While normally you'd never let any dog, especially a guardian dog "play" with your sheep, after years, literally years, of watching Hank display nothing but exemplary behavior towards sheep who completely disrespect him and show no gratitude for his loyal service, night after night and even all throughout the day, I've stopped feeling sorry for them and have taken to booting a few butts myself. Well, actually just two butts - Woolliam and Rebecca Boone.
Woolliam is still pretty dirty about trying to punch on Hank. He waits until Hank's back is turned or Hank's otherwise distracted by getting his ears rubbed or looking at something and then he tries to sucker punch him. Keep in mind that I'm here all day. I know Hank's never done anything to Woolliam to incite this bad behavior. For the last year or so, if I can get to him quickly enough, Woolliam gets it right back. Rebecca Boone too.
Lately though I've seen Hank trying to play with RB. He bounces around her, ducking and weaving. She jumps at him. He scoots to the other side, she turns to face him and jumps at him. He crouches down and bounces back to the other side. She lowers her head and bounces back at him. At first I put a stop to this.
"Hank, buddy, she's not playing with you. She just wants to punch you."
"No, we're playing. She wants to play with me."
"Um, no. I don't think she's playing."
"No, no, really, she loves to play with me."
"Hank. She hates you. She just wants to beat you up. You know that."
But the more this happens, the less I think that. I think they really are just playing now. She never seems upset (not that Rebecca Boone would ever be upset by anything anyway ;-), she usually instigates it herself and not in the mean, underhanded way Woolliam does and when it's over she's just as liable to let Hank snarful her face and ears as just calmly walk away.
Rebecca Boone is a sheep of great character. Sometimes a little too
much character...but the kind of character you kind of wish would rub off on you
a bit. I was going to subtitle these pictures, but if you watch her face and ears, there's no need ;-). And I love how everyone gathers to watch this morning.
A couple years ago I labeled her fleece with "Rebecca Boone rode home from NY in the middle of winter in the back of our car with a Great Wheel. She is a "sheep with confidence" who walked up to Hank (our new LGD) and popped him one right off the bat to let him know who was boss. Not only is her fleece gorgeous, but I feel like it's probably infused with something that will "give shy people the courage to do what's needed" ;-) Like cables or knit a whole sweater."
Yep, that's probably right.
24 comments:
how fun! Always neat to watch the relationships between the animals, especially those of differnet and opposing species. Hank sure does look like he's enjoying himself!
Cute pics of Hank at play, give Hank a hug for me, we need to start "A Hug a Hank Day" for sure.
Too funny! The colored Cotswolds have even more attitude than the white ones. Hank says "ohboyohboyohboy, I will play with you, I will go left, I will go right, ohboy!" RB says "Yeah, yeah, come over here so I can bop you one, you big doofus". You can tell she's not alarmed, just bemused at his jumping around. Love the peanut gallery looking on!
We have a fainting goat that is like that. She will tell the dogs that she is boss. And, for some reason, they always pick her to "play" with. hehehe. Glad Hank got his chance to finally play.
They are playing.
So does that mean now you are done with the Jester sweater you are making a cabled sweater?
Thats so cute! I loved the pictures. I can't say I have any experience with sheep, but my boyfriend has goats! They let a dog be around the goats once, immediate the goats puffed up and rammed the dog, we took the dog away after that!
Hank appears to be playing and she's just standing watching him jump around!! If Hank needed to get away - I bet he could!
"C'mon, CHASE me! You know you want to. C'mon. Hey! You know you want to! C'mon. You can't catch me! Heh, heh, heh."
:-)
I love how it looks like two kids scraping on a playground surrounded by onlookers. LOL
Loved the Prairie Home Companion reference; it's perfect!
My eyes went to the audience in the backround. Looks like they enjoy the show.
I'm sure Hank is giggling in the second last photo.
Love all the pictures. Hank is really a beautiful boy.
I knew R.B. was just my fevorite of your sheep...maybe is because has the same character of Molly....a little witch ;)
Valentina
Love the shot of hank ducking his head and making that sheepish (sorry) grin. I think you should print all these out and make one of those little flip books. Hank would be jumping all over the place and everyone else would be completely stationary.
Please explain what RB is thinking with her ears up vs ears down. It looks like ears are down when she is going to butt him, but I'm not sure if those are just before or just after pictures.
Love Hanks crouching position. This sparring is great practice for someone not playing.
Hank is in his element!
Happy Hank! He's such a good boy. RB is having fun too. But RB is "COOL". She knows it too and it wouldn't do to look like she's having too much fun. Love her Hair Doo!
The spotted faces of the on-lookers are wonderful. And I like the pony in the very back--the one wearing sheeps cloths. He towers above the rest.
The audience doesn't seem alarmed ..only entertained! Hank knows..he is a smart dog:)
It's so interesting how the other sheep hang back and watch, like a school brawl, egging them on.
Priceless! Love the peanut gallery as well! As always, thanks for making me smile!
This is SO fabulous and fun! Thank you, and thanks to Hank and Rebecca Boone for making my Tuesday morning. I love to watch animals play together. Love it!
They have a captive audience! This is so sweet... and I Loved your Commentary, you've made me laugh out loud here at my computer!
Dawn... The Bohemian
He can't see her eyes and it's driving him nuts! Put some barett's in that bang. :D
Post a Comment