The Education of Ben

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My Lucy, a GP/Lab mix I had, hated the big birds as well and wouldn't even let a crow land on the place. She'd jump up in the air, barking like mad, when a hawk or buzzard flew low over the place. Jake used to run after them but started getting very complacent about it in his older age, so I'm hoping Ben will be a good "hawk dog" like Lucy was.

So far I'm amazed and very, very thankful that he's not a bark happy dog...hoping he's taking a cue from Jake on that score, as I just can't stand a habitual barker. We live in the woods, so lots of movement out there at times and it's good when a dog knows friend from foe when it comes to wildlife.

I love my quiet.

 

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Ben's first snow today...he seemed to enjoy it, but not as much as my dogs normally do. He tends to be a sober dog, which is okay and will stand him in good stead in his life, but I thought it was unusual that he wasn't leaping and rolling in it like Jake normally does. Maybe when we get a deeper, fluffier snow....

I'll be building an addition onto Jake's house before next winter so they can sleep together instead of in separate houses. They seem to like doing that and it will provide each with more warmth. I think I'll put a sunroof in it so the southern exposure on that side can warm up the interior before nightfall.

 

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Have been doing research into the various breeds that make up the dog of Ben and it's enthralling. I think he may end up the size of the Maremma, as his mother was that size, but his tail, body style, fur, etc. are pure Anatolian in appearance...even down to the way he moves. I love the way he moves...graceful and lithe, like a big cat.

His serious little face even looks like the Anatolian, with the ear and head shape and size and that steady gaze...a little aloof but still intense and engaged. And he's so very calm, has been from the beginning, which is pretty distinctive of all three breeds.

I've noticed Jake letting him take the lead on things...at this very moment Jake is sitting back at center and letting Ben move out to the perimeter and be on alert for an approaching vehicle...it travels past our driveway on its way to our neighbor's home. No sound...just a sign of vigilance. "I see you", Ben says, "and I'm ready for what you may do".

That silent intensity and alertness, I have found, is far more disconcerting to many people than a dog that is bouncing around and barking. A quiet dog is an unknown factor, particularly if that tail is still, head is up and watching you, body at readiness.

I think, of all three breeds that make up his genetics, the Anatolian intrigues me the most. I'm hoping that he will lean heavily towards those traits as he grows and hoping I'll get to see more of the Anatolian action besides how he looks or moves.

 

[Southern by choice]

They are special indeed. I really love the Purebreds but a well bred LGDxLGD cross can make for an incredible dog.
I do see however when there are too many crosses, even if they are all LGD breeds, the dogs tend to have more issues.

I am looking for another Anatolian too bring in over the next 2 years... getting hard to find good ones. I see so many SMALL toli's it's disturbing. Then there is the demodec issue. It is popping up in many lines.

I too love the cat like moves. Callie often looks like a Mountain Lion- low, shoulders up, slinking along, crouched like she is stalking- then she leaps into action.

 

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You'd think those crosses would give them some mutt vigor. Yeah...I'd like to see this dog get a true Anatolian size but I doubt it will happen, judging by the size of his feet and his current growth rate, coupled with the size of the parent dogs~both small for their dominant breeds, IMO.

Not that I want a dog to be oversized for its breed, but I sure don't like to see undersized either. That happy middle is why they have breed standards.

Southern, do you tend to favor the more fawn or buckskin coloring on your Anatolians or do you care? I tend to favor those colorings if I had a choice...love the black mask/markings of those dogs.

 

[Southern by choice]

I like the fawn/black mask and Pinto best. Funny, I love the pyr which is predominantly white but an all white toli wouldn't be first choice. Although I have seen some beauties! There again my Pyrs all have badger markings.

Where we are there are no "real" wolves so a smaller LGD wouldn't have any issues... I just look at the fact that if people keep breeding small it will eventually be a problem as dogs won't be able to handle a real formidable foe. On the flip side I am not a fan of just breeding for large either. Tried and proven parent stock, structure, temperament is the best dog to breed IMO.

Amy is short stuff for one of our dogs- still in the standard but shorter than the others yet she is a force to be reckoned with.

 

[goatgurl]

the toil's I've had have all been on the big size, big (that was his name 'cause he was) weighed in at 155# the last time he was at the vets and his partner rose was around 110#. and you are so right about their cat like actions. i loved the heck out of those two. the last male that i had was jasper and he went about 120#. now i have kate, the Maremma who is a wimpy 85#. both breeds have their +'s and -'s imo. ds#1 has a karacahan sp? who is also an excellent guardian. i love the toil color too. sadly my Katie is just a bwd and white is my least favorite color, but she does such a good job i ignore the color thing.

 

[Beekissed]

I don't mind the white either, as it's not too many big dog breeds out there that are all white and especially around here. My last white dog was a GP mix and she stood out quite a bit, got a lot of attention.

I do love that fawn coloring and black trim, though...it just appeals to my eye.

I've got my eye out for getting a wooden wire spool or two for Ben to get up on...right now he's trying to sit in some lawn chairs we have up at his place of abode and he's getting too big for them. He needs a big dog chair/look out.

 

[goatgurl]

yes, Katie gets on top of the round bales of hay or the concrete culverts so she can survey her world. she hates it when the goats and sheep eat it down but goes right back up when i get a new bale.

 

[Southern by choice]

The dogs love them as much a the goats!
We use to have (psycho ) Amy out front and the big spool was hers. She would share with the goats but it was her spool. Everyone everywhere around here knew our land by Amy.
They's say oh- you live where the big white dog sits on the spool! That dog is awesome- she OWNS that field.

We would go to functions in the community and people would say where do you live? I'd say the old ***** house and if they weren't inthe area for 50 + years they'd say where? Someone inevitably would say- Where the big white dog that sits on the spools lives. ooooooooh

Amy isn't in that field anymore. Now it is Chunk and Pups. One day she might come back up but at night she goes to the far corner and barks at the fox den across the way... She also hates our neighbor.

We had a guy drop off 5 more spools this week. He stopped by one day and asked if we could use some more... we said sure. He actually delivers them right to us. We have to fix the holes in the top though- afraid a goat or dog will injure themselves getting their foot/leg stuck.