The 600+ ewes on Ronnie's farm are guarded by a single livestock guardian dog. His name is Goldie.
Goldie was put with the flock when he was approximately nine months old when there were more livestock guardian dogs working together on the farm. Over the years, the other dogs passed away & he has been left alone to protect his sheep spread out over several hundred acres. After lambing, the 600 ewes grow to 1200 - 1400 ewes & lambs. No single dog could protect it alone & unfortunately some stock has been lost to the burgeoning coyote population.
Goldie takes the blame.
Goldie has completely bonded with his sheep. He shuns all human contact, preferring his sheep over people.
It is a hard life. But he seems content.
Ronnie, bless his heart, is not fond of Goldie. He says he "sleeps with the coyotes" because sheep have been lost. Ronnie wants to get another guardian dog, but his age combined with reducing the size of his flock over the next few years, it just isn't feasible.
Last week when helped Cindy vaccinate the ewes I saw a sight that brought tears to my eyes.
All of the ewes were rounded up and pushed into the pasture near the barn - where we funnel them through a chute to be vaccinated.
Goldie was not pleased. He stayed just out of reach, but within sight of his sheep. He created a problem because he kept drawing the sheep back down to his end of the field.
It was a chore for Jorgen & Merckx to get the ewes back up after they caught sight of Goldie.
When each set of sheep was vaccinated, they were released from the barn.
They raced down to the field where Goldie waited.
My eyes were misty as I watched Goldie run to his sheep, he play bowed, wagged his tail, wiggled with joy as he hopped to a ewe in a happy greeting. Then turned and began to lead his sheep to safety.
I will never forget that sight.
A lone dog, bonded with his flock.
Goldie was put with the flock when he was approximately nine months old when there were more livestock guardian dogs working together on the farm. Over the years, the other dogs passed away & he has been left alone to protect his sheep spread out over several hundred acres. After lambing, the 600 ewes grow to 1200 - 1400 ewes & lambs. No single dog could protect it alone & unfortunately some stock has been lost to the burgeoning coyote population.
Goldie takes the blame.
Goldie has completely bonded with his sheep. He shuns all human contact, preferring his sheep over people.
It is a hard life. But he seems content.
Ronnie, bless his heart, is not fond of Goldie. He says he "sleeps with the coyotes" because sheep have been lost. Ronnie wants to get another guardian dog, but his age combined with reducing the size of his flock over the next few years, it just isn't feasible.
Last week when helped Cindy vaccinate the ewes I saw a sight that brought tears to my eyes.
All of the ewes were rounded up and pushed into the pasture near the barn - where we funnel them through a chute to be vaccinated.
Goldie was not pleased. He stayed just out of reach, but within sight of his sheep. He created a problem because he kept drawing the sheep back down to his end of the field.
It was a chore for Jorgen & Merckx to get the ewes back up after they caught sight of Goldie.
When each set of sheep was vaccinated, they were released from the barn.
They raced down to the field where Goldie waited.
My eyes were misty as I watched Goldie run to his sheep, he play bowed, wagged his tail, wiggled with joy as he hopped to a ewe in a happy greeting. Then turned and began to lead his sheep to safety.
I will never forget that sight.
A lone dog, bonded with his flock.
