drat that time change anyhow. Waking up an hour earlier than I need to simply because some beauraucrat decided that an hour of daylight would save money, yeah in 1941! The lights are on all the time now, anyhow, so I do not think it applies anymore. I was exhausted from the busy day with no break yesterday, the night of rescuing the dogs and stopping the barking and Robbie whining because he doesn't want the cone on his head. This too shall soon pass. The little newborn goat kid is doing fine, despite the frigid temperatures. His little body was warm and his tummy full, so he is continuing to feed himself and have enough energy to maintain his temperature. I gave his mamma fresh warm water and alalfa hay and fed Sarah the goat, who is in the dog kennel jail since with all the snow she is over the fences and into every critter's grain constantly. I am afraid she will overeat the grain and suffer bloat and even death, therefore, to protect her from herself, she is in jail. At least she has stopped her 24 hour crying! Here is to hoping tonight will be a better rest for all and warmer temperatures and NO MORE SNOW! and no more fights for poor Harley! It Was Snowing Again!Robbie was a little tired after playing ball for 2 hours. I asked him to jump to retrieve the ball held above my head. If he does this, say, 5 times in a row, he is panting, because it is hard work. So, when I was forking the hay over to the sheep, Robbie snuggled down in the soft top and his eyes closed. He wasn't sleeping, nope, no way. He refused to put his head down and give in. It was so cute. The huge mounds of snow on the roof tops of the sheep and goat shelters and on the old straw bale, look like enormous marshmallows, or dollops of white frosting so thickly spread. And, it was snowing again today, and drifting. Most of the animals did not spend a great deal of time outside, including me and the dogs. When I was feeding the goats, Barbie cat hid in the feeder and Robbie investigated. A bit later, Jade came to check out the goats eating through the fence. I have demised that hay on the ground inside the pen is wasted hay. As soon as the goats step on the hay, they refuse to eat it. One day I dropped some outside the page wire fence and they quite easily stuck their heads through and ate it. It preserved most of the hay as well, so there is now a livestock panel feeder and hay outside the fence. The three sheep temporarily in with the goats for breeding purposes (no, not to the goats, but the Jacob ram to his ewes), can pick enough through the feeder to make it all work. Goat minerals are outside the fence and sheep minerals are inside. That works as well since goats need copper and it is toxic to sheep. At the end of the month the sheep will be back together in their own area and the rams will cohabit in the ram pen, leaving the goats to themselves.
Robbie is full of it. Always. Mischief and trouble with a capital T. He should be working on a cattle farm where he could bite the cows and move them along all day. That is where his lineage lies. We have been working on his commands for some time now and also on watching, not herding and not biting. He is slowly coming around and is especially good with the baby Berkshires. Today, I let the piggies out for a jaunt around the birds areas. It is good for the species to intermingle so that when the birds free range and the pigs are older, chickens and ducks do not become snacks for the grown up pigs. It helps the animals all become used to one another. The piggies were very good too, and Robbie made it his job to keep an eye on them. I eventually had to tie Robbie up with a leash and take him with me to get the piggies back to their own pen, because he would always head them off and send them away. They finally went in and were fed and watered and the door was closed. I can now pet them both, giving them some good scratches on the belly and behind the ears. They are so cute!
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AuthorFluffy writes daily about the experiences on the farm and with the bed and breakfast patrons. Archives
October 2020
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