She's a big hearted fuzzy dog always ready to give a slobbery kiss or beg for a belly rub. Although she loves people and enjoys when we visit, the place she belongs most is with her goats. She lives out there with them, ever vigilant of intruders of any kind. All passing vehicles get a good firm talking to and as long as we've been around, not a single goat has been lost to predators. The other animals at the farm are careful to mind her and give the goats space. Once, on a day that one of the ladies had given birth to twin kids, Chester, the jersey ox decided to go into the goat's pasture; the gate was partially open, so he was pushing in open with his head. It was all completely innocent, he just thought the goats had more grass maybe, but Sheba didn't appreciate the intrusion with the very new babies and all. She went from sweet and fluffy to a great ball of fluffy fierceness, ready with claw and fang to defend the little ones. Poor Chester backed out in a hurry and decided his pasture was good enough. Here's the big guy:
Now Sheba's a big dog, but that ox is huge and horned; it still surprises me to remember how quickly and fiercely she attacked it. On the other side of the spectrum; I've also watched Sheba lick clean a newborn kid while it's mother was still in labor with it's twin. All the goats trust her completely. It's a truly amazing relationship.
That's all for now,
-Jayne
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