Say Helloses to Moses

[Baymule]

I usually bury it. Most of my ewes will come back to their night shelters to give birth. They rarely give birth out in the open field. They go where they feel safe. I trained the dogs with AAHHNNTT when they went to even sniff the afterbirth, even more so if it was still hanging out of the ewe. Don't even think about approaching that ewe. I've sat with both dogs while ewes were giving birth and let them slowly and respectfully approach the ewe, sniff her and lamb, then a soft aannhhtt to let them know that's enough. They both have then turned and come back to me and laid down, on guard. They are not allowed to lick the babies at all. Never. That would bring down the fury of HE// down on them. They do sometimes eat the afterbirth, sometimes let it dry out, then it is a chewy treat.

Sentry was not trustworthy with the newborns. He stole them from the mothers to lick the birth goop off them. Of course they died. It took some dead lambs for me to figure it out. So he was not allowed to be in the field with expecting ewes, or at night.

Read Buford's and Sheba's journal. And Sentry's too, it might help you with ideas, how to apply to your dogs.

 

[Blue Sky]

I usually bury it. Most of my ewes will come back to their night shelters to give birth. They rarely give birth out in the open field. They go where they feel safe. I trained the dogs with AAHHNNTT when they went to even sniff the afterbirth, even more so if it was still hanging out of the ewe. Don't even think about approaching that ewe. I've sat with both dogs while ewes were giving birth and let them slowly and respectfully approach the ewe, sniff her and lamb, then a soft aannhhtt to let them know that's enough. They both have then turned and come back to me and laid down, on guard. They are not allowed to lick the babies at all. Never. That would bring down the fury of HE// down on them. They do sometimes eat the afterbirth, sometimes let it dry out, then it is a chewy treat.

Sentry was not trustworthy with the newborns. He stole them from the mothers to lick the birth goop off them. Of course they died. It took some dead lambs for me to figure it out. So he was not allowed to be in the field with expecting ewes, or at night.

Read Buford's and Sheba's journal. And Sentry's too, it might help you with ideas, how to apply to your dogs.

I’ve never had problems with dogs disposing of afterbirth til now. The first literature I read about Anatolians ?? 20 years ago?? stated that feeding afterbirth was a necessity for flock bonding. I will caution that an LGD needs to stay outside after treats because they can render the air unbreathable in an enclosed space. Yikes moment at breakfast today as Caddo wasn’t let out early. Moses may be the no lamb dog.

 

[Blue Sky]

Moses accordioned himself into the lamb/ewe pen this morning. He was probably there 30 minutes. I did a double take and rushed out there and found everything fine. Ewes and lambs sunning themselves (32 right now). No panic (well mine), carnage or chaos. We still have a long way to go but a promising start.

 

[Blue Sky]

Well I found a hidden lamb fatality. Damn. But ( a big ol butt) a lamb escaped the safe pen during feeding and capered and loitered in front of Moses and he didn’t raise his head. So he won’t grab one in front of me. Bless my soul and Brenda Negri (sp?) I have work to do

 

[Baymule]

Can you keep him penned up and only let him out when supervised?

 

[Blue Sky]

He runs empty pastures then gets his breakfast. After that he is in adjacent empty pasture while the ewes and lambs graze. He watches them but has no access while Caddo and Leo patrol. Vala trains with them. Eventually Moses will start Lamb School. I haven’t had time with my recent house and garden chores.

 

[Blue Sky]

This has probably been asked before but what’s everyone’s opinion on clippering an LGD? Vala has blown her coat but Moses shows no signs. I’ve raked and brushed him but get just the usual shedding. He is swimming on walkabouts, wading in the water troughs. I have an extra wade trough for him. Should I take some of that coat off?

 

[Baymule]

This has probably been asked before but what’s everyone’s opinion on clippering an LGD? Vala has blown her coat but Moses shows no signs. I’ve raked and brushed him but get just the usual shedding. He is swimming on walkabouts, wading in the water troughs. I have an extra wade trough for him. Should I take some of that coat off?

Even a thick coat is protection from the sun. It also protects him in a fight with predators. can you just keep brushing him, to remove excess fluff?

 

[SageHill]

Coat is protection from the sun and it is also insulation -- works both ways warm in winter and cooler in summer.

 

[Blue Sky]

I’m being criticized by neighbors for not shaving my dogs. One guy is nice enough but is certain that Smitty and Crockett died because they were too hot and I should have had them shaved. He has no experience. Moses has a pretty dense coat, but he’s not panting excessively. He and Caddo do a walkabout swim in same neighbor’s pond (it’s deeper, cooler than ours and more accessible) and neighbor thinks “oh those poor dogs”. Since we don’t talk often the misunderstanding continues. Meh. He means well but can’t think past what he thinks he knows. I don’t know everything and wanted opinions from people in the know. Thanks all.