Toli's life in pictures. Last Update, Toli is 2.5 years old 141lbs

[Robbin]

I took the big dog to the vet to get his ears checked and to re-weigh him for heart worm meds. Ears have been a big problem for months. I've tried everything.
Still can't get the big guy to let us give him a bath. He'll play in the sprinklers, but don't even ACT like you're going to bath him.

I didn't take another picture, probably should, He's full grown at over 2.5 years now and weighs 141. Funny, I've never seen him carry his tail down. Boy was he unhappy when we got to the vets office, tail straight down until we got HOME... He was great for the vet, never a flinch when drawing blood or getting shots.

 

[Latestarter]

Thanks for the update. Hope if you get a chance you can share a pic or two, he's such a handsome animal. How are YOU doing? Have you completely recovered from your heart surgery? Getting around OK? Any breeding plans for him as you'd mentioned? Sorry to hear he's having ear issues. Glad to hear he was at least non confrontational at the vets... He's a pretty big dog to have to (try) to manhandle.

 

[Robbin]

I'm doing much better, takes almost a year to recover from the surgery. He is too big for me to manhandle, which is why he gets no baths. :-(
Funny, I've got pretty solid voice control and can even stop him when he sees a deer, he cries and wants to do as I tell him when it's bath time, runs in circles,
but can't bring himself to allow me to bath him. Still, They are the most awesome dogs! I'm working hard to get my field cleaned up so I can plant sweetclover for the bees this coming spring. I'm up to 14 hives now which is plenty for a hobby keeper. Same for the chickens, 27 is enough for a hobby. Garden goes nowhere now, Deer eat EVERYTHING I plant
I'll try to get a pic this week.

 

[Latestarter]

Glad to hear you're recovering. Took my dad years to get back and never made it to 100% after a quad bypass. But he lived an additional 20+ years after having it. I sometimes wonder; if it's gonna happen, maybe it's better to happen when you're a little younger as it's easier to handle/recover from it. I expect mine is gonna be due any time in the next 5-10 years

Hadn't seen you on the bee threads! 14 hives is awesome! and a handful I'm sure. I started with 2 (Langs) last spring, lost one and hope the one I have remaining, which was strong going into winter, survives. Hope to split it this coming spring and maybe catch a swarm or two. Always hope. I don't really want/need 14 though... Thinking 4-5 would be tops for me.
Maybe you should put some of those deer in the freezer? The lean/natural meat would be good for your health too I don't have a garden right now, but hope to where I land, so I know/expect there'll be problems with deer, rabbits, etc. I'll most likely fence the garden area off to help keep all of them out. If I can do the hog pen on one side and chickens on the other, I can let them in, between growing season, to "prep" the garden with fertilizing and rooting... We'll see.

I'll be moving next summer and hope the place I eventually land at has deer and even feral hogs. They will supplement my home grown meat; chickens right now, goats/pigs and maybe sheep in the future. May even try raising a steer... will have to see how much space and time/money I have when the time comes. Hopefully the property will also have water available for some catfish/bass... big dreams

 

[Robbin]

I hunted for many years, but don't do that any more. I don't kill anything I don't have to now, thou the wife is pushing me to reduce the deer population. But I won't. I don't even kill and eat my extra roosters, I just separate them (so they can't harass the hens) and let them free range. They are funny and follow me around a lot because I give them treats on weekends.

I do my bee threads on Beesource. I learned a ton over there. You need enough hives to survive the loss of 2 or 3. Tough to start over if you don't have any to split, and tough to support one if you don't have strong hives to steal resources from. I got 21 gallons of honey this year and I just motorized my extractor, as hand spinning them was getting old with this many hives.

If you have the genetics, you need to be careful. A lot of people don't survive the first heart attack. It's way too easy to tell yourself you're not having heart problems...

 

[Mike CHS]

Take care of yourself Robbin - I was going to leave the Rat Race for our little Hobby Farm when I turned 67 but took a look at many friends dropping like flies and decided I had enough of the corporate world and would rather be there a couple of years early.

 

[Robbin]

Haven't been here in a while, saw an email from a post go buy from Southern, Made me come back and enjoy the blog.
Toli is almost 5. Summer 135 to 140, winter 150. What an awesome pup, love him to death. Stray came up, and she's young enough and big enough to rough house with him.
He was going to kill her but we stopped him. After 3 days he finally accepted her and they are best buds for life. My old border collie just can't play anymore.
Funny, people bring dogs to our house all the time, he's never even raised his hackles. But they get out of cars with owners. Missy trotted up and he wasn't having any of that.

He actually sleeps inside now, my wife had a stroke and was in the hospital and rehab for months. When she came home he would sleep on the porch leading into our bedroom.
I let him in to see her and that was that. He has to be in the bedroom every night and get his ears scratched by Mama before he lays down next to the bed to protect her. He only does this at night, never wants in during the day.

The stroke was devastating when it happened. She was unable to even sit up, didn't know who I was or who her kids were for weeks. I was terrified she would never come home.
That was 6 months ago, Last week she started walking a half mile, outside, by herself. Truly an amazing recovery. More than one doctor has called it divine intervention.

Robbin

 

[Baymule]

What a marvelous recovery your wife has had. I hope she continues to improve. Your dog is beautiful and awesome. It touched me that he sleeps next to your wife every night, faithful and guarding her. What a great dog.

 

[Southern by choice]

@Robbin
I was wondering about you/Toli the other day!
So glad for the update.
This one brought me some tears though. First for your wife and you, and what you both have had to endure. Words really cannot express what I feel inside about the struggles you have faced. There in the same moment- was that "thank you Lord for the gift of Toli in their lives". I can absolutely picture him knowing the needful thing and being there. What a great dog. Those are the tears with the smile.
These incredible dogs truly can also be the best therapy dogs too! I can picture him.

I am very happy to hear your wife is recuperating. I imagine the time seemed to stand still and seem like forever all at the same time.
I do believe in Divine Intervention!

We lost Callie December last year, tragically. I am so happy you have Toli. There is nothing like having a great dog.
Please give him a big ole hug from me- yeah, I know he will be clueless , but maybe you could do it anyway.

 

[Latestarter]

Sorry to hear about your wife and the struggles involved with her recovery, but so glad to hear that she IS recovering. I personally would like to think that maybe Toli had a minor beneficial influence... Glad he has a playmate, and I need to get one for my Mel. At 145 pounds, I can't play with him as rough as he really needs. I'm no real "challenge" to him Hope you wife continues to recover/improve. Thanks for stopping by with an update.