The Protected

 

Working Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs)

Dogs have been used to protect livestock as long as people have been raising sheep and goats. Livestock Guardian Dogs live with and protect their charges, instead of herding them like Border Collies, Shelties, Corgies, and other herding breeds. They are large dogs, independent, and have definite minds of their own.

Traditionally, LGDs worked in conjunction with shepherds as flocks ate their way through the landscape. The use of dogs as flock guardians had dwindled by WWII, and after the war it was rare to see working guardians in Europe.

In the 1970s the USDA started experimenting with LGDs to prevent coyote predation of sheep, the Coppingers did research at Hampshire college, and several dedicated Great Pyrenees breeders started placing dogs into working situations, and learned how to support the livestock producers who took on their puppies.

The role of the working LGD in the United States is quite different from their historic roles. They and their charges are usually kept in fenced pastures without a constant human shepherd for backup. LGDs are used to guard a wide variety of animals - sheep, goats, llamas, poultry, and pretty much any critters that need protecting against predators. The predators are most often coyotes and loose dogs, although cougar, bear and even wolves threaten the more remote farms.

Of course, even those dogs kept as companions work. They protect their homes and people, and any other animals within their domain. This means they bark a lot. They make their own decisions, which means they are stubborn and tend to go deaf when what they hear isn't what they want to do. They don't take well to strangers on their territory. Wonderful dogs, but not for everyone.

Sunny Day Dogs

Berna and her mentor Hannah the Border Collie. Ursa is in the distance in one of her favorite spots, overlooking the sheep field and enjoying the view.

Ursa and Charlie strolling along the fence, each in a different field. The lamb was raised near the dogs, and now thinks he's a livestock guardian sheep.

 

Berna - Anatolian Shepherd Dog

Berna is a guardian-dog-in-training. Isn't she lovely? Pinto markings aren't common for ASDs, but I think they are beautiful. Anatolians are the Turkish version of Livestock Guardian Dogs.

This summer my challenge is to teach her that birds are to be protected, not chased. She was raised by Hannah the Border Collie, and Border Collies think chasing is what life is all about. At two, Berna is maturing and calming, and I have high hopes for her working career.

Foster Tor

Tor the foster Great Pyrenees thinks he's part of the dog crew.

Tor came to me starving and almost without coat. While he looks scrawny here, he's fattened up nicely, and has a full undercoat - amazing what plentiful food and good nutrition can do. Tor suffers from claustrophobia (making him difficult to contain) and low self-esteem. He's much improved, but still a handful.

He is, however, an excellent working dog. He's great with any animal I put him with.

Ursa the Caucasian Ovtcharka

Ursa is our Grand Dame and primary (vocal) backup. She's 11, and thinks belly rubs are more fun than photo posing. Ursa is from Boston, where she was the ultimate city dog - familiar with transit systems and busy streets. It took her awhile to adjust to farm life, but now she considers herself an integral part of farm security. She still loves car rides.

Working Dogs - Charlie

In charge of security, predator control, and farm oversight is Charlie the Great Pyrenees.

Here he's enjoying the view in Ken Stallcup's picture "Charlie's Mountain".

Charlie guarded at least 2 farms before he came here. Although he was charged with chicken-killing, here he is reliable with day-old chicks (and everything else!)

Ravenwood

Ravenwood. My small piece of the world, on a ridge overlooking southwest Washington, Mount St Helens and the south Cascades. I live here with a small flock of sheep and goats, a donkey, various birds, and dogs.

Winter went out with a flurry of snow. Each season seems to bring its own delightful views.

This is my first year here, and I wake up every morning wondering what this day will bring.

Jesse and Hanna

Jesse is my constant-companion Samoyed. He likes to hang with the big dogs, but agreed to pose with Hannah. Hannah-the-Border-Collie is friendly, intense and single minded. She took charge of Berna the ASD when Berna arrived at 5 months old.

Spring Fancies

This morning the world was white with frost, and I feared I wouldn't get a chance to do the gardening I've been itching to do. The sun came blazing up, warming the earth and vaporizing the frost, causing wispy tendrils of white to rise into fog which rose into low clouds. Soon the fog dissipated and the world became bright and warm. I got my barrow of compost, plants and tools and headed to the burgeoning wind break I'm trying to establish.

As I was digging I heard a loud, high buzzing. Looking up I saw a tiny hummingbird. I barely had time to wonder what type when he turned, and a bright red throat glinted in the sun. He was sipping from the pink salmon berry flowers, thus saving them from being cleared out. Nearby a wren flicked its tail and sang a greeting.

I was just patting the soil around my new plants when I glanced up and saw an eagle circling high. I moved to get a better view and saw the other 3 members of the family. One huge bald eagle, white head and tail glowing in the sun and three smaller, more active birds. If the others had white I couldn't see it. This is the third time I've seen the older bird, so I'm sure they've moved in to the neighborhood.

To cap off my wildlife encounters, a huge bumblebee was nibbling on a piece of mango skin in the compost. He was so fat and had so much pollen attached to his body I don't think he could still fly. While I watched he went through a complete cleaning, and seemed to realign his pollen load. I left him to his work, and went traipsing into the woods to the west.

These woods border on a piece of property I am hoping a friend of mine will buy, so I was "scooping it out". A great excuse for playing in the woods, following deer and coyote trails. There are some wonderful potential house sites with great views. I didn't make it as far as the road that penetrates that parcel, but had a great time.

My dogs are all loafing in the sun as I eat my lunch, and rest up from my busy morning.

Distant Titan

Mostly I take pictures to the south, towards my sheep field, pond, the valley, and Mount Saint Helens. There is rather a nice view to the east, especially on clear winter mornings. Looking over the dog yard and hay shelter, up the ridge I live on, you can see the Cascade foothills and the top of Mount Rainier. It's a winter bonus. In spring and summer the leaves hide much of the expanse.

Winter Sunrise

Raven Dance

Sometimes things happen that make me realize how much I love where I live.

We've had torrential rains for a few days, it's impossible to be outside without getting soaked (even with an umbrella). Mud is the word of the day at my place. Everyone but the duck (who seems ecstatic) is unhappy. It's easy to fall into wondering why I live here. Then something happens. I saw the most wonderful thing yesterday morning.

There are 2 pairs of ravens who live in this area. Yesterday morning as I was about to get in my van to go to work I glanced up. The ravens were putting on an aerial display - a Raven Dance.

Each of the pairs was flying together, wing-beats matching, diving, turning, swooping. Twice one bird flew upside down under the other - only for a second, but heart-stopping in its beauty and in the implications. Besides these individual patterns, the two pairs interacted, crossing paths, changing partners briefly, making lovely patterns in the sky. The entire dance looked choreographed, and seemed to take up the whole sky.

I must have watched for 10 minutes, until they swooped beyond my vision and I made myself go to work. I had tears in my eyes, and felt blessed by the raven gods.

Morning Fog

 

Patrolling the fence line

Charlie on his morning rounds, sniffing and marking, and enjoying the cold, rain-free morning.









Jesse watches Charlie checking the south fence.

Continuing on his mission, Charlie ensures his world is safe for sheep.

Frosty Morn

After a winter of endless rain and wind, February brought some very cold, clear and frosty mornings.

How Do We Get In There?

Boundary Watch

Berna and Jesse taking a turn at keeping the world safe.

 

A Break in the Rain

Christmas Spirit

This is MY present! Go open your own!