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.
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.
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