Had a super fantastic morning! Buford finally decided that he wanted to play with Tatli. He told me. How? I let the ewes out on the field, he always goes out first and runs the fence line to see if it’s safe. Not this morning.
I fed Tatli, played with her and gave her fresh water. Then I put a new collar on her, the leash and we went walking. But wait, Buford was laying next to the gate, he’s not out on the field. He was waiting on Tatli!
I talked to Buford, asking if he was ready to play, just a steady conversation. I closed the gate and let Tatli loose.
They ran. They played. It made my heart sing.
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When Tatli acted disrespectful, Buford growled menacingly but BRATLI paid no mind.
Tatli came to me when I called her. Every. Single. Time. She got lots of praise and ear scrubs.
Then it was rest time. Tatli was a pest, jumping on Buford while he growled fiercely. Tatli didn’t care, she was having fun!
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Tatli jumped on Buford, climbing on him. This was too much and he gave her the SMACKDOWN! He snarled and put his teeth on her. She yelped and cowed down fast! He jumped up, stiff position, tail up, and touched his nose to her. She rolled over, completely submissive and Buford sniffed her up and down. Her ears were back, tail wagging, and he let her up.
This is exactly what I wanted to see. This exactly the correction I wanted from Buford and exactly the submission response I wanted from Tatli. She was much more respectful.
We went out on the field. Buford ran the fences, then found a shady spot. I walked Tatli through the sheep, telling her AAHHNNTTT when she wanted to play with the sheep.
Tatli wanted to go find Buford, there he is!
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Tatli strained at the leash to run to Buford. He walled his eyes at her, deeply growling.
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Tatli cowed down, submissive, deciding jumping on Buford was probably a bad choice.
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She laid down a few feet away. Two Anatolians, 2 working dogs, watching their sheep.
I’ve wanted for Buford to teach Tatli manners. I did not want to just toss her out there to go jump all over him. He has needed special attention from me to assure him that he’s still loved and respected. I gave him the time he needed to get used to the idea of having her around. This morning was HIS idea and he told me so by not going out on the field, but waiting for my dim brain to figure it out. Buford was ready. Not rushed, not crowded, but given the respect due him as pack leader. Buford delivered, exceeded expectations, I’m proud of him.
and correction. PERFECT. Bratli did well, esp the decision to leave him alone in the shade 
