Blessedfarmgirl's Journal

blessedfarmgirl

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blessedfarmgirl

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60 bales in the barn, 60 more to go in the next couple weeks! I found decent Bahia hay for only $4 a bale. This has been a phenomenal hay year and folks have way more than they need. Normally square grass hay bales are at least $8.
@Baymule thanks for the stair-step tip, it worked great!

This is a hay monster. They like climbing on hay bales.
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blessedfarmgirl

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I have a dog story! I'm very proud of them and how much they have grown. Just a year ago, Moses was a giant, scared puppy that hid behind me from threats and let my female dominate him, and Gracie was a problem dog who ran off to other people's properties whenever she could. A few night ago however, I got to finally see some results to patient boundary training and them finally maturing. We were walking the property line by the neighbors (we do this twice a day since the dogs have small areas they stay in with the animals) and I heard the neighbor's dogs barking. We have a history with this neighbors dogs coming on our property and they sent my female to the hospital about a year and a half ago. So I wasn't surprised when two of their large dogs, a lab and a German shepherd, came through the barb wire and started barking aggressively at us. The neighbor was yelling for them and whistling, but they ignored her. Then they charged straight at me. My dogs didn't even bark, they just charged. Moses, who usually lets Gracie lead, went ahead and all 120 pounds of him barreling at top speed was plenty to send both dogs packing back through the fence. They stood by the fence and stared at the dogs, who resumed barking. Then I called them and both of my dogs came immediately. But the other dogs decided they weren't done and came back through the fence. Same thing happened. Finally the other dogs got the message they weren't wanted and we left.
Now this might not seem like a big deal to some people, but it is big for us after all we've been through with both dogs, especially Gracie. Before, she would have left the property to chase them even with a shock collar on. She didn't have a shock collar that night. It was a big step forward for both dogs and I'm pretty proud of them. Also, It's pretty crazy that my Pyrenees had better recall than a lab and a German shepherd. 😂 So it was a minor encounter, but it was very encouraging for me to see training paying off for the one and instinct kicking in for the other.

A pic of Moses because he's my Velcro and I can never get pics of the ever moving Gracie. 😂

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blessedfarmgirl

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Thank you all! I really look up to a lot of y'all as far as dog training, so it means a lot to hear you say that.

They both got extra love and pets and peanut butter and they got gravy and meat on their dinner! And they got chicken feet. I have started giving those as treats and they are loving them! It's so funny how they would never try to eat a chicken live but they happily eat them frozen. 😂
 

blessedfarmgirl

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Grazing season is just about over, especially with the drought. I have the sheep on mostly dry stockpile and they are not liking me. 😂 They let me know whenever they see me that they are maaaaad and that they want me to make the grass green again. The alfalfa mollifies them slightly. They also like eating the leftover seed heads on the giant ragweed.

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Mocha likes chin scratches.

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Ridgetop

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two of their large dogs, a lab and a German shepherd, came through the barb wire and started barking aggressively at us. The neighbor was yelling for them and whistling, but they ignored her. Then they charged straight at me. My dogs didn't even bark, they just charged.

Wonderful behavior on your dogs' part! Your dogs charging without making a sound is normal for livestock guardian dogs. The other dogs were charging at you and were a danger. Your dogs knew that and responded approriately. LGDs don't bother barking when attacking a predator. Why bother barking? Barking is to set boundries. Since the predators had already crossed the boundary and were about to attack you, they were prepared to just attack and kill them. If the neighbor's dogs had not retreated onto their own property, your dogs would have tried their best to kill them.

Great behavior on their parts, and the recall was wonderful.
 

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