frustratedearthmother
Herd Master
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Nice! (looks like a pic of the week to me)
The Education of Ben
- Thread starter
- #332
Beekissed
Herd Master
Sleeping on the job or killed in action?
Baymule
Herd Master
That's so funny, but so true! I was delighted the first time I saw Trip asleep on the job. It meant that he was at ease, guarding his sheep and NOT playing with them.
I love to see sleeping LGD's. But don't be fooled, they can galvanize to action in a split second.
I love to see sleeping LGD's. But don't be fooled, they can galvanize to action in a split second.
- Thread starter
- #334
Beekissed
Herd Master
Chicken killin' day here on the homestead and Ben gets his share. Jake and Ben had a brief but loud disagreement over chicken feet, but as usual, Jake always wins. 
Ben, looking very primal....
...and very moochy....
Ben's very much a homestead dog now, doing his job well and responding quickly to verbal corrections...usually only takes one correction before he gets it and he rarely ever needs a correction. Mostly for getting too excited and in people's faces too much when we get company...he's a big lovey dog, that one. Just wants to be petted.
Going into his second winter he's filled out in the body and has gained in speed...he can keep up with Jake now when they run and play, so all that gangly long legged youth has turned to muscle and speed. He's got a good friend in the cat and they play a good bit....funny to watch these two white animals running through a white flock of chickens!
Ben's quickly become a family favorite and I haven't met anyone yet that visited that didn't want to take him home. He's friendly and mannerly once he gets over the initial excitement of someone new(bounces around and wants to be petted at first), is calm and obedient on walks~on leash and off, is as quiet as Jake is which is quite the luxury in this breed so I'm really appreciating the peace and quiet...he only barks when he needs to and it's usually pretty brief.
Still tears up anything that's left in the yard but I've fixed the bench so that he can't tear it up....and now they don't really want to sleep on it either...not cushy enough, I guess.
We are still as pleased as punch with Ben and he has turned out to be one great chicken dog, a great family dog and a great work partner to me and to Jake. Wouldn't sell him for any amount of money, he's that valuable here.
He'll be getting more fresh meat as the butchering and hunting season goes along...this is his fattening up for winter time, a good time to be a dog.
Ben, looking very primal....
...and very moochy....
Ben's very much a homestead dog now, doing his job well and responding quickly to verbal corrections...usually only takes one correction before he gets it and he rarely ever needs a correction. Mostly for getting too excited and in people's faces too much when we get company...he's a big lovey dog, that one.
Just wants to be petted. Going into his second winter he's filled out in the body and has gained in speed...he can keep up with Jake now when they run and play, so all that gangly long legged youth has turned to muscle and speed. He's got a good friend in the cat and they play a good bit....funny to watch these two white animals running through a white flock of chickens!
Ben's quickly become a family favorite and I haven't met anyone yet that visited that didn't want to take him home. He's friendly and mannerly once he gets over the initial excitement of someone new(bounces around and wants to be petted at first), is calm and obedient on walks~on leash and off, is as quiet as Jake is which is quite the luxury in this breed so I'm really appreciating the peace and quiet...he only barks when he needs to and it's usually pretty brief.
Still tears up anything that's left in the yard but I've fixed the bench so that he can't tear it up....and now they don't really want to sleep on it either...not cushy enough, I guess.
We are still as pleased as punch with Ben and he has turned out to be one great chicken dog, a great family dog and a great work partner to me and to Jake. Wouldn't sell him for any amount of money, he's that valuable here.
He'll be getting more fresh meat as the butchering and hunting season goes along...this is his fattening up for winter time, a good time to be a dog.
Southern by choice
Herd Master
So glad to "see" you! 
Was wondering if everything was ok, hadn't heard from you in awhile!
Ben is a lovely dog! I know what you mean... they really are worth so much more than a dollar figure.
Was wondering if everything was ok, hadn't heard from you in awhile!
Ben is a lovely dog! I know what you mean... they really are worth so much more than a dollar figure.
- Thread starter
- #336
Beekissed
Herd Master
Good to see you too, Southern ...was reading about Blue the other night but didn't get a chance to comment. I'm so glad it was only an ear...he's a beautiful dog! I love reading about your dogs and their adventures, how they work and whose going to have pups next.
Oh, yeah...I couldn't imagine doing without Ben now, he's pretty integral to the homestead. Jake's showing some signs of age and possibly something more, so it was the right time to train up a partner and eventual replacement.
Ben...always sweet, always eager to please and always smart as a tack...love that dog.
...was reading about Blue the other night but didn't get a chance to comment. I'm so glad it was only an ear...he's a beautiful dog! I love reading about your dogs and their adventures, how they work and whose going to have pups next. Oh, yeah...I couldn't imagine doing without Ben now, he's pretty integral to the homestead. Jake's showing some signs of age and possibly something more, so it was the right time to train up a partner and eventual replacement.
Ben...always sweet, always eager to please and always smart as a tack...love that dog.
Southern by choice
Herd Master
I love the pyr, I love the Anatolian. I think the cross is usually just a fantastic dog!
Ben is Ben IMO because of what you poured into him as well.
I am such a believer in these dogs are independent yet they do want that partnership and do so much better with those that respect, work with and love them!
I am sorry to hear about Jake maybe having more going on.
Our old gal Lucy is sadly not going to be around for very long either.
Hate this part.
Ben is Ben IMO because of what you poured into him as well.
I am such a believer in these dogs are independent yet they do want that partnership and do so much better with those that respect, work with and love them!
I am sorry to hear about Jake maybe having more going on.
Our old gal Lucy is sadly not going to be around for very long either.
Hate this part.
It's the absolute worst part of dog ownership 
Tearing up a bit now from having to put down my Mystie before leaving Colorado.
Tearing up a bit now from having to put down my Mystie before leaving Colorado.
babsbag
Herd Master
They should live as long as we do...at least the good ones should. Sorry to read that Jake is having some problems.
Sorry to read that Jake is having some problems. - Thread starter
- #340
Beekissed
Herd Master
You guys know what it means to lose a good dog...I think we all do by now and it never gets any easier. Somehow, when you've worked alongside a dog and depended upon him to help you with things, it leaves such a huge gap in the world when they go....they are more than a mere pet, they are partners in what you were trying to accomplish, there won't be another that works like that one, each having their own special traits and qualities that make them who and what they are.
If they are a good dog, they each have their own legend that gets told and retold down through the years. Each new dog will be compared to the great ones gone before until you realize he/she possesses their own greatness that gets added to the lore of the pack. You really can't compare them, as they all have a certain greatness that writes their own story.
God has blessed me with some truly great dogs in my life....Jake is one of these. He has been a good dog from the start. We have many stories to tell of him and we'll smile as we tell them, as he is just that kind of dog. Loyal, faithful, intelligent, funny and truly a humble creature, working only to please us each and every day of his life...he's never let me down. I'm hoping he sticks around awhile longer and doesn't suffer near his end...I'll be praying that for him.
If they are a good dog, they each have their own legend that gets told and retold down through the years. Each new dog will be compared to the great ones gone before until you realize he/she possesses their own greatness that gets added to the lore of the pack. You really can't compare them, as they all have a certain greatness that writes their own story.
God has blessed me with some truly great dogs in my life....Jake is one of these. He has been a good dog from the start. We have many stories to tell of him and we'll smile as we tell them, as he is just that kind of dog. Loyal, faithful, intelligent, funny and truly a humble creature, working only to please us each and every day of his life...he's never let me down. I'm hoping he sticks around awhile longer and doesn't suffer near his end...I'll be praying that for him.
