Cowboy - It Doesn't Get Better Than This!

[frustratedearthmother]

Oh - he is smitten with them! Had another birth this afternoon and he was just heartbroken that mom didn't want his help, lol.

 

[TAH]

He looks awesome!!!!

Bucklings/doelings?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

AS of today we're at 6 bucklings (1 doa), 2 doelings. Hoping that will change tomorrow!

 

[Ferguson K]

Way to go Cowboy! He's turning into quite the feller!

 

[Bruce]

I can see that the kids are deathly afraid of Cowboy He probably has to look in all directions before he takes a step anywhere!

 

[Baymule]

That is too sweet! I love Cowboy, looks like his kids love him too!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Almost posted this story on another thread about LGD's and training methods. But, it's Cowboy's story so I'm putting it in his thread.

I've talked in the past about Cowboy and his fence climbing escapades. He could, and still can, go over any and every fence on this place. But since December he hasn't. Until recently. Sigh.

Background information: Neighbors on one side of me have decided to let their back acreage 'go wild'. This has been going on for two years now. It is literally a jungle. Impenetrable by humans and a refuge to all types of critters. My goats can stick their heads through the fence openings and eat as far as they can stretch their necks. That leaves a jungle-less border of a couple feet on the other side of my fence. I can see little critter trails through the jungle...

More background: We have a resident bobcat population. Bobcats are the reason that I have LGD's. I have good fences that keep out dogs and coyotes...but they don't keep out cats. Some years back I lost two goats and had one severely injured by a bobcat. One was killed and eaten 30 yards from my back door, inside two layers of fence. Bobcat has been SEEN taking chickens from neighbors yard.

Even more background: We have baby piggies! Cowboy doesn't really like the pigs. He keeps them away from the goats. He is serious about that.

First morning after the piggies were born I went out and one was missing. Neighbors called and said Cowboy was in their yard. Odd. He hasn't breached the fence in 6 months. Next day anther piglet was missing. Cowboy was in neighbors yard again. I went over both mornings to fetch him and he was already back home before I got there. This happened one more time and again Cowboy came home on his own. I watched him. He went around their yard marking. He went to their "jungle" and marked. I didn't lose any more piglets.

It is my 'guess' that even though Cowboy doesn't like the pigs - he dislikes that bobcat even more. Even though he breached the fence - he did his job. He didn't roam. He didn't evade capture. He came home on his own and we haven't lost any more piglets.

Someone mentioned that if he had been more vigilant that I might not have lost any piglets. This may sound bad - but I'd rather lose a piglet than a baby goat. If he was guarding the piglets, the kids would have been without protection. I haven't lost any kids.

Maddie has been out with the adult goats. Cowboy guards the kids. Pigs weren't in the 'guarding zone'. But, since he breached the fence and marked everywhere nothing else, not even a chicken, is missing.

Was he doing his job - or was he being a bad dog? I know what I think! I think - Good Dog!

 

[OneFineAcre]

I think Good Dog too.

 

[Bruce]

Yes good dog, protecting ALL of the property by letting the bobcats know there is a reason NOT to go through the fence.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I agree! He's pretty awesome.