Finished up the mowing. Showered and about to head out for goat chores. Not sure what happened but this morning most of the pain was gone from my knee. It's back to a lesser degree, but nowhere near as bad as it's been the past week. Hopefully it will go into full remission. Maybe tomorrow I'll try to get back to fencing.
So I'm out in the goat pen giving Ivermectin doses to the adults and Elf starts barking, and though he's at the back yard goat fence, he's staring down back. So I turn around and son of a B... there's a coyote standing out in the back pasture at the left edge, staring across to the other side! Mel didn't see it, hear it, and I'm trying to direct his attention to it, and he's staring at me and trying to play keep away!
So now I'm out of the pen, trying to get Mel to do his job and there's TWO coyotes just taking their damned sweet time crossing the back pasture! I'm running toward the back fence yelling and they're paying me no attention at all. And of course Mel is following me wanting to play and all the goats are stampeding right along for the trip! So finally, 1/2 way down the pasture, Mel sees the two coyotes as they are approaching the other side of the pasture and takes off running toward the fence corner barking. This finally caught the attention of the coyotes and they took off into the woods. I don't have Mel with the goats full time yet. He spends most of the day with them, and he's outside at night, but in the back yard, not the pasture. Though he hangs out with them, they are not his center of focus. I am beginning to have my doubts that I can get him back to being a true LGD. I mean things could be worse, but having him as a house dog, I would not have taken in the stray.
Just washed my arms with dawn and Clorox with the hottest water I could get from the tap. Have you ever experienced something where it hurts, but feels so good at the same time? That hot water on the ivy blisters really burned, but it really felt good. So now I'll wipe it all down with alcohol then get some anti itch drying salve on it all.
Mel needs to step it up. Or you need to get another LGD, Mel was picked by SBC for you as a companion dog. His first alliance is to you. He will bark and run off coyotes, but he is not on high alert for them. He probably was protecting you more than the goats.
Maybe you can pen the goats up at night and give Mel free run of the back yard and pasture. I do believe he would run the fence barking, his instinct tells him that coyotes are bad. While he might not be dedicated to the goats, he knows predators are not welcome.
Knee pain...I find that if I sleep with the ceiling fan going in my bedroom, then I need to be sure to put more cover on my legs. Otherwise, I may wake with knee & ankle soreness. Nothing from deep in the joints but all surrounding ligaments. Apparently the warmer temps from a light blanket keeps the blood flow adequate and related parts supple. Age happens
I know you have some other medical stuff but, possibly the temps may also contribute. A thought.
As to MEL....bless his heart, he wanted to play! But, like Bay says, he may be more inclined to protect YOU from demons at night if he hears something outside. You not with him he will pay more attention. Meanwhile, at least Elf was watching the goings on. May not be the big ole attack dog but, an alert to danger sure helps. And with 120+ pounds of backup, may be what you need. My 10# minpin is a raging alerter!!
The two 10# minipins I've met were a raging PITA with the "alerting" even when I was in their house with their owners. Shaddup already, they know I'm here, see them standing next to me?