Hidden Spring Farm
  • Home
  • About
  • Leicester Longwools
  • Our sheep
  • Sheep for Sale
  • Fleeces
  • Yarn, etc.
  • Crafts
  • Seasonal Products
  • Contact us
  • Blog

Holden's a Keeper, and Abby also!

11/29/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
Holden has been with us for 5 1/2 weeks.  Because of his overnight break out of his pen that first day, he had a less than desirable rapid introduction to the sheep, but I soon found he continued to be calm around the sheep and all the other critters.  Livestock Guardian Dog Test #1 passed!  However, he didn't seem too protective of the sheep which is the second important test of a LGD - no marking of his territory, very little  barking and leaving the sheep alone out in the pasture.  Over the past few weeks, though, he has slowly started to exhibit those important guardian behaviors. We hope those behaviors will continue to improve and, in combination with his very sweet nature, we've decided he's a keeper! 
Having lost Gabby to coyotes, I decided having two or more Pyrs was essential.  Carolina Great Pyrenees Rescue called me again last week about a  young female that had come in.  A Pyr breeder was trying to get rid of all his older puppies as one of  his dogs was due to have more any day.   When the rescue volunteer went out to the farm, she found 16 (!) Pyrs out in the field - many older puppies and young dogs that had never been handled by humans.  We brought Abby home, a terrified, small but beautiful Pyr.  She trembled with fear every time we came near her at first.  It has taken a week of patient work for Abby to trust us, but at least now she will let us pet her and seems happy to see us in the morning.  Much more work will be needed to guarantee her LGD skills, and to continue to gain her trust, but she's a keeper too.  Holden and Abby are fast buddies, and his comfort with humans is helping Abby accept us.

Picture
Picture
Picture
1 Comment
jody
12/1/2014 04:27:53 am

They are beautiful dogs!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Mary Longhill

    Shepherd, Handspinner

    Archives

    November 2018
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.