Hard to believe… the boys are six-months-old! They are doing great and are right now on their own with the bred ewes. They do still have their… ummmm… teachable moments but all in all they have wonderful natural abilities and are just amazing.
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| Asher – ready to take off down the hill |
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| Birka – guarding Hera |
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| Red – watching the chickens |
February said farewell in a lovely way… cold temperatures but lots of sunshine. It seemed as if suddenly the birds truly believed that spring would soon arrive and began their songs in earnest. March 1st definitely roared in like a lion, but oh, on that last day of February, we all enjoyed the sunshine and had a renewed sense of hope.
“And now let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke
What better way to start the new year, than with a peek in at what the pups have been up to? The boys have been making forays into the pasture sometime in the company of the shepherdess/s but most of the time they have been helping their mama out. Bella is a tough instructor and keeps them pretty much in line. She is still quite affectionate, but doesn’t take any nonsense. Right now the pups are spending part of the day in the pasture and part of it in the barn next to a group of ram lambs. Although they are very busy learning their craft, Bella still finds time to work a little play in to the day. She is doing such a great job being a mama.
Pink and Asher are two very curious pups. Under the corral gate and off to explore they go. Just a few yards into the pasture and they can watch the big girls in Liam’s paddock. They really love to watch them and are on their best behavior… no barking, just a lot of ‘guarding’. Then when we call “Come, puppies, come”, they squeeze back under the corral gate and come running. It is so wonderful to observe their natural inclinations to be good livestock guardian dogs.
A Friday ritual.
A single photo – no words – capturing a single moment from the week.
A simple, special, extraordinary moment.
A moment to pause, savor and remember.
Participating with the SouleMama blog
The puppies were four weeks old yesterday. They have begun to eat a little solid food and are becoming very active.They all display good livestock guardian instincts, such as barking when someone comes in the barn door.
Both parents are working livestock guardians and provide protection to our flock.
Belladonna is a registered Pastore Maremmano Abruzzese
Samson is a purebred Komondor
The puppies were wormed at three weeks. We do not have an available date yet as we are taking things slowly, watching closely to provide for the family’s growing needs.
There are two females and four males. Some of the puppies will be available to farm approved homes at $350
The puppies are getting fat and sassy… slowly beginning to try to walk. They look like tiny little tanks, trying to lift their bellies off the ground far enough to get around. They are beginning to yip and yap a little also. Still, their favorite activity is sleeping… snuggling, cuddling, using each other as little puppy pillows… all in their sweet little puppy piles.
Honestly, we could spend the entire day just watching them.
About a year ago we had Bella and Samson to the vet and had some discussion about breeding. For months and months we watched and noted and counted days… and watched and noted and counted days… and watched and noted and counted days. And nothing happened. Seasons turned and we turned to other tasks – shearing, lambing, hay making. And then in the last few weeks, the kids started noticing a change in Bella. She was a little grouchy and as they put it, becoming obese.
And so, in her own time and season, Mother Nature took charge and delivered the most wonderful surprise… actually seven beautiful surprises. We’re so proud of our wonderful mama and of course the papa too.
Samson is off on an early morning patrol around the perimeter of the back paddock.
A good fence and a couple of good guardian dogs keep the flock safe from harm.
Joining TexWisGirl at The Run*A*Round Ranch for a link-up at ‘Good Fences’.
A Friday ritual.
A single photo – no words – capturing a single moment from the week
A simple, special extraordinary moment.
A moment to pause, savor and remember.
Participating with the SouleMama blog.
