Boone-My Anatolian Unicorn

[peteyfoozer]

Boone made me do penance for leaving him home alone yesterday, even though technically, it was his idea. I had him vested and collared and ready to go when he climbed in his crate and refused to come out unless I went out back.
So throughout today, he made many culinary demands and in the interest of avoiding raising a freeloader, we worked on polishing a few tasks. He took my socks off several times, and worked on removing my jacket, which is ALWAYS a problem for both myself and Randy because of our shoulder problems. He’s almost too gentle to get it done. We’re going to have to start playing tug again because he doesn’t pull hard enough.
He practiced his Fen-style-crate-guilt trip-demand and was terribly disappointed to get a milkbone when he wanted a pupsicle. So, of course, his tenacity won him 2 of them then he stupidvised while I filled a freezebone for tomorrow. We did a few scratches on the nail board for a cheeto, which was hilarious to watch him eat, as he acted like it was a pop rock or fizzy or something. Then tonight he picked up 4 out of 5 items to put in the laundry, deciding it was more fun to take my undies on a tour of the house than to hand them to me.
I spent time vacuuming him with the doggy brush/vacuum and he complained bitterly everytime I took a stroke on his back, side, neck, or anywhere but his belly. He wants “fingers, vacuums, brushes or any implements of skritchy may ONLY be used on belly” encoded into law, with severe penalties for infractions.
He is a brutal taskmaster. I almost think it would be easier trying to stuff him under a table and let him drag me all over town in pursuit of doggy friends than it is to appease him the day after.

 

[peteyfoozer]

Boone loves LGD duty. He’s much more discerning than the Maremmas were as far as what to bark at, but in their defense, they actually spent their time out among the predators with their sheep and calves and ran off more than a few cougars. It always fascinated me to watch them work together. We have the perfect place for it, as they spent their first 2 years loose on the 250,000 acres (yes. Almost 400 sq miles) They came home every morning. Most nights they didn’t leave. They stuck close to the goats and calves in the back pasture but when the boss had the calves moved to different fields, they split their time between us and wherever the calves were moved to. Potamus used to “count them”. Everyday, he would touch each calf on the muzzle. The weirdest thing is that they let him.

Every morning they would roam the ranch looking to see where “their” calves were last located (there are 4,000 mother cows here so lots of calves, newborn-yearling)
When the calves were ready to ship to another ranch, I finally decided to contain them, lest they travel off the ranch to find them) so I wired a mile of fencing with radio wire. They still had significant room but now remained only with my critters and whatever calves the boss might have here.

I appreciate that if Boone barks too much, or too long, he comes in if I ask him to. (If only he had the same recall during the day with dogs around) But he is far too chatty at night.
Coffee is an essential this morning.
It’s Freezebone filling day. They don’t need them but I love the contentment on their faces as they quietly lick and work at getting the contents out. I found soaking a little kibble in broth and mixing with some pumpkin or yams and yogurt gives them the most satisfying experience.
Randy has rationed out my “be cool and deal with it” meds so I’ll just hang out and see what today has for me and Boone.

 

[peteyfoozer]

Seeing pics of Bru and Potamus reminded me of some of their antics. They had amazing discretion. For awhile, there was an older couple living on the ranch and the BWD’s (Big White Dogs aka Bru & Potamus) knew them well. They would greet the man, especially because he walked around with his GWP dog and they enjoyed playing with it. Once when we were going to town, his wife, who liked to come over for coffee and help me with critters, was going to relief milk for me. The can for the belly milker is 35 lb empty and close to 70 lb full of milk so she had her husband come help. They had no problems as the dogs had seen both of them in the yard around the animals when I was feeding. All went well until they went to carry the bucket into the house…I got a phone call asking what they wanted me to do with the milk, because as they went to carry it through the back door, Potamus suddenly jumped in between them and barred the man’s way.
They had seem him around the yard with me, and they had seen her in the house with me, but they had NOT seen him in the house with me, so they refused him entry. I was astounded. After that, I made sure the dogs saw me invite him inside and we never had another problem with it.