Cowboy - It Doesn't Get Better Than This!

[frustratedearthmother]

It's crazy hot! Didn't even know Cowboy's tongue was that long.


Ground is dry!



Hanging out with friends in the shade of the barn



But hanging out with 'big sister' is the best!


Temp was 98 degrees today with a heat index that hit 118 for a while.... geeze!

 

[Latestarter]

Look at that satisfied glance he's giving you laying there with his mentor! What a good boy!

 

[Southern by choice]

Around here we say the Toli's could use their tongue to strangle a coyote!
Not sure why but Anatolians really do have the longest tongues!

He is growing up so nicely!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Cowboy is one week shy of 5 months old and it's about time he start earning his keep! Sooooo, he's been getting a lot more pasture time. He's been doing really well. In fact, his big 'sis' Maddie has removed herself from that pasture and is letting Cowboy do the biggest share of goat duty.

Maddie has been jumping a fence lately and staying in a smaller pen that usually has nothing but chickens in it. I'm not sure if she's decided to retire, or isn't happy about Cowboy being there OR goes there because it is the one pen where she has the best view of everything. She stays on top of a lowboy trailer and even that little bit of extra height gives her a better view of both pastures and the other pens. Who knows what is going through her big ol head? But, she's been on the job for 6 years and I trust her judgment.

For two days and two nights now Cowboy has been full-time in the pasture. (Holiday weekend works for me to be able observe him more) The goats aren't 100% happy about it, but they tolerate him pretty well. For the most part if he's lying in the barn with him they're fine with him being there. But, I've got a couple of does who still bow up at him and give him "THE LOOK". For the most part he respects "THE LOOK" but sometimes he gets stupid and walks too close to one of those does and they will still roll him a few feet before he regains his feet and slinks away with that "how could I be so dumb" look on his face, lol.

I've seen absolutely NO real aggression from him towards the goats. There's one old gal who is his favorite and he stays close to her, licks her face when she lays down and follows her around. Once, and only once-over a month ago, did I see him put his foot over her back when she was lying down and I immediately corrected him. He had this 'ashamed' look on his face as if to say... I was just hugging her. But, putting a paw on a goat is not ok! I haven't seen it since. Good dog!

However, this morning I looked out an upstairs window and saw an interaction between him and a chicken. He was lying down and a Faverolle hen walked right between his feet...no fear whatsoever of him. So, he picks up one big ol' paw and puts it over her. Bad dog!

Being a true Faverolle (very submissive chickens) she just gives up - no self-preservation instinct at all, lol. Next, he stands up with the chicken's wing in his mouth and proceeds to carry her. Now - I'm 50+ yards away, in the house so I know even if I yell at him, I can't back it up....so I just watched him....literally biting my tongue to keep from calling him out. After a couple of steps he's just standing there with this chicken dangling from his jaws...doing nothing more with her. At that point I couldn't stand it anymore so I yelled out at him. He opens his mouth, chicken drops out and calmly walks away and Cowboy is just standing there with a goofy look on his face....like... what? WHAT? Probably just good luck that he picked a chicken that wouldn't fight. I think a squawking, struggling chicken could have possibly triggered a prey drive in him. Not totally convinced of that because I haven't seen anything that even looks like he has a prey drive. He's the most laid back, chill dog I've ever had!

He's such a goofball and this is definitely a leaning experience for him. The biggest problem I have with him right now is that I need to bring him in from the pasture to eat. He's got NO food aggression whatsoever...at least not yet. If somebody else wants his food he just walks away...grrrrr! So, I bring him in to feed him. He needs to learn to eat while he's got the chance so this morning, after he got distracted, I took his food away and booted him back out into the pasture. Maybe he'll be hungrier later and get it through his numbskull that he needs to eat when he has the chance.

All in all - so pleased with him. He's still a pup so I still keep a close watch and still won't be surprised if he makes a mistake. Stay tuned!

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Loved reading the update, but was greatly saddened when you didn't have any new pics of Cowboy

I wish you had the chicken incident on video
I couldn't help but laugh when I read it!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I know... I need to get some new pics. He just never does anything cute when I have a camera, lol! He's bigger than Gracie (the English Shepherd) now. For about 2 days they were the same height and I swear, by the next morning he was an inch taller. He has a tendency to grab her collar and 'lead' her around the yard...the big dingbat!

I'll have some free time tomorrow to try and follow him around and hopefully get some shots.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

And, for your viewing pleasure....

Cowboy and his bestie Gracie: He's definitely bigger than her now. Last week, I swear he wasn't!

He stands guard over his favorite geriatric goat:

Stay away from MY goat:

(not really - they were just playing!)

Egg? What egg? I didn't steal no egg!

And - even though he's looking pretty grown up - Maddie still rules the roost!

 

[Ferguson K]

He's getting big!

 

[TAH]

He is getting bigger by the minute. How big do you expect him to get?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

LOL - no idea! Actually, his mom weighed 120lbs pre-pregnancy. Dad was a little shorter than mom but he outweighs her by at least 10+ lbs.