LGDs and how they co-exist with pedators

This is a great video on LGD and their roles in guarding sheep and protecting against predators.

Livestock Guardian Dogs from Conservation Media on Vimeo.

 

 

Parents and Pups at the farm

My mom and Aunt Kimiko came over to the farm on Sunday. We had the "Kodiak Memorial Service" and then we went down to the barn. I think Kodi waited until these pups were born to leave, making sure he had a replacement.

My mom and Kimiko with "Bear'. Bear is named that in honor of Kodi who was named after the Kodiak Bear.  I kept a female, Heidi as well and these two pups will be spoiled like Kodi was. As you can see, I told them the pups have to be socialized and be handled more. They grabbed Bear and loved on him.

I can't wait to see them try this when he is fully grown at 100 lbs plus. They were speaking to him in Japanese and his tail wagged. I am sure he understood what they said. I know when my mom speaks to me in Japanese it is either related to food or I am in trouble.

I think Kimiko wanted to steal Bear but since she lives in a condo, she wised up.

Bear sure enjoyed all the attention. By the end, he was their best friend. Heidi saw this action and came over for her share of attention. I didn't take any pixs of her as I was too busy petting her.

 

Since my right arm is busted and I cannot do any farm  chores, my mom did the feeding. Rainey and Tess love it when my mom does chores. She feeds them handfuls of bread and says "oh, I dropped it" and they gobble it up. The sheep see her and all come running. She fed the chickens, ducks, geese and guineas. I told my mom no more than one slice of bread for Tess, Rainey, Maid and Nan.  It was more like 7 pieces of bread before I told her no more. She just laughed at me.  What can I say? It was fun to see my mom so happy! Notice in this photo, I just caught my mom feeding bread to Tess and Rainey. BUSTED!!

Notice the four girls are waiting for the treats from Kimiko. They swarm around my mom and Kimiko in the kitchen and they get tons of treats. Not only they got bread but a bag of dog treats and leftovers from lunch. They are so excited when they show up. They run, jump up, bark and act like hooligans and not the well mannered obedient Border Collies they really are. They pretty much ignore me and follow them. I let them as my mom and Kimiko really enjoy spoiling the dogs. Maid has it down pat as she puts her ears down, gives a sad wag to her tail and gives the woeful eyes and soon she is rewarded.

 

I love it when they come out. They love to fed the animals and enjoy the farm for a few hours. They get farm eggs and garden vegetables. I get a Japanese home cooked meal and their wonderful company. It's great to have such cool parents! Total score and the dogs sure agree with me on this!

Kodiak's Memorial Service

Today we had the Memorial Service for DeltaBluez Kodiak, "KODI".

 

My mom and Aunt Kimiko came over to do the ceremony. They LOVED Kodi and Kodi would leap the fence and follow them everywhere when they would come over. Mom would get a HUGE bag of soft, chewy, organic dog treats and feed him all the of the bag. He would take each piece gently from her hands and look deep into her eyes.

 

So Kimiko was in charge of the ceremony. She and my mom are Buddhist and wanted to incense burning in his honor. Kimiko got some lavender incense for Kodi.

 

They also got some balloon for him and tied a rock to them on top of his grave. I put a maple leaf down on his grave for him. Nelson will plant a tree on his grave later this fall. 

 The balloon are like Kodi, a free spirit.

Tess had to say good-bye.

  

Aunt Kimiko lighting the incense. It is a tradition for all deaths, whether it be human or an animal. It is the way to honor the dead.

 

Saying a prayer which blesses the spirit that goes to heaven and is in peace. There was a lot more but I had a hard time with the translation.

Kimiko and my Mom, saying that Kodi is with God now. I gave him a prayer too and felt his breathe on my face. I know his spirit is still here. 

 

This is where he would lie down and watch the barn and pasture. Plus, he had a view of the front porch as well. I am going to get a nice stone for a marker.

Rest in Peace, beloved Kodi. Protector of the sheep. Guardian of my heart. You are a part of the farm and a piece of you lives in each and everyone of us.

Be with God and protect his sheep.

Stella, the newest addition.

Welcome to Stella. She is the newest addition to the farm. She is 3/4 Anatolian and 1/4 Great Pyr. Her parents are LGD on a goat and sheep farm. She is six months old. We are VERY impressed on how fast she bonded with her sheep as well that she sticks close to them.

She really has an active interest in what is happening in her pasture. She goes on full alert mode quickly.

She has a kind face and a very sweet personality.

Keeping an eye on the Border Collie that is working her sheep. 

Still worried. 

Nan is like, "Don't bug me, kid. I have work to do." Stella was checking Nan out as she was working her flock

I really like her. She is very attentive to her sheep and is found usually in the middle of them. The flock took to her rather quickly and they all snuggled with each other. She saw a Bald Eagle and kept a close eye on him. Then saw a coyote in the field next to her flock and went between her sheep and the coyote. She still is young but has all the good qualities that I like. We need a couple of LGD to protect our sheep. Kodi is 11.5 years old and retired and Glock is taking his place. Stella rounds out the LGD team and we are very thankful to Josh Farmer for this exception dog. He still has two of her sisters available and If I didn't have Kodi and Glock, I would snatch one of her sisters. If you are interested in one, please email me.