Pups

We have two Great Pyrenees guard dogs, still just pups though, to protect the sheep and our property.  They tend to sleep during the day, or so we expect, but come up to the house at night to stand guard.  Since we got them, we've yet to hear or see coyotes or stray dogs, so they seem to earn their keep.

 

Our neighbor has about 100 head of cattle and the dogs, Shy and Tim, seem to really like hanging out with the cows.  We'd prefer it if they would hang out with our sheep, seeing as that's why we got them, but at least they're protecting something.  Every once in a while one of the neighbors bull sneaks onto our property and the pups are always right there with him.  I think they're actually friends.  We try not to make too good of friends with them.  Guard dogs will pick a "focus" to protect and you don't want them to pick you - otherwise they won't protect the property and other animals.  They'll come up to us to get treats and their food, but are constantly aware and somewhat aloof around us.  It's a shame too, because when they're laying around, I just want to go up to them and start scratching their bellies and ears.





Not that they'd let me though.  Oh, I've gotten a couple of scratches in on Shy (pic above), but Tim is a different story.  He's beyond cautious.  Maybe they'll make good guard dogs after all.