The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[1muttsfan]

When he moves around in a natural posture he is much more level than when he is either stalking out on alert

 

[getaclue]

He's shaping up nicely. BTW, you have a nice voice.

 

[speckledhen]

When he moves around in a natural posture he is much more level than when he is either stalking out on alert

He has his "level" moments, but they are so few and far between the stalker or alert stances, it's really hard to judge. Did you hear that boy grumble as he was going toward the water bowl? He can get so loud with that, LOL.

He's shaping up nicely. BTW, you have a nice voice.

Thanks, on both counts. I cringe when I hear my voice, but hey, can't change some things, can we?

 

[Wyatt0224]

Minus his lack of tail, Hector looks really good.

 

[speckledhen]

Minus his lack of tail, Hector looks really good.

Thanks, appreciate the input.


Roaming dogs were back again today. They ran into the pasture right where DH was weedwhacking the fence line. When he called for me, in the barn, they turned tail and ran, separating, one into the lower lot tangle and one down the power line easement road. I had the game camera on video and when I checked it, I didn't get that incident, but they were here earlier this a.m., caught the brindle male on video. They sure are hanging out on our land a lot, which makes me VERY nervous. When Hector, Apollo, Bruno and Bash are all out of the barn pen free ranging, they go right to that perimeter fence to forage, first thing. The birds were in the barn pen already when the dogs came the second time (I guess it was the second time, who knows?) so if we had not been out there, makes me wonder if they'd have tried to get to my birds.

Because of this, Atlas's long and lethal spurs will stay long and lethal, just in case he really has to use them. He's pretty fast and agile for a big boy, I've seen, and he can jump and use both feet with no problem. I'd just hope he get a dog right in the eye with one of those 3" weapons of his!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I still recommend investing in some electric fencing, 2 acres isn't that much to fence, we have fenced more, and currently have about 20 acres fenced. It would be a cheap insurance policy. One to two strands run right around the outside of your perimeter fence. I would start where those dogs are hanging out the most, you might be able to just fence that area.

Those dogs are getting scary, they might be getting shot around here as they are pretty much like coyotes. Hopefully you can deal with them some way or another.

 

[speckledhen]

I still recommend investing in some electric fencing, 2 acres isn't that much to fence, we have fenced more, and currently have about 20 acres fenced. It would be a cheap insurance policy. One to two strands run right around the outside of your perimeter fence. I would start where those dogs are hanging out the most, you might be able to just fence that area.

Those dogs are getting scary, they might be getting shot around here as they are pretty much like coyotes. Hopefully you can deal with them some way or another.

I do plan to fence that lot, which is about 1.4 acres in size. It would cut off at least part of their circuit they seem to be taking, unless they just sail over the fence. May have to get the supplies then hire out the labor. That is where I see them the most. Of course, they could go over the perimeter fence in any other location, too, especially around the drive gate where it's not as tall. I need to replace that with higher fencing. It goes a short distance from the drive gate to either side and then, meets up with higher fencing and continues on. I doubt DH would tramp through the woods to hotwire the entire two-point-something acres. I wish I could just hotwire the back of the perimeter fence, the part that is adjacent to the pasture lot, but DH is afraid that our cat will go through, get shocked and not come back through and just leave the way he showed up two years ago.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We use a simple stepin posts, they are light weight, insulators that tighten by screwing on, and basic electric fence wire. I would run a single strand about chest to nose height to the dogs. Tie a few small strip of fabric, maybe scented with something attractive to dogs. They will more than likely go to sniff the cloth strands and get a good shock that should send them running to never return. I have had dogs get shocked in one area and will never comfortably go to that area again. Fencers are fairly cheap, 50-100 dollars, they come in solar too. The cat won't run away, he would just run. I would be more concerned what those dogs would do if they caught Finn out and about. I really think it's worth considering.

Of course we have used electric fencing for many years and are familiar with it and the set ups for using it, so it seems simple to me, but maybe it isn't.

 

[speckledhen]

We use a simple stepin posts, they are light weight, insulators that tighten by screwing on, and basic electric fence wire. I would run a single strand about chest to nose height to the dogs. Tie a few small strip of fabric, maybe scented with something attractive to dogs. They will more than likely go to sniff the cloth strands and get a good shock that should send them running to never return. I have had dogs get shocked in one area and will never comfortably go to that area again. Fencers are fairly cheap, 50-100 dollars, they come in solar too. The cat won't run away, he would just run. I would be more concerned what those dogs would do if they caught Finn out and about. I really think it's worth considering.

Of course we have used electric fencing for many years and are familiar with it and the set ups for using it, so it seems simple to me, but maybe it isn't.

Oh, maybe it could be run just next to the actual fence, then, right on the outside of it next to the pasture. The dog would have to touch it before it even reached the livestock fencing. That might work. I'm thinking that span across is less than 300' (we didn't take the fence all the say to the rocky, dirt road on the high side of the property-it's up on the bank for ease of installation). Thanks, maybe we can look into that, then.


ETA: You know, it really irks me. We put the perimeter fence around just over 2 of the acres. When we built every predator-proof coop, we attached pens with dig barriers to every one of those. When we put up the big barn at the end of last year, we put a very roomy fenced area around that, too, with two gates. And now, we're even talking about more fencing, possibly electric stuff, a bigger expense, especially with a solar charger. I'm so sick of going to all this expense to keep my livestock safe from illegally roaming dogs while their SELFISH owners just don't give a flying fig...that is, until you SHOOT their darlings amidst the bodies of your beloved animals. It's just disgusting!

I took the walkie-talkie and a big walking stick and walked around most of our property, went down the mountain to a cow pasture, then back up the mountain, looking for any sign of those dogs. Nothing. I can't really see the residences around me very well as they are all quite hidden up dirt roads at different levels, but heard and saw no dogs, nothing at all. One day, I'll find where they live.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Oh, maybe it could be run just next to the actual fence, then, right on the outside of it next to the pasture.  The dog would have to touch it before it even reached the livestock fencing. That might work. I'm thinking that span across is less than 300' (we didn't take the fence all the say to the rocky, dirt road on the high side of the property-it's up on the bank for ease of installation). Thanks, maybe we can look into that, then.


ETA: You know, it really irks me. We put the perimeter fence around just over 2 of the acres. When we built every predator-proof coop, we attached pens with dig barriers to every one of those. When we put up the big barn at the end of last year, we put a very roomy fenced area around that, too, with two gates. And now, we're even talking about more fencing, possibly electric stuff, a bigger expense, especially with a solar charger. I'm so sick of going to all this expense to keep my livestock safe from illegally roaming dogs while their SELFISH owners just don't give a flying fig...that is, until you SHOOT their darlings amidst the bodies of your beloved animals. It's just disgusting!
 

I took the walkie-talkie and a big walking stick and walked around most of our property, went down the mountain to a cow pasture,  then back up the mountain, looking for any sign of those dogs. Nothing. I can't really see the residences around me very well as they are all quite hidden up dirt roads at different levels, but heard and saw no dogs, nothing at all. One day, I'll find where they live.

That's what I would do. It is unfortunate that you have to do all that while those dogs run free. I don't think very highly of people who don't care where their dogs are. I would hate for those two to get in, they seem very interested. Thankfully electric fencing can help deter coyotes, wolves, and bears as well, so if you have any of those in your area they can help with those too.

I personally have no trouble with the idea of you shooting those dogs, you need to protect what is yours, especially since they continue to return. The problem comes with if you don't clean kill and they return to their owners wounded, than you could be considered cruel, or even criminal in some states, which is all crazy to me.

You also might not be around or awake when they come through your fence. So electric fencing means you don't always have to be watching and wondering. Go with a strong fencer, they will never return, and yes I've been shocked by them more than once, they will drop you to the ground.