Yellow Dog Photo Shoot

Whew!  That was tiring.

The Yellow Dog is Getting Jealous

I'm not kidding. When we have babies - chicks, kittens, or calves- the Yellow Dog needs extra attention so he doesn't do menacing things to the new arrivals. My son took all these pictures in one short span of time and they show a range of Yellow Dog behaviors - watchful protector, curious nurturer, and finally mischievous maniac. When we fully appreciate the Yellow Dog as we should and make him our first priority he stands guard and seems to watch over his realm.


After we've been away for a couple of hours and drive into the driveway he will emerge from wherever he has been sleeping and bark furiously at some imaginary predator. At first, we didn't realize that the protecting he was doing was of his reputation. Then, I left K at home while I ran a local errand and he reported that the Yellow Dog slept the entire time until my front wheel touched the first piece of gravel in the driveway. At this point, the Yellow Dog rushed across the cattle gap and protected the livestock from nothing.

I honestly believe he intends to be the protector of the farm, but he is really a scaredy-cat who is too curious to be a true watch dog. He approaches every car and animal that travels onto or across the property. He barks at the animals, but from afar, maybe even from the front porch, yet he never pursues them. Every car is a potential carrier of new friends. As soon as they emerge, he smells them and wags his tail. He's never met a stranger he didn't like.

He investigates every new farm arrival by sniffing, licking, and then tormenting. He wants to find out just how far he can push the new animals before they attack him. In the second picture he is kissing the new calf, but in the third he is trying to enter the calf's pen so he can chase and nip which is completely prohibited since the calf is having such a tough beginning. But, he still tries, especially when we are watching.

Did you catch that last bit because it is important? All his mischief occurs when we are near and watching. He has never killed a chicken when we were away. He has never run weanling calves through a fence when we weren't watching. He has never tormented a new calf or kitten when we weren't watching. All these clues lead me to believe he is either a very stupid dog or a very smart one. Is he communicating his dominance over all on the farm, including us? Is he asking for attention? Is he completely devoid of the sense that would lead him to the conclusion that we would like him better if he didn't pick up cats by the head, kill chickens, chase cows through the fence, or torment sick calves? Is he jealous?

The Yellow Dog Strikes Again

Yesterday, The Yellow Dog disrupted nature in a big way. He looks guilty, doesn't he? He went with my husband to the hay field to check for limbs and other stuff that could damage the hay mower. We will start cutting hay this week.

A turkey was nesting in the grass. The Yellow Dog, curious as always, ran the hen off the nest, before Mr. W. could get him reined back in. The hen did return to the nest before dark, but something, hopefully not the Yellow Dog, damaged almost all the eggs and most likely killed the turkey sometime during the night. There were lots of feathers but no carcass.

My husband feels responsible because the huge disruption probably alerted all the coyotes, bobcats, skunks, owls, and foxes in the immediate area to the unusual location of the nest. Yes, if The Yellow Dog hadn't found the nest, it would have been destroyed by the hay mower because we wouldn't have known it was there, but I still feel that we disrupted nature in a big, negative way.

I am mad at him, but The Yellow Dog is still an amusing part of the family. You never know what he will do next. He plays with the children on the swing. He can actually pull them on the rope swing. He accompanies them on all their solo nature walks. In fact, you can barely leave the house without a doggie escort. I do like to have him with him when I have to check spooky noises in the barn or pasture at night not that he actually protects anything or anybody.


Once, not long ago, some dogs came on our property. The Yellow Dog barked and barked and ran out to scare them, but they didn't immediately leave. The dogs started for The Yellow Dog and he turned tail and ran to us for protection. The same goes for the cows. He takes great pleasure chasing cows, but if any of them turn and take a stand he cowers.

So he is not much use as a cattle dog. He isn't any use as a chicken protector, since he has a history of playing too roughly with them. He doesn't help with honey frame building. He falls asleep on the job.


Also, he also doesn't like to take a bath. As soon as he is clean he finds a way to escape and runs out to the barnyard and wipes his wet self in manure. Even though he usually stinks, either because of the manure or skunk, we can't help ourselves. We just like him, in spite of his mischievousness or perhaps because of it.
He can run like the wind.

Chick Update

Remember the quandary we had about the three mothers and one set of chicks. The outcomes so far are surprisingly good. We have had 10 chicks which I gave to the chicken sitting the longest. We started with five bitties and each day we had another. Now things have slowed. In fact, we haven't had a new chick for a few days, but the other two hens are still sitting and still stealing each other's eggs.

The hen I chose to nurture the bitties is being a fantastic mother. She is teaching, protecting, and doting. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get a picture with all the chicks together. They are roaming the orchard and front yard with their mother searching for bugs, dusting, and keeping an ever watchful eye out for the very curious yellow dog. He has been good, but has had much encouragement to be good from the mama hen. Protective does not even begin to describe the bristly attack mode she dons at the first sight of The Yellow Dog.

Pink Panther's chicks don't have that fierce protection, but they too are learning to stay well away from the curious mouth of the yellow dog. The Domilana didn't turn out very beautiful, but she is Pink Pan's favorite. He sold the young Buff Catalina for $10. He was so proud. The Dominecker appears to be a male, so selling him is doubtful. I doubt he will be able to sell the Domilana either, unless a beautifying fairy visits and invokes powerful magic.

An Eventful Day

This morning I rushed the chores because I had to be at D's house before 7 a.m. to get the truckload of worm castings. I left the children in bed and scurried. Of course, I woke Pink Panther to tell him I was leaving. D and I loaded the truck with shovels. When I got home I reversed the process but used a wheel barrow to get them to the garden, which means I may not be able to drag myself out of bed tomorrow morning. All this had to be done quickly because I thought it would rain this morning. It didn't.

When I finished fertilizing (with castings) the strawberries, asparagus, and potatoes, I cooked pancakes, among other things, for breakfast and began washing clothes and other chores. The children went out to play and realized The Yellow Dog was not around. I let him out of the house at 5 a.m. and he helped with my morning chores, but I didn't remember seeing him after I got back from D's. I wasn't too worried, but the children were in a panic, so we began a search. We drove the pastures. Doing so yielded nothing except my husband's truck stuck in the mud. I thought about whether to go get the tractor for about 2 seconds, but decided against it. We abandoned the truck and walked all the way home. On the way, we found one of our cats. She was dead. I began to worry about the animals getting into poison. We don't use chemicals, but our neighbors do. Children's panic escalates.

We took the bug and drove the highway and dirt roads, asking neighbors for help. We had no success. I began to panic. What if someone took him even though he is just a mutt? He is definitely not ferocious. He could easily be gotten. In fact, he would probably get in the car with anyone. I placed a few calls. Still, nothing.

Two friends were driving by and saw the stuck truck and offered to unstick it. They did. Aren't people so nice. Meanwhile, the rain I have been anticipating had not begun, but the wind was (and still is) howling and I do mean howling. The children pulled out their kites, but they were almost carried off with the kites so put them away soon. Still, no Yellow Dog.

We started on the evening chores while every gate was ripped from our hands and the screen doors were popping in the wind. When the Pink Panther returned to the house, the Yellow Dog followed him. It is a shame that dogs can't talk. I want to know where he was and what he was doing for 12 hours. I want him to know how worried we were.

Meanwhile, I checked the weather and there is a tornado watch until 9 p.m. It said, "This is a particularly dangerous situation." I think they meant to say a potentially dangerous situation or at least I hope they did. Particularly dangerous, to me, means more than a watch - a statement, not of potential, but of measurable actuality. Off to batten the hatches and ride out the particularly potentially dangerous situation.

What I really want is to take a nice, long, hot bath, but what if a tornado comes and I'm naked?

A New Arrival

This little calf arrived at our farm this morning - not in the usual way but in a cattle trailer. A friend of ours had a cow who died giving birth to this calf. The friend's mother is sick so he will have to be out of town a good bit. We agreed to bottle feed the calf to help him since he helps me when I have problems when my husband and family are out of town.

We get at least one bottle calf a year (always during January). The calves are a lot of trouble because of the time involved and because they have weakened immunity since they don't get as much colostrum as calves who get to stay with their mothers. Many farmers just want to get rid of them and we take them. This one is different because we have to give her back and she seems healthy.

Our only concern is that The Yellow Dog is more than a little curious. I think he thinks the calf is a playmate. Unfortunately, The Yellow Dog plays rough. He will worry that calf to death if he can get into the pen. We added cattle panels and other reinforcements, so The Yellow Dog is pacing the outside of the stall trying to find an opening large enough to gain access.

I know that I've said this more than once, but The Yellow Dog is so much like Hank The Cowdog that every time I see him I wait for the next scene from the book to play itself out in my yard. Now I'm worried. When I see this picture I no longer see the mischevious, yet only accidently menancing dog, I see a crazed Cujo type.

Could you resist this face?

Mississippi got cooler, again. We may have even gotten to 32 degrees last night. I know you Northern readers aren't sympathetic. I know you have been shivering for a while. As it was getting cooler, The Yellow Dog came to the screen door. He whined a bit. Wagged that tail and tried to look cute. He is a disaster in the house - chewing things he shouldn't chew and banging that tail into everything. But how can you resist such a cute face and pleasing manner?

I let him in the dog trot which is no warmer than outside, in fact, it may be cooler because of the wind and lack of sun. He seemed happy, then Princess brought him some warm water and a blanket. He loved the attention. An hour or so later we went into the kitchen and left Yellow Dog in the hall.

He was satisfied no longer. He put his big paws on the kitchen door and looked in the window. I don't have a picture of that one because the children immediately said, "Look at him. He is so cute and he is cold." They opened the door. I laid down the law. "He does not leave this room and you will watch him constantly. If you leave the kitchen, he goes outside." My children don't stay inside long so the dog stayed in all of twenty minutes, but I wondered what would happen when it gets really cold and wet. The dog has a labradorish thick coat and it was only 45 degrees. He is supposed to be an outside dog. Why can't he just stay outside?

He has that cute face and those pleasing mannerisms when he asks. Pleasing manners win every time.

Yellow Dog Update #2

Yellow Dog is bouncing again. My husband heard some noise this morning and went out to investigate. Yellow Dog had a cat by the head and was swinging it in circles. I suppose the cats were lulled into a false sense of safety by their three day reprieve from bouncing and forgot to be cautious.

The image is Yellow Dog recuperating on the pull out sofa in the living room. The children took thirty similar images - mostly head shots, including a few down the throat views. I found the evidence of the photo shoot this morning when the farm image I have been wanting to capture presented itself to me and I raised my camera to click and nothing happened. I looked at the camera befuddled, then realized there was a big zero in the available picture window. I didn't remember taking any pictures, so I scanned through and found image after image of Yellow Dog. Once I got a clear card for the camera, the moment was gone.

Yellow Dog Update

This morning I was able to get the yellow dog up and out of the house to use the bathroom. He was not his normal "Tigger" bouncy self, but he walked. He wasn't interested in staying out, though. He took care of his business and wanted to come back inside to his blanket. He drank water, but hasn't shown interest in food (except that 1/2 a piece of bacon I snuck him). Other than his super-sized foot and leg he seems alright, though slow. The medicine is doing its job. I guess the only other concern is infection. We will keep watching and waiting.

The Yellow Dog Meets a Snake

Today, The Yellow Dog took a walk with The Pink Panther and one of his friends. They went to the spring fed stream and The Yellow Dog found a snake and, unfortunately, played with it. The snake, doing what snakes do, bit his back leg. Luckily, my husband was doing a reconnaissance mission to check on the boys and was able to transport the dog and boys back to the house. We, then, spent what seemed like a tremendous amount of time trying to find a doctor, any doctor. We called the dog's regular vet, we called the vets in the next 3 closest towns, and we called our cattle vet who lives way to far for a transport. None were to be found. Meanwhile, the children were freaking out and the dog was getting more and more still. Finally, the dog's regular doctor checks his messages and calls back. He said there was absolutely nothing to be done except to make the dog comfortable. He thought he would be fine, but it would take a few very painful days. He prescribed a 1/2 cc of banomin (an aspirin like drug). My husband had some at the sale barn and went to get it.

Right now, I can hear The Yellow Dog whimpering. He doesn't know what happened. I'm not sure he even saw the snake. His back foot and leg are swelling.

Hurry up with that medicine.

Even more Mischief by the Yellow Dog

The Yellow Dog doesn't look like a ferocious beast. Most of the time he can be found lazing around on one of the porches or in the yard (just as pictured). But . . . the dog is full of mischief. When we first got him he chewed shoes. Then, he tore the screens on the dog trot and came and went at will with our possessions. Since then, he has been banished from unsupervised outside play time during the day because he killed a few of my chickens. I honestly think he was just playing with them because he didn't break the skin. They are dead none-the-less and I just can't let him play with any more.

Next, he started chasing the calves at night (when he was let out). It is difficult to keep weight on grass fed beef when they are chased all night long. Now, even in his restrained, supervised existence, he has ripped the drain pipes from underneath the house. Last night when the Princess took a bath, all the bath water ran out onto the ground into a big puddle at the back of the house.

After a bit of exploration , we determined that the toilet drain was not involved. Thank goodness! We were able to wait to make repairs until today. My handy man husband fixed it after he shipped the calves and before he went to his purchasing job. My husband is losing patience with the Yellow Dog. I am too! But you have to admit that if you think about it the right way, having a completely mischievous dog is amusing. I wonder what he will do next.

Just as I Expected

The Yellow Dog has turned into an egg sucking, chicken chasing not to be trusted nuisance of a pet. A few weeks ago, The Yellow Dog was walking around the yard with an egg in his mouth. We, of course, chased him around and got the egg before it was broken. I have been making a point of going out to the barn every time I hear a hen announcing an egg. Even so, I think he has been getting a few.

At Easter The Yellow Dog stayed at my parents' house while we were in Memphis and guess who found the first egg at the hunt? Right. The Yellow Dog found the first, second, and third eggs then finally they had to put him in the dog kennel. My sil took pictures, but she doesn't have digital and you know how long it can take to finish rolls of film, take them twenty miles to the nearest photo developer, and then remember to pick them up. I will post the image if I ever get it.

Even though The Yellow Dog has never approached the large chickens, he has started chasing the little ones. I don't think he means to hurt them, but wants to toy with them. They flutter, fly, and run around more than the older birds and he is just a puppy. Unfortunately, he is a huge puppy. When he catches one, he plops his big paw on it and starts gnawing. My husband brought one chick to the house on Thursday. He was clipping the hay field and saw the Yellow Dog hiding in the tall grass and then realized he had a chicken. We thought the chicken would die even though she had no visible wounds. She was soaking wet from dog slobber, couldn't stand and was in shock. I kept her separate for the night and the next morning, she was perky and wanting out with the others. So, technically, the Yellow Dog has not killed a chicken, but he is sure trying.

We decided to keep the Yellow Dog in the dog trot during the day and only let him out after the chickens are up for the night and when someone was with him. This worked for two days, before he ripped the screen and left to chase chickens. He is now attached to the porch post with one of those dog tie-out things. My husband tried to let him off the guide while he was doing chores, but he went right for the chickens. I feel terrible for him, but we've given him at least ten chances. Once the chickens are bigger, he will do better. At least I hope.

More Yellow Dog

My sister's family is waiting on more yellow dog pictures and stories. Here they are! The yellow dog is growing and his personality is developing into something akin to Hank of Hank, the Cowdog fame. By the way, if you haven't read this series, treat yourself to a laugh. Hank is a Maxwell Smart type character who believes he is protecting the ranch, while all the time causing mischief and mayhem. Our yellow dog is growing into the character by leaps and bounds. Only last night he protected us by barking at the cows - our cows - for hours on end. We went out and checked, and checked, and checked. Nothing out of the ordinary, but our fearless yellow dog could not be convinced.

He has gotten so big that when he jumps to greet the children, he knocks them down. He greets me every morning for the walk to the chicken coop and barn by running circles around me. I can barely find a place to step without falling. And that tail. . . it could be classified as a weapon of destruction. One swish and things start tumbling. He is just so excited to see a person after a long night with the cats and cows.

The yellow dog contemplates baby chicks from beneath the restructured, restructured coop. I hope this does not become a problem. The big chickens give him a wide berth and he leaves them alone other than occasionally stealing their food. He is a vacuum cleaner like eater - not picky in the least. His favorites are whatever someone or something else is eating at the time. Yesterday, he was running around and around the house with a mouse in his mouth. I'm sure one of the cats caught it at the feed shed, but the yellow dog claimed it for his own and was so excited about it. I'm not sure if he actually ingested it, but he had fun with it. Boredom does not exist when you own a yellow dog.

The Yellow Dog

This is our yellow dog. My son had been wanting a dog for several months, when this one came up at my brother's house. My brother graciously gave him to us. He is just a puppy, so I assume he is going to be pretty big. If I had to guess his heritage, I would say shepherd and lab. With certainty, he is 100% yellow dog.

Getting a dog would never have been on the top of my priority list. I have always been a cat person. I like cats because they aren't so needy, are somewhat neat, are so graceful, and ...

Dogs on the other hand are, well, trouble. This is the hole that the dog tore into the screened porch, dog trot. Through this hole all of the outside has been invited inside. Through this hole my shoes and other articles of clothing have disappeared. Just today, I found a glove, a shoe, and a pair of shorts on the farm. The Christmas wreath that I spent hours constructing from pine cones is now shredded into giblets on the front porch (O.K. The Christmas wreath should have been stored months ago, but it wasn't). The list of destruction of property seems endless, though, even I am not upset.

We needed a dog. He fits our family and farm like the glove I picked up outside. He doesn't eat the chickens (or at least not yet). He is a good companion for my son's explorations. He has a superb disposition, and is not as needy as many dogs. As my son says, "You can't stay mad at that face for long."

Three weeks ago, I ran over his front leg when I was backing out. We rushed him to the veterinarian, but no real damage was done. He was sore for a few days, so we let him come into the house to recuperate. Now he thinks he is an inside dog. I'm not sure I am ready for that yet.