Buford T. Justice Baymule’s LGD

[baymule]

Had 4 new lambs born last night. Buford got a newborn lamb lesson. He did real good, he was respectful of the mother, sniffed her, then sniffed lambs.

Then before he could go play with Sheba, he got a truck lesson. I didn’t have to get in the back with him this time. And I was able to close the door.

I got in the driver’s seat but didn’t start the truck. Buford was scared and trembling. I soothed him and we sat there until he relaxed a little. Then I let him out and praised him profusely.

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

Buford looks extremely focused. Good job.

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

Every time I see a picture of Buford his expressions make me chuckle and Aw at the same time.
He is such a hard worker and tries to hard to plz.

 

[flowerbug]

he's a philosopher, i know that look...

 

[baymule]

Sheba and Buford love to run and play. Sheba has always been playful. Her favorite is to dive under his belly, biting opposite hind leg, giving him only her butt that’s hard to bite, and jerking his leg out from under him. It is play, but this is how Anatolians attack predators.

Once down, Sheba mauls Buford. He doesn’t stand a chance. He could win the play fight, but he lets her roll him. It is all teaching him what to do in a real situation.

They also stalk each other, run full speed and slam into their “victim”, knocking them off their feet and rolling. This usually makes the rolled dog mad and the victim jumps up snarling, and attacks right back. With all the growling going on, you’d think it’s a real fight, but it’s not.

 

[baymule]

On January 25, 2025, a ewe, Specks, had a rough birth and dead lamb. I left the lamb with her instead of whisking it away so she would know it was dead and not be looking for it. I gave her shots of antibiotic and B vitamins and a bucket of warm molasses water. She didn’t drink it, but eagerly accepted it when I drenched her. She has fully recovered.

Buford was hanging around, watching intently. He wanted in the pen so I opened the gate and let him in. He slowly approached the ewe and dead lamb. He sniffed the lamb, then the ewe. It’s very important for a LGD to calmly and slowly approach a lamb and ewe. Satisfied, he wanted out and I praised him for being such a good boy.

 

[ducks4you]

@Shades-of-Oregon , agreed that some dogs are not always safe with other people. Eva loves everybody But, she was mildly aggressive with my Vet a few years ago. I had to have another Vet spay her bc my Vet wants to pick up female dogs while sedated and they have to be under 40 pounds. I let Eva get too big. Don't know how she was treated with the other Vet, and there was a small issue a short time later when my Vet was taking blood.
SO, a few weeks ago, at the 2nd Vet's office, I suggested that they muzzle her while taking blood, just to be sure.
Vets are at will, and they Don't have to treat a dog that might bite them!
The vet tech was excellent with a needle, Eva showed no aggression, just behaved sweetly and I know that a lot of people would take her home, if they had the chance!
Especially since she and I have connected with a paw on my lap, meaning I want to got outside.
It is charming when a beautiful dog is obedient and sweet.
Poor girl! Youngest DD has been helping with some feedings and she and Eva do "suicides", but DD keeps coming back from vacations and getting sick.
Eva looked at her at dinner, wondering when they would have playtimes!
DD is thoroughly enjoying her Christmas present, a heated blanket that covers her whole bed, and is lavender, favorite color. DD insisted on going to work anyway, then crashing in bed when she got home.
She is very popular this week with the two cats, Troll Bridge and Digby.
What cat Doesn't love heat?!?!?
Same danger is true with horses, especially since they can overpower you, and many Vets won't treat them unless you have stocks.
I had one horse who was scared of needles. All of the rest of mine haven't even noticed.
I had to give two shots to my mare last summer, for inflammation, to make her more confortable.
I still know how to give shots. Don't do it much anymore bc manufacturers won't cover me if there is a reaction. They will if a Vet gives the shots.
Still, I am game to give a tetanus booster if there is an injury, if needed.

 

[baymule]

Two new moms yesterday . One was Bon Bon, in the middle field. Buford is in the pen at night with Cooper the ram, next to, but not in with the ewes in the next pen. When I turn him and the ewes out in the mornings he always goes to check on new moms and babies. About a week ago, Buford put himself in the ewes night pen when I put them up for the night. He was telling me that he was a big boy now and would take care of the ewes and lambs. So I let him stay. Every night since, he has been with the ewes and lambs.

Yesterday morning Bon Bon had twins, placenta still hanging. Buford was right there. He grinned at me. Buford grins when I scold him and when he’s real excited. This is the FIRST time he has been in the same pen when a ewe lambed, unsupervised. He was grinning, unsure of himself. Was he in trouble? NO! I heaped PRAISE on him and he wiggled with happiness. This was HUGE! Good boy Buford!

The placenta was hanging out, Buford walked up and sniffed it. I calmly said, Ah-Ahh and he walked away. More praise.

I opened the gate and let the ewes and lambs out in the field, so I could get Bon Bon and her lambs in a small place. The white lamb was stuck in a pallet when I found the lambs and he needed milk. I picked up the lambs and led her to the working chute where I could close her up. I fed her and got the white lamb to latch on and get his milk. Buford kept a close watch.

As a young pup, when lambs appeared, he was confused and would stand on the other side of the fence and bark at the newborns. When they were a couple of weeks old, he was ok, but he couldn’t figure out the newborns. This year, this lambing, he is no longer barking at them. This year he is protective. This year he wants to make sure they are ok and he watches over them. This year he is ready to step up and be with the ewes giving birth. I’m so proud of Buford.

Yesterday afternoon, the ewes and lambs came in for a drink, then laid down to ruminate. Buford positioned himself in the gate, keeping predators away.

This is what he’s been doing this past week. It’s time to close up the sheep for the night and he is in the shadows of the back of the Quonset hut. Momma can’t see me…. It’s kinda like playing peek a boo with a toddler.

 

[baymule]

Today is a drizzly wet day. Buford and Sheba are together in the front field. As long as it’s a drizzle or soft mist, the sheep and dogs are happy to be out on the field. When a hard shower blasts out of the clouds, the sheep run for cover. Shower over, they trickle back out on the field.

Buford barked the alert. But he ran back to the lot and into the Pallet Palace, Sheba right behind him. Then he ran out, still barking the alert. The ewes came charging off the field. I just had to go out and see what the ruckus was all about. When the dogs bark the alert, they are running towards the perceived threat and the sheep run for their pen. This was backwards behavior!

I got out there to find twins, only 10 days old, the only occupants of the Pallet Palace. Their mom came running up, went in to “find” her babies and they ran to her.

Studying on this, I could only surmise that the twins fell asleep and the ewes, including their mother, went back on the field after the hard rain stopped. The lambs must’ve woke up all alone and cried for their mother.

Buford must have heard them, maybe he thought a predator attacked them, maybe he realized they were lost, who really knows. Whatever he thought, he ran to their rescue, barking the alarm, followed by Sheba. The lambs were quickly reunited with their mother.

The ewes grabbed a snack at the hay bale and trickled back out on the field.

Buford and Sheba are on the job.

 

[Collector]

Great looking dogs and dutifull employees you have. How big is your flock these days?