English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[hellbender]

Hellbender

Good looking Fiest and your daughter's bear looks like a nice bear.

Thanks on both counts except...the dog is (was) a 42 pound Mountain Cur). He died at age 17 a few year back but he did sire some good hunting dogs before his demise.

The bear weighed about 270 pounds, dressed. A really good sized one for around here!!! The hide is in the shop now, being made into a rug for her wall.

 

[hellbender]

Sorry for hijacking the thread Centrachid. I'll make a very strong effort to refrain in the future. I hope you will tolerate my 'lurking' and occasionally piping in but I'll not post any more pics of any other breeds of dogs, that is, other than English Shepherds. Promise.

RON

 

[centrarchid]

We just got a light snow of about 3". Dogs patrolled six acres used for poultry working fence lines. Ben is now taking lead. Scent marking is being done by both dogs. I am not seeing tracks on any predators in the six acres of greatest concern. Tracks are encountered in woodlot 250 yards south in the woods. Coyotes seem to come right to edge of where dogs operate then walk parallel to where dogs walk. Raccoons not actually coming up to dog patrol area. Oppossums not apparent at all. No bobcat tracks this winter. There may be a badger crossing the fallow pasture nearly 1000 feet from barn. No mink, weasel, or skunks. I do see some armadillo sign near pond but they are not actual threat.

 

[dan26552]

We just got a light snow of about 3". Dogs patrolled six acres used for poultry working fence lines. Ben is now taking lead. Scent marking is being done by both dogs. I am not seeing tracks on any predators in the six acres of greatest concern. Tracks are encountered in woodlot 250 yards south in the woods. Coyotes seem to come right to edge of where dogs operate then walk parallel to where dogs walk. Raccoons not actually coming up to dog patrol area. Oppossums not apparent at all. No bobcat tracks this winter. There may be a badger crossing the fallow pasture nearly 1000 feet from barn. No mink, weasel, or skunks. I do see some armadillo sign near pond but they are not actual threat.

 

[dan26552]

Bob with some rabbits we got yesterday.

 

[centrarchid]

Both dogs came up lame yesterday evening. The were out in pasture and woods all day and night before, Ben has been largely just laying on porch while Lucy has been actually in the house moaning a lot. Last night a coyote barking at something was at front of drive, not Ben and Lucy, causing the two tripod dogs to chase it off. Dogs have been doing a huge amount of digging and apparently pouncing. Damage appears restricted to front feet.

 

[dekel18042]

Both dogs came up lame yesterday evening. The were out in pasture and woods all day and night before, Ben has been largely just laying on porch while Lucy has been actually in the house moaning a lot. Last night a coyote barking at something was at front of drive, not Ben and Lucy, causing the two tripod dogs to chase it off. Dogs have been doing a huge amount of digging and apparently pouncing. Damage appears restricted to front feet.

If you're not sure why they're lame and you live in an area with lymes, the first thing I would do would be getting the dogs a lymes test.

 

[centrarchid]

The damage is resulting from some sort of physical activity likely in pursuit of rodents.

 

[aart]

Both dogs came up lame yesterday evening. The were out in pasture and woods all day and night before, Ben has been largely just laying on porch while Lucy has been actually in the house moaning a lot. Last night a coyote barking at something was at front of drive, not Ben and Lucy, causing the two tripod dogs to chase it off. Dogs have been doing a huge amount of digging and apparently pouncing. Damage appears restricted to front feet.

The damage is resulting from some sort of physical activity likely in pursuit of rodents.

My pup is always stomping on something and then limping for a few days to a week or so.
Clears up after awhile, then he does it again.
I think it's from racing around in the fields and stepping on short, small 'stump'......
.....broken off seedling/sapling, something like that.....or just losing footing or stepping in a hole.
Never any wound or swelling.

 

[centrarchid]

We have abundant Hawthorn Trees and multiple types of native roses that very low to ground nevertheless very thorny. Soil has lots of chert in it as well. Numerous opportunities for poked and cut feet. Bruising possible as well.

Pain not too bad because both dogs are back it again this morning.