Sheba is my Akbash. She is a Turkish Guardian dog. I purchased her from Sheepfields, a well known breeder of working Akbash. I tried REALLY hard to make her strictly a guardian dog for my sheep and poultry.....but it was SO hard to not spoil her....so spoil her I did.
Now she would rather hang out up by the house with the other dogs and bark at anyone that goes by the house, whether on foot, horseback or in a car. She still likes to keep an eye on the pastures though, and I've seen her chase a coyote or two around.
She will drag herself under the gate to go check out and mark her perimeters. Harley, the rescued Australian Cattle Dog, believes it is his job to monitor what Sheba is doing. After all, she is JUST A GIRL! :)
I decided to follow her in her rounds the other day and take some pics of her and Harley.
They will seek out predators or vermin, and they will show no mercy.
No inch of pasture goes unchecked....
Hmmmm what has been over here......
After it all passes inspection she'll head up back to the house and where she would really rather be. The emus are not very happy that there are dogs going by their pen....
And Jasmine the donkey is REALLY not happy about the dogs in HER pasture. "Hey you two, I have it handled!"
I wanted to have Sheba model some Turkish Guardian Dog collars, which she was not very happy about...but at least she let me put them on her and snap a couple of pics. In Turkey they will also crop the dogs ears so that the predators will have less to latch on to.
Oh....and Linda? over at the 7MSN??? Sheba said these were for you.....:)
16 comments:
Yeeouch! Looks like she could inflict harm on herself if she were to reach her head around to nibble at a flea or something!
Any four-legged sheepy s*e*x happening around there?
Hi Michelle....I just haven't put the sheep breeding groups together yet. I definitely have some ewes looking longingly at the rams. Hopefully this Wed!
Great, Sheba. Now I'm getting dissed from thousands of miles away...just what I need.
Oh, now, Linda, it's all with LOVE! :)
Tammy, Sheba is gorgeous!! Of course, her sidekick is lovely, too..but aren't they funny, doing "the rounds" together? That's a scary looking collar...would that be jagged metal? (what every fashionable Akbash is wearing this year!) lol
Sheba reminds me of Aslan's mother Bamse, who was half Bernese Mountaindog and very independent. I could sort of feel the same "VIP walk" in Sheba, even when she's "on duty". Seems to me though that Harley's happy to have a boss around... What do the other dogs do when these two are on rounds? And do the coyotes stay away these days?
Ha Ha they are both beautiful and what big helpers!! Pats from me today!!!
Tammy, your animals are all so beautiful, and Sheba is just outstanding! How could you NOT spoil her?!!! Have you read "A Good Dog" by Jon Katz? I think you would love it.
Somehow that sweet face and the spiked collar just don't mesh together....she looks like a sorority girl trying to fit in at a punk rock concert!
Love the pictures of the dogs 'walking the beat'. It is funny how Harley seems glued to Sheba's shoulder. Lovely pictures!
Tammy
So they're your dream team stock guardians eh? It's really interesting to see livestock guardian dogs since they are so uncommon over here. I gave a lecture on working sheepdogs today at the local uni... I should have told my students to look at your blog!
Great pictures. Enjoyed following the dogs around.
Hi Danni, yes those collars are made out of steel.
Esther, the other two fortunately don't follow Sheba and Harley under the gate. I think it would be too tempting to herd the sheep for the Border Collie and the Terv!The coyotes do seem to stay away, though I also re-fenced with no-climb wire which also helps.
Susan, I've read a couple of Jon Katz books, I'll have to get "A Good Dog" to read next. :)
Corrine, yes, Sheba definitely doesn't need the spiked collar! :) Though if she had to tangle with wolves, bears or mountain lions it probably wouldn't be a bad thing. Sheba can be really tough when she needs to be.
Thanks everyone for the compliments and kind comments. I skritched the dogs ears for everyone. :)
Hi Danni, yes those collars are made out of steel.
Esther, the other two fortunately don't follow Sheba and Harley under the gate. I think it would be too tempting to herd the sheep for the Border Collie and the Terv!The coyotes do seem to stay away, though I also re-fenced with no-climb wire which also helps.
Susan, I've read a couple of Jon Katz books, I'll have to get "A Good Dog" to read next. :)
Corrine, yes, Sheba definitely doesn't need the spiked collar! :) Though if she had to tangle with wolves, bears or mountain lions it probably wouldn't be a bad thing. Sheba can be really tough when she needs to be.
Thanks everyone for the compliments and kind comments. I skritched the dogs ears for everyone. :)
What a team :)
And check out that little trail they've all made instad of wearing out the grass all over. That's neat :)
~Lisa
New Mexico
See she's not as worthless of a guardian as you've let on before! She's making her rounds and if she found anything... oohh wee, they'd be in trouble! ;)
I like those collars, I'm sure they're very affective. I'm kinda surprised you have some!
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