English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

Odds are he will learn. As a young dog he will typically hang back when they encounter a raccoon on the ground. His first attacks will likely not be effective and possibly result in his being bitten himself. Lucy's efforts likely to be counterproductive if Ben gets bit good and raccoon does not want to let go. He will have to learn where and when to bite and what to do next. What I do not want is for him to just dive in as that could ruin him if raccoon gets into him too much. Next kill I will try to allow him at raccoon only after it is down so Ben can build is confidence.

Scoob had to learn alone and first couple of encounters involved Scoob not knowing what end to go after or to keep raccoon away from his body. The dogs are a lot faster and stronger than the raccoon but the raccoon is extremely flexible and hard to predict in terms of what direction it will go in.

 

[scottcaddy]

Thank You!
Scott

 

[centrarchid]

Ben barked most of last night. Pattern like LGD's at work which desensitizes me to his activities. Luckily Lucy knows what he is saying and does restrict her barking to when real problems are afoot.

 

[aart]

Ben barked most of last night. Pattern like LGD's at work which desensitizes me to his activities. Luckily Lucy knows what he is saying and does restrict her barking to when real problems are afoot.

Hopefully, she'll teach him when to STFU when there's no real need to bark.

 

[centrarchid]

Observation on dark adaption / acclimatization. Last night Ben stayed out almost continuously while Lucy only went outside when felt need based on Ben's barking. One of those times involve the raccoon to north. On the way back after dust up Ben had eyes reflecting blue-green while Lucy reflected orange-red. If she stayed out another 30 minutes of so I would not have been able to tell them apart based on eye reflection color.

 

[TalkALittle]

I thought color of eyeshine was constant. Some dogs red, some dogs green(ish) yellow due to particular makeup of tapetum lucidum.

 

[centrarchid]

All dogs I have had are blue-green when dark adapted and orange-red if they have been near a light source. Something changes in blood flow associated with retina I think. At night less oxygen required to refresh light recepters after being tripped by light exposure because less light.

 

[TalkALittle]

Well, something else to Google.

 

[centrarchid]

I am looking as well. Niether dog has blue eyes. Have past pictures of both with red-eye.

 

[TalkALittle]

I think there is a difference between red-eye effect and eyeshine. I've had dogs exhibit green eyeshine yet photograph with red-eye effect. Have to run off to teach a dog sport class now. Info search will have to be put on hold. I'll ask attendees what color their dog's eyes reflect and if they change. It'll be a small sample but interesting to get responses.