Robbie is a smart dog and as such, he is also a pain in the butt. He has a mind of his own and although he wants to please more than anything else, he gets a bit carried away with doing his own thing, things that are not necessarily what I want him to do. He is not allowed to go out chasing coyotes and other predators because he is not a livestock guardian and is small in comparison, though he is fast. The one time he did go out with the LGDs, he came back chewed up with a strip of skin ripped off his hide. So, he is tied when he is not with me or working.
Today a neighbour came for a farm tour with her daughter in law and two grandchildren. Robbie was a star! He rounded up the sheep and brought them closer to us, but the highlight was that a fox was spotted outside the sheep pen. Robbie caught sight of it from the corner of his eye, as did I, and looked to me for instructions. I told him to go get it and he jumped three 4 foot fences and chased the fox into the bush, then came back when he was called. He was impressive and well behaved for a change and the visitors were absolutely enthralled with him. He was the star of the day! Later, after they left, Robbie came with me into the goat pen and was told to hold, so he parked in the goat summer house and watched. He is only two. Hopefully by the time he is mature, whenever that will actually be, he will be able to be trusted without having to be tied up without supervision. Good dog, today , my Robbie! Good boy!
Today a neighbour came for a farm tour with her daughter in law and two grandchildren. Robbie was a star! He rounded up the sheep and brought them closer to us, but the highlight was that a fox was spotted outside the sheep pen. Robbie caught sight of it from the corner of his eye, as did I, and looked to me for instructions. I told him to go get it and he jumped three 4 foot fences and chased the fox into the bush, then came back when he was called. He was impressive and well behaved for a change and the visitors were absolutely enthralled with him. He was the star of the day! Later, after they left, Robbie came with me into the goat pen and was told to hold, so he parked in the goat summer house and watched. He is only two. Hopefully by the time he is mature, whenever that will actually be, he will be able to be trusted without having to be tied up without supervision. Good dog, today , my Robbie! Good boy!
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