Cowboy - It Doesn't Get Better Than This!

[frustratedearthmother]

He IS a riot, lol!

Oh my, the look on Mia's face is priceless! It's kinda like... "you just wait 'til I get out of here"....yikes! She is a beautiful girl though!

It's hot here so (heat index 107) Cowboy and Gracie are inside...I call it crate training and they call it nap time. A couple days ago he thought it was punishment - now he thinks it's a reward!

 

[Baymule]

Goat justice!! Awesome!!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Cowboy is growing like a weed. He's going to be a long, tall drink of water!

He's madly in love with Gracie - the English Shepherd. He is TERRIFIED of Maddie - the Pyr! If she so much as looks at him sideways he literally runs screaming away from her. This will have to change, lol!

This past weekend I started taking steps to remedy this situation. I'm not sure where his fear of her comes from except that he certainly recognizes her as the 'owner' of all she surveys at this point. So, now I'm making sure to take him with me to the pasture and leave Gracie in the yard so that she's not an influence on his behavior while with the goats.

He's very submissive with the goats. He's interested, wants to sniff noses with them but there are a few that are aggressive with him and I have to intervene to make sure he doesn't get blasted. Poor baby!

Chickens on the other hand...he's not so submissive with. He's had a couple run-ins with them. This is the one area that being around Gracie is not going to work. Gracie allows no fence jumping chickens in her yard....she 'herds' them right out and if they don't comply bad things can happen. I can't have Cowboy learning that behavior from her.

Sooooo, I caught him harassing a hen Saturday. I called him out on it - shouting NO.... and got no response. I got to him and use the two finger poke in the ribs to distract him (giant fail) and let's just say it'll take more than that to distract him. Last resort was to lay him out. He didn't want to submit but he wasn't horribly resistant. I made him lay in a submissive pose with the chicken right in his face until he relaxed. Since then - so far so good. Not that I never expect him to terrify a chicken again, but if I'm lucky enough to catch him in the act - I think he can figure out that it's not the smartest thing to do.

On a more positive note - saw some of his 'guarding' tendencies come out on Sunday. I had let all the critters up into the front barnyard to do some weed control. This was the closest he'd ever seen the horses and he didn't like them that close to some of the young doelings. This little fella got between the goats and the horses and stood his ground barking and barking at the horses (these are little horses). They didn't really care that he was barking at them, but it gave me an idea that his head is in the right place! So very cool to see that in a young pup.

All in all I'm very pleased with him. He's a puppy and he's going to make mistakes. As long as he learns from them - all is well.

I neeeed to get some fresh pics of him. He is growing like a weed. His coat is getting lighter and with the brindle markings I think he will be a stunning dog.

 

[babsbag]

So glad he is working out for you and on a selfish note I am happy to hear that Mia is not the only one that does not listen.

Now Southern can avert her eyes and look the other way but I bought an e-collar with the sound and vibrate mode on it, my old one only had "hurt" mode and I don't want to use that on her but I have to be able to get her attention when she is 100' from me or on the other side of the fence. She knows "no" but she needs to respond when she is out of my reach. Haven't used it yet, but that time is coming.

Would love to see pictures of him.

 

[Southern by choice]

Now Southern can advert her eyes and look the other way but I bought an e-collar with the sound and vibrate mode on it,

LOL

Don't yall know that they absolutely positively do hear ya... they just want you to trek all the way to where they are so you can gaze into their eyes and be so mesmerized that you forget all about what they are doing.


Blue & Callie still look at us when we call to them... I swear they smile and turn away as if to say "watch this- I'll get her to come to us"

I tell them I know full well what they are doing! Then I tell them they are brats!

 

[babsbag]

I am sure she hears me and knows exactly what I want her to do or not do. I just need her to think that my reach has become longer. She no longer bites at me, she is pretty good about not jumping, and the older goats put her in her place and she ducks and covers like a good girl. Oh, and the last chicken moved out of the barn. So that leaves baby goats...and I mean young...like 4 weeks. The ones that are 8 weeks and older she ignores. There is hope for her.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

So glad he is working out for you and on a selfish note I am happy to hear that Mia is not the only one that does not listen.

Ha - Thanks! I've got high hopes for both of them. Cowboy's problem is that he never heard the word 'no' before he came here. The breeder wasn't totally hands-off, but thert was no discipline.... sigh.

He's still a sweetie though and he's gonna be fine. I have decided - so shall it be!

Don't yall know that they absolutely positively do hear ya... they just want you to trek all the way to where they are so you can gaze into their eyes and be so mesmerized that you forget all about what they are doing

I knew he was up to something, lol!

But, he's so cute it hardly matters...

 

[Southern by choice]

Callie had that same "look" as a pup!


LOVE IT!

He looks naughty!
My kinda dog!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

He's a pure mess, and I love him that way!

 

[Baymule]

He is a handsome boy!