Farm Fresh Blog

The new sheep came from a farm that didn't have Livestock Guardian Dogs, thus the Navajo Churro and the Jacobs are a bit flightly around the dogs.

For example, the puppy galloping behind them has no clue why they're all running. He was called. He came. Everyone started stampeding. Surely there must be a problem.

This confused some of the Dorper sheep, who followed, but since, like the dog, they were also clueless, they chose a fast amble instead of a full-out gallop.

The other pup, also confused as to why the Churro took off like antelope, stood in the roadway and took inventory as everyone passed.

"Check. Check. Check. Check."

The Churro saw the Checkpoint as a Predator Roadblock. Dog in front. Dog in back. This tripped them out.  I guess if coyotes actually overrun us, the Churro will be the last to get eaten.

Fortunately Briar is on duty. Not only does she keep the coyotes on their side of the fence, but she is able to model exactly how a Livestock Guardian Dog moves around the flock. These shots were taken the first day the new sheep met Briar. She wants to sniff them, but doesn't want to get them upset. Instead, she goes into stealth mode. I call it the "I'm Not Looking At You" approach.

The sheep have managed to put themselves in a wide alley and are now in a panic when they see the dog. They want to run but see the dog looking at them. She wants to sniff them but doesn't want to make waves.

So as they trot forward, about to break into a panic, Briar stops looking at them, and pretends she is looking at something else. Her nose is wide open, drinking in the smell of the new sheep.

As they trot past, she still stays focused on something else, but tips her nose so she can smell them as they pass.

Only as the end of the group gets out of the alley does she turn her head to allow herself to look at them.

And as they pass completely, she ends her charade and turns around to sniff them as the leave.

The sheep are relieved that they survived their close encounter with the Yeti.

The puppies still have much to learn from their Kung Fu Master about moving like a wave under the water around flighty sheep. They're getting there, but they have a ways to go. They are still impulsive and don't think about the consequences of their actions.

These photos sum it all up. Once again the sheep are grazing in the wide alley of the driveway. Jury sees me with the camera and decides to run to me, thus causing a panic.

The look Briar gives him is priceless.

"Idiots. I'm surrounded by idiots."