Shepherding

Shepherding is not always about the sheep. Sometimes it is about the guardian(s) of the sheep. Without our guardian dog it is really difficult to keep sheep in this county, due to the predators in the area. The trapper told us that without "that dog" (meaning Cosmo) we would have at least one mountain lion kill per year. I have no doubt that what the lions would be up in the pasture whenever they pleased, without that dog's presence, and I am guessing that it would be way more than one kill per year, and that we would probably just give up on keeping sheep to work our dogs without Cosmo. The lions are protected in California and some are being collared locally and followed on a research project. It is a delicate dance of science and sheep.

A few weeks ago, Cosmo was feeling poorly and not eating like he should. I had been out of town and I had not seen him for a few days and when I saw him I knew something was amiss. Looking him over I found one ear really inflamed and the other slightly less so. His ears were really ouchy. Poor guy. I started treating his ears right away with what we had on hand and tried to source out what else might be of more help. Once we read the label, the ear wash that we had on hand - a veterinary product - was disappointing - main ingredient, propylene glycol - antifreeze! What ??? I searched for something else. I had some Panalog at home, and some witch hazel, both of which seemed to help. I consulted with a Labrador owning friend who has been a groomer and she gave me a reference to a great alternative, which has helped a lot. I am using the products -which have no nasty ingredients -- now twice a week after cutting back from daily. Cosmo does not like me messing with his ears but true to his great temperament, he allows it, which I reward with scoops of good quality canned dog food. His ears look great. He is eating and happy and watching his/our sheep.

I call all of this, "the glamour side of sheepdoggin'".  Sigh.

Photo by Gloria A.

The fire danger in our area is very high in summer. This summer, it is particularly so, since we had so much rain which has created so much "fuel" in the form of tall grasses and vegetative growth. We were at the other pasture that we work dogs earlier this summer, and a friend and I were sitting under a tree enjoying a chat after working dogs on a Sunday afternoon. Suddenly we turned and saw a brush fire coming our way. Flames were shooting in the air. I turned into what I call the Mother Piranha on steroids and yelled at my friend to get her car out to the road, and I ran and drove my car out to the road. The sheep were already turned out and were pretty much out of harm's way unless the fire went really out of control. Only the llama remained close by. I did not know I could run. Normally I would testify that I cannot run. But run, I did, back down the driveway to chase that darn llama out to the farthest pasture area so that if the fire came through he would not be trapped against the fence. All I could think of was Zamora when the fire burned the sheep who were trapped against the fencing. By the time I raced down the drive and chased the llama out to safety, the fire department had come and put the brush fire under control. My friend backed her car down the drive and yelled at me to get in. We had both, apparently, turned into Mother Piranhas. :)

Yes, it's the glamour side.