Harley is a Maremma, an Italian Livestock Guardian Dog. These dogs have been bred for hundreds of years to guard sheep roaming without fences. Usually a pack of dogs can handle a huge number of sheep in a large territory. They are powerfully built with great chests and long legs that can run fast and leap long distances. The thick mane around their necks protects them from the bites of predators. They are agile and quick thinking, working independently from a master, yet they bond well to humans and will also be a guardian dog of a human family and home.
Unfortunately, Harley is not as well as he should be. He is very thin and the vet does not really find anything wrong with him. I believe he cannot eat grain based dog food and gets stomach pain from it, resulting in undereating and remaining extremely thin. Still, his nature is to protect, so he jumps the fence and fights the coyotes with his life. Fortunately, to date, he has won, but the state of health and the fact that he is being hurt is wearing him down. To protect him, I have been bringing him inside at night. Ofcharka and the two 5 month old puppies are left to fend off the predators. Ofcharka is now just over a year, the size of a small kitchen table and has big teeth. I have just begun to see his protective nature and I must say, I would not want to be on the bad side of that dog. I feel he will keep the yard safe and as a plus, he stays within the fence. Another dog or coyote would be committing suicide to jump that fence onto his side. When the puppies are full grown, they too will be ferocious protectors of the farm.
In the meantime, Harley likes to rest his weary bones on Robbie's bed, only he is a bit too large! He is a good dog and I love him very much, that Harley dog.
Unfortunately, Harley is not as well as he should be. He is very thin and the vet does not really find anything wrong with him. I believe he cannot eat grain based dog food and gets stomach pain from it, resulting in undereating and remaining extremely thin. Still, his nature is to protect, so he jumps the fence and fights the coyotes with his life. Fortunately, to date, he has won, but the state of health and the fact that he is being hurt is wearing him down. To protect him, I have been bringing him inside at night. Ofcharka and the two 5 month old puppies are left to fend off the predators. Ofcharka is now just over a year, the size of a small kitchen table and has big teeth. I have just begun to see his protective nature and I must say, I would not want to be on the bad side of that dog. I feel he will keep the yard safe and as a plus, he stays within the fence. Another dog or coyote would be committing suicide to jump that fence onto his side. When the puppies are full grown, they too will be ferocious protectors of the farm.
In the meantime, Harley likes to rest his weary bones on Robbie's bed, only he is a bit too large! He is a good dog and I love him very much, that Harley dog.
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