The Education of Ben

[Latestarter]

Holy cow. $600? <---Should read "Holy Horse Meat (Bat Man)!"

Thank goodness for my husband, he does all the dirty work for me. But I know by having animals that it'd my job if he isn't around. I also have a friend who lives just up the road who responds to a "911" text message within a minute with a gun. (SOMETIMES!) Helps to have neighbors!

 

[Beekissed]

Had a couple of spare roosters trussed up and lying in the coop bedding this morning so I could butcher early this morning. Went to the house to get ready to do so and looked out the window to see a chicken hopping down the yard like a kangaroo...and Ben walking slowly behind him. Finally, the chicken, having gotten out of the coop and hopped 50 yds towards the house with his legs still tied together, laid down to rest. Ben stands over the chicken, looks at it, then at the house and barked a couple of times. He waited a moment or so and then barked at the house again, tail up and watching the house to see if I would respond.

I yell out the window, "I'm coming!!!! I know about the chicken, Ben!"

Ben looks at the chicken one more time and casually walks away.

And these LGDs don't bond with their chickens.....

 

[Southern by choice]

I love when they let us know something is a miss.

But sorry, that is just doing his job not bonding with chickens.

 

[Baymule]

Ben is a smart boy. He knew there was something wrong about that rooster!

 

[Beekissed]

I love when they let us know something is a miss.

But sorry, that is just doing his job not bonding with chickens.

What would you consider as "bonding"?

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Have you ever had a real good LGD with goats? Now THAT is bonding

 

[Southern by choice]

Bonding requires relationship and communication.
When you take a chicken and remove it for slaughter Ben does not "grieve" the loss. In the same way he would not know if "one" was missing.

The fact that he he protects his charges and communicates with you is awesome.

With a name like Ben you knew he'd be awesome!
(The name Ben is a favorite of mine)

 

[Beekissed]

Bonding requires relationship and communication.
When you take a chicken and remove it for slaughter Ben does not "grieve" the loss. In the same way he would not know if "one" was missing.

The fact that he he protects his charges and communicates with you is awesome.

With a name like Ben you knew he'd be awesome!
(The name Ben is a favorite of mine)

Jake grieves the loss of his birds, sometimes for days and days.....would you call that bonding? If so, would you think that Ben, being very young yet, might reach that level of bonding as well? Ben does become more anxious if I'm moving the birds and they make cries...he also has his nose on that bird every step I take in the move. To me it is starting to seem he is growing more attached to this flock.

I've seen many GPs that range far and away from their flocks, especially at night....I'm thinking those are not bonded with their flocks at all, so maybe it's not always a natural thing that comes with the breed or type of dog, no matter what he's guarding.

 

[babsbag]

I won't say that my dogs are bonded to any of my goats. They HAVE to spend time together and they are in a small enough area that the goats can be out of sight but not necessarily out of "smell". If I sell a goat, like I did today, the dogs watch it leave but once it is gone, it's gone, they don't seem to care. I have seen my dogs tell the goats to stay put, I have seen the dogs run the goats back into the barn, but I still won't say that they are bonded. They exist together because they have no choice and the dogs do the job I need them to do, bond or not.

 

[Southern by choice]

Jake grieves the loss of his birds, sometimes for days and days.....would you call that bonding?

I guess it depends on how you see grieving.
If I came to your house and bought a chicken would Jake or Ben know it?

Would they be frantic and upset that I bought the bird?

To me it is starting to seem he is growing more attached to this flock.

The nature of the LGD is to protect. Some are territorial bonders. Everything in the dogs territory is theirs and they own it and they protect it. However they do not cuddle nurture give commands etc like those that are herd bonders.

I've seen many GPs that range far and away from their flocks, especially at night....I'm thinking those are not bonded with their flocks at all,

Not true. The patroller will go far from the herd etc that is what they do patrol and keep things from even coming in close. The watcher stays with. That is why teams are best. At night is when predators are most active. Patrollers are always on the move at night.