Monday, March 19, 2012

Farm Dogs

After hubby and I took care of Sammy for the week, we realized that we needed a doggie companion. We ended up bringing in our German Shepherd, Sugar to be an indoor dog. Since she has gotten older (12 years old this year) her energy levels have dropped considerably. She is living out her senior years in the comfort of the indoors.




 She really enjoys it, but she seemed lonely. One day I was checking out Facebook, and saw one of the local dog rescues urgently needed foster homes for 24 puppies that they had gotten in a shelter. After talking it over with DH, we decided to go ahead and give it a try. The next day, we picked up two, sixteen week old, Australian Shepherd mix puppies.

Of course it was love at first sight, but we had to keep our head on straight. When I first got Sugar, she was a stray that wandered up to our house when I was about fifteen years old. It wasn't until after I was attached to her that we found out that her prey drive was so high that she would chase and attack the horses, harming not only them, but herself. Because of my experience with Sugar, I knew we had to be sure that the pups wouldn't be the same way.

After about a week of testing their personalities around the horses, cattle, and chickens, we decided that they would fit right in with our family. They barely give a second glance to the chickens and are afraid of the horses. In time they should warm up to them, but I am sure they won't have the same drive to eat them that Sugar did! They even get along great with our two indoor cats.

So, I'd like to introduce Boomer and Chewie,, the newest members of our family!



Boomer



Boomer


Chewie - In case you are wondering, he is named after Chewbacca, from Star Wars! lol He also lives up to his name by chewing on everything.


Chewie

DH has bonded a little more with Boomer, and I with Chewie. They are both great boys though and they are extremely smart. The first week we had them, they were four months old and had no idea how to walk on a leash. After a week of working with them they not only knew how to walk, but also sit, lay down, and the beginnings of stay.

Now that Sugar has warmed up to the boys, she keeps them in line and LOVES playing with them. She is twice their size, but is always gentle with them, like they are her own puppies.

Linked to:
Barn Hop #54 
The Country Garden Showcase  
The Country Homemaker Blog Hop

Our Simple Farm

3 comments:

  1. So nice you could bring home some puppies in need of a home. All the best with them! They'll be good for Sugar, too, because often times, puppies will help keep the elderly dog young for a longer time.

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  2. They are so cute! We have two old girls and trying to work out when is the best time to get a puppy to start to take over the security duties (nowadays I hear visitors at the door before they even have a chance to bark). Its good to hear that your girl accepted the puppies, gives me hope that ours will be ok too.

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  3. Great post. Chewie and Boomer are adorable. So is Sugar. I have a Sugar of my own, a rescue dog. I think she rescued me. I cannot imagine life without her. I am so glad your new pups have the temperament to fit in on your farm. I an tell they are happy to have found a good home too. Congratulations on your new furbabies. I look forward to reading about them again.

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