[PyrNet-L] New dog - long

[Andrea Green <agreen@plix.com>]

Just have to tell you all about the new dog I just got from the rescue
here is Spokane.  He is a two year old male pyr named Bear.  At first I
was a little concerned that I might have a problem bringing a new dog
into the flock because of my little house dog.  She is a mixed breed
terrier type with a typical terrier temperment.  

When I went to pick up Bear I took Abby with me.  She walked up to him,
rubbed noses and walked off.  Total acceptance.  They rode home in the
pickup together, Abby on the front seat and Bear in the jump seats
behind.  No problem.  

When I got home Wiggles my 8 year old pyr came to meet us as usual.  She
and Bear hit it off from the start.  The first night I kept Bear in the
house so he would get to know me.  Yesterday I let him out with Wiggles
to learn his job.  He has never been around livestock and I didn't know
what he would do.

He paid no attention to the goats.  He would follow Wiggles whenever she
would bark and go out away from the house.  He backed her several
times.  Then later in the afternoon I saw that Wiggles had laid down on
the front steps which she very seldom does.  Bear was laying on the
cliff where Wiggles usually sleeps.  I thought that maybe Wiggles was
dispondant because I had brought another dog in.  But I soon saw that
she was sleeping like she hadn't been able to do in weeks. 

Last night I left Bear out with her.  A good thing.  About 11 I heard a
lot of barking and a high pitched scream.  In a few minutes I saw the
dogs coming up the drive.  My drive is a mile long and they don't go
that far.  Anyway, I went out to praise  Bear and Wiggles, and to check
them over.  Neither dog was hurt.  

Things were quiet until about 6 this morning.  I heard a fight out away
from the barn.  A lot of snarling and noise.  Then I heard from the
other direction the big deep voice of Bear as he went running over to
Wiggles.  Whatever it was, Wiggles confronted it last night.  She had
been keeping it at bay for weeks.  Last night she knew she had help and
took up the challlenge.  

I couldn't be happier with a dog.  Bear is fitting in already.  I didn't
expect much from him for a couple weeks.  He is wanting to work.  Lots
of praise later this morning and he is walking proud.

Andrea
-- 
			Andrea Green	
	AJ's Udder Delight Saanen and Oberhasli Dairy Goats	 
	 Milk production in an UDDERly DELIGHTful package	
  			Colville, WA
		  http://homepage.plix.com/agreen