Buford T. Justice

[Baymule]

Oh Buford!!! I turned Cooper and 12 ewes out on the field today. I looked out the window to see Cooper trying to breed Pinto and where was Buford? All up in the middle of business! I don’t know if he was trying to get Cooper off the ewe or if the smell of estrus was getting him all excited. Probably both. I stepped out on the porch, BUFORD!!!! NO! NO!

He dropped his head, grinning, and went to the shade tree to lay down. Big dummy dog!

 

[Baymule]

It is a drizzling day. I had to go to town this morning. Cooper and his 15 ewes were out on the field. When I came home, Buford was with the sheep, no sigh of Sentry or Sheba. Buford ran to greet me at the gate, wet and happy. Sheba and Sentry came yawning out of a shelter, warm and dry. Clearly they much prefer to stay warm and dry today, they are happy to let the dummy do all the work.

 

[Mini Horses]

Maybe they drew straws!

Poor Buford -- wet but, apparently happy.

 

[Ridgetop]

Low man on the totem pole for sure.

 

[Baymule]

After they are this evening, Buford cam and sat next to me CALMLY. When he sits, I scratch his chest. That’s his reward for being good. Sheba came and sat on the other side, getting lots of attention.

Buford tries to hump her and it pisses her off, so naturally that’s what he did. Sheba took him down, growling and chewing on his face.

 

[Ridgetop]

I guess she had a headache! LOL

 

[Baymule]

I guess she had a headache! LOL

Buford is her headache. LOL

 

[Baymule]

Buford got lamb lessons today.

Granny was not pleased by a dog in the pen and she attacked Buford. He hid behind me.

Granny glared at Buford, daring him to even try to get close to her lamb.

Buford’s pleading eyes plainly said, “Mom! Get me outa here!”

Granny’s mean face told Buford, “Don’t even LOOK at my baby!”

Buford turned his face away from Granny.

Granny was very protective of her lamb. Buford hid behind me, and I eased him out of her pen. Boy, was he ever glad to get out of there!

 

[Ridgetop]

Good training! Very good Anatolian behavior! He showed deep respect for Granny and him laying down about 6' away from her is perfect behavior. He is waiting for her permission to come closer to the lamb. Eventually when she decides he behaves properly, she will allow him to approach, smell, and lick it. Good job Buford. This laying down abut 6' from the ewe and waiting for her permission to approach is the behavior you want to have in an LGD so they can be in the field when the ewes are lambing without any danger they will try to take the lamb.

Don't forget Erick's trick to teach his dogs to be gentle and respectful with newborns. He says this is particularly effective with dogs that love the lambs so much they want to steal them. He covers his hand with the afterbirth and lets the dogs smell it. If they get rough or try to nip at it, he screams in pain and acts like they have hurt him. He says they stop and are worried that they have hurt him. We should have used this method with Bubba.

That is one big lamb!

 

[Baymule]

I got pictures of Buford in stalking mode. He started doing this a couple of months ago. His target? Sheba. They play, run, tackle each other and Sheba goes for his legs. She even runs up under him to bite his front leg. He can’t reach her to bite her. Lots of growling from Sheba, she’s quite a talker.

I was walking down the driveway and saw Buford next to me, eyes fixed on Sheba who was playing through the fence with Carson. Buford placed each foot slowly and deliberately. Head down, body low slung, deadly quiet.

As he got closer, they both broke and ran to mock fight and play. I’m glad I got pictures!