LGD behaviour ( as regards feeding time)

One of the reasons why I like to feed meat and bones to the Sarplanianac dogs,

is to discourage the sheep from eating the dog food/kibble.

Sheep really love kibble and will make every attempt to get it from the dogs.

Most of the time,

 when I do have to feed kibble,

I will  remove the dogs from the sheep for about 10 minutes

so that they can eat in peace.

I do not like the dogs having to deal with pushy sheep, while trying to eat.

There are moments though,

 when that option is not available and I just have to feed kibble to the dogs where they are.

I do try and do it quietly, so that the sheep do not notice,

however that rarely works.

So, the sheep are grazing about a mile away from home.

I have 3 LGD dogs in with the ewes.

The sheep are fenced in with the orange, electric nets.

We usually will check the ewes and dogs in the morning and will then directly feed the dogs.

This little clip shows how our dogs deal with sheep while they are eating kibble.

The amount of "aggression" the dogs use is reasonable, fair and appropriate.

No sheep are harmed, 

they are just told off.

Now, the sad thing is that sheep do not really read the dog's body language.

The sheep do not respond to "the look"

Fena giving Vuk the look to back off.

Nor, do they really respond to the less subtle

"go away" signs.

What does work is a lunge, a snap and a roar.

That, usually creates a circle  around each dog and its kibble.

With raw, the sheep may come and look,

but the interest soon wanes.

So, this is one of the reasons, why I prefer to feed the dogs a raw diet.

So, what do LGD pups do all day?

Sometimes, people ask me what I do to keep the dogs from being bored.

Well, I do not do a thing.

I do not believe that dogs "get bored",

perhaps the dog,
 is in fact,
training you,
to keep him amused!

I spent an hour,

 a week or two ago,

 taking some pictures of our sarplaninac pups,

to see what they actually do.

So, let us take a look and see what they do!

Well, they like to check in with the rams.

Sometimes,  they just hanging out together 

Hoarding sticks is another favorite activity.

The one with the stick has the prize, the idea is to steal the stick from that pup.
Hoarding sticks and bones is another typical activity.

In the field we have a puppy feeder set up.
The pups can go in an get away from the rams and eat in peace.

They have shelter away from the rams.
The pups can come and go as they please.

Heading off to eat.

Mooching about with the rams is also part and parcel of being a LGD.

Group drinking at the bar, is a social activity.

A roll in the hay is very entertaining.

 Wrestling, MMA, Ultimate Fighter are practiced daily to improve their skills.

On patrol

What is there?

Visiting with Roy is definitely a highlight.

A conference is never a bad idea.

Aah, the prize  is a favorite today

More wrestling

 As with all siblings, things can go south in a hurry. 

They get a little irritable and snarly with each other.

Off somehwere

Coming to say hi?
Hi baby..

Quality time and also a very important part of raising LGD.

The gathering

Sometimes, lost in thought.
What would she be pondering?

More water

Snoozing at the puppy feeder

So, the conclusion is that the pups really do keep themselves busy.

The pups are in an area of about 10-15 acres,

they have about 15  mature rams to hang out with.
Having great stock to help educate the pups is also very important in the puppy raising stage.

The pups have old bones, some pieces of sticks and the odd food bowl they play with.

The can see other groups of sheep, the horses, the barn and watch the other dogs working.

They learn to respond to howling coyotes, they can run to the fence and add their barks to that of the pack.

They can observe and learn.

They have a safe area to hang out in and to be able to eat in peace.

There are plenty of smells and sights.

 Of course, having  each other for companionship also keeps them busy.

I do added in mature dogs to help teach them what they need to do.

This is the age they learn to stay in the fences, bond with the livestock, learn to tie up, walk on a lead, be handled, not barge through gates, not jump up etc

In fact, there is so much to do,
 that they spend  most of the day just hanging out.

As of tomorrow, there will just be two pups left,

for those following the pups,

the two who are left are the orange girl and the purple girl ( little Vuk).

Thank you, for (all the facebook) name suggestions!

I have decided to call the orange pup Shara and the purple pup Nina,

names derived from Shar-pla-ni-natz! 

So, here are Nina and Shara, practicing their "on alert"  LGD look.

Have a great weekend!

And, then there was just three

Our Sarplaninac pups have mostly left our ranch,
some went very far away to the USA,
some to the other side of Canada,
and some stayed in Alberta,
and two stayed home.

Yesterday, Hope left for her new life with Connie,
she will be a LGD and of course also a protector and companion for Connie.

Next week, another pup leaves
 and then we will be down to two.

Perhaps the biggest change is that our family structure at home has changed.
We were with 4 of us here,
one left and now we are down to three.

Jess had her graduation last week.

She left for college on Sunday.
Not only did she leave, but a few horses did too.
She  took two of our colts with her to work and ride while at College.
 Eric, and I followed a day later to bring her horses to her and of course to say our good byes.

Jess will be attending Lakeland College in Vermilion ( about 6 hours drive away).
She will be studying Environmental Sciences; Conservation and Restoration.

When we moved to Canada 6 years ago, this 12 year old, freckled faced girl could not speak any English,
since then,
she has excelled in all she sets her mind to,

winner of the Premiers Award,  4-H Ambassador, Ag for Life Ambassador, Rodeo Queen.

She decided back then , that she would attend Lakeland College,
and,
 this week it has become her reality.

Although for us it is bitter sweet,
we will miss her everyday,
but,
 we are also so happy to see her following her dreams
 and be able to watch her grow and develop.

 It feels like a huge hole in our lives right now,
and,
 we will all need a little re-adjustment.

So, if anyone is passing through Vermilion,
do stop in and say hi to our little girl!