The Ambivalent Shepherd

[fuzzi]

They probably dropped a lot of seed already. Suspect an increase is happening without help.

My morning glories have been reseeding themselves for at least 15 years.

 

[Blue Sky]

So I’m sending my older brother some Racka fleece and labeling it Bigfoot hair. Genuine from East Texas. He’s retired and into UFO’s, UAPs, cryptids etc. Always has been. It got me wondering if anyone here has seen anything unusual. Guess I’ll start a thread.

 

[drstratton]

So I’m sending my older brother some Racka fleece and labeling it Bigfoot hair. Genuine from East Texas. He’s retired and into UFO’s, UAPs, cryptids etc. Always has been. It got me wondering if anyone here has seen anything unusual. Guess I’ll start a thread.

That's hilarious! My bil is into Bigfoot.

 

[Baymule]

He will have fun with that! I’m sure he has friends that he can convince he found where Bigfoot rubbed against a tree and rubbed off some hair.
Note: not the whole fleece, just a handful. LOL

Maybe he could sell Bigfoot hair!

 

[Blue Sky]

Warning- lots of blathering on about Great Dogs I Have Had, Dubious Training Practices in the eyes of some and Personal Problems. Yesterday I went to check the ewes and Moses looked seriously guilty. “Not gonna burp hooves are ya buddy?” I was joking. Moses was a Good Boy who had been through two lambing’s with no issues. Four minutes later I found the evidence and he had high tailed it to the front yard. He got the shakedown and a brief, loud lecture regarding his future. Lamb disposed of and drink in hand I indulged in a round of self pity. On top of dog follies I had a stomach bug I acquired from my bottle lamb “Also dead” I grumbled, in spite of furious hand washing. But a little voice started reminding me that I’d faced LGD problems before and in only one case did I euthanize but that’s another story. The positives with Moses- he only killed one lamb ( I’ve incurred multiple fatalities hence the euthanasia story). He did not kill in front of Vala. In fact a few days ago he rolled her for charging a lamb (guess he was saving it for later?). I’ve had kill issues with nearly all my LGDs except an old Lady Pyr totally backyard born and bred and took to guarding like a duck to water and Crockett who was mentored by the Pyr. I miss them both now. The kills I dealt with were play kills and I solved those problems by restricting running. Drags made of lumber, pvc and chain with supervision. And the Bell of Shame which foiled stalking. Moses is two years old and change, still young by LGD standards. There’s hope. He has been barking A Lot this week. I joked with Hubbs that I was surprised he took the time out from barking to supplement his diet. Reminds me, he’s fed like a king and is a bit overweight so hunger didn’t drive the behavior. Well if you’ve gotten this far thanks- time for me to exercise perseverance, patience and a certain dog. Bye all.

 

[Blue Sky]

Aloha! I thought I was retired. Afterbirth is in the barn like usual buddy.

 

[Baymule]

I’m sorry about the lamb. Is there any chance the lamb was dead when Moses found it? If so, then he was cleaning up to deter predators. But if he just killed it and ate it, then Mom has a Come to Jesus Meeting with Moses. No more access to the lambs unless he is supervised.

 

[peteyfoozer]

I had a stillborn lamb that the Maremmas spirited away. It was interesting because they were so good with lambing, but while the second lamb was being born, they snuk off with it. I found where they hid it and they waited until late the next day to eat it. Be sure your dog is guilty before correcting him. I give them the benefit of the doubt then I supervise again to be sure

 

[SageHill]

I was kinda thinking what @Baymule esp since you said he's been barking a lot lately. Still correction worthy IMO

 

[Blue Sky]

Thank you everybody for your comments and support. The dead lamb was about a day old, a twin (so small) and very healthy. Mom ewe’s second lambing. She was caring for both and very attentive. It’s not impossible for the lamb to have died first but not very likely. In the meantime Moses stayed penned today while Caddo was ceremoniously installed as The Guardian. Re installed. HE got the post birth treats (see photo above, the old girl didn’t even get to her feet when Caddo walked by). HE got the special walk and HE got to overmark all of Moses’s pee places. The excessive barking was in part due to the neighbor’s new cows and the neighbors checking on their new cows by horseback. Moses has never seen a horse let alone one with a person riding it. Probably a wth moment. Maremmas are a new breed for me. Every few days I find mine doing something I’ve never seen other breeds do. Gotta dash just had lightning-