Blizzards, Heatwave, and Bella

Catching up on my blog neighbors I read about the snowstorms, blizzards, ice storms, and very frigid temps. I am very happy each of you were prepared and are warm, snug, with plenty of food and water to carry you through. Here alas its warm weather. Tomorrow is going to be 71F. Most of you are wanting to throw snowballs at me for that weather but I would gladly trade. I am a winter person and would love being hunkered down for a blizzard. Fighting the wind and snow to go check on the animals all snug in their stalls, houses, etc then coming in to enjoy the warm fire in the stove and a big mug of hot chocolate. Catching up on my reading while listening to the wind howl. Waking up to a blanket of white on everything and the peaceful comforting feeling you get after the storm  has passed. So stay safe and snug my winter storm blog friends and neighbors. Will keep you in my prayers and try not to let the green eyed jealous monster overtake me.

On a different note I have been busy working with Bella. She is a Great Pyrenees that was given to us. She is 2 and a half years old and never been collar or leash trained. She spent her life in a goat pen with minimal human contact. When her owner sold the goats Bella got depressed and starting getting out of the pen and they were afraid she would get hit by a car so was offered to us. We have Tinker (Great Pyrenees/Antonin Shepard ) 9 month old, 85lb puppy that William is training to guard our goats so we had to do a little rearranging. Tinker is good about protecting the goats but is too rough with them wanting to play. She is now out of the goat pen except when we take her in and stay with her. Bella is in full time and knows her job. The only problem we had was when we brought Bella home (huge dog rode in my lap home) she slipped out of her collar and ran off. She had never been free before so for 2 days I had to win her trust back to let me touch her when she would come to the goat pen. We fixed a spot in the fence for her to get in and she would spend the night with the goats but the minute I went out to feed she would leave and run the woods during the day. When I finally got her use to my handling her and hand feeding her I slipped a stronger collar on. After a few hours I tempted her with food back to the goat pen where I put her on a runner. She is in the middle of the goat pen where she can run or patrol up and down the whole pen. She just can't get to the sides so she can't get out. I hope after a week or so to take her off the runner and let her be free in the whole goat pen and pasture. She was mad at first and tried to get off the runner but I held, rubbed, and talked to her where she calmed down. She wags her tail and comes to meet me when I go out now which makes me feel better. Its raining so she is in a stall with Andy all snuggled down. 2 of the other goats are sleeping in the big doghouse. Go figure huh! So its been a stressful few days but Bella my sweet wonderful dog is settling in and doing a wonderful job with the goats. Once things settle for good Bella  will have charge of the mom and babies and Tinker can have charge of the bucks, and none momma goats. Bella is calm and wants to make friends with Tinker but Tinker wants to jump, and run over Bella. William has a bit more training to do with his big puppy before the two share guard duty. But I am very thankful to Amy in Dunn, NC for choosing Hidden Haven as the new home for her Bella. And I am very blessed Bella liked me enough to let me bond with her and that she is such a tender, caring, guard dog for my goats. So that's what is going on in my part of the world. Hopefully soon there will be baby goats pictures to post. That is if the girls ever decide to start kidding. Have a blessed night. Don't forget to count those blessings ...even the hidden ones!

This was Bella sneaking out of the goat pen when I went out to feed. I will post better pictures soon now that she is staying in the pen.