Late afternoon I started down to the duck / sheep pens to feed the stock. All 8 puppies insisted it was time for their “First Walk About”. So with Drover on leash, Abilene, Montanna and Amarillo loose we started down the driveway. About to our Maple Grove Farm sign 2 of the 8 said they had went far enough for them. That is okay, but the 6 tails in the air some curled but all up and heads held high and looking and sniffing rolling tumbling over each other down across the pavement to the grass past the horses and into the big field we went. Tall grass and terraces were not obstacles that worried any of these brave explorers of new worlds and species. What fun!
As we neared the duck pens the black and tan female Tara named for the Tar River in NC, took off sniffing looking and ready! Everyone was interested and excited! Now 7 Katahdin ewes stood in the round pen heads high and alert . You could see the sheep thinking “What in the world 6 more !” The sheep watched carefully! Then the ducks came into the puppies view and it was on “Attack!!!!!!!!” Even the rough ducks were moving! Somebody yelped and one puppy flew back to the house by itself! So I penned all the puppies and big dogs and went to the house to see if it was okay. Why of course it was fine and the other two wanted to come down as well. Here we all 3 go! All went well and they joined the other 5 and what a time they had! I have a small holding area and the puppies went to work on the ducks. When all the ducks were finally put up (it is a bit harder with 8 little helpers) I penned the puppies in the dog lot again with Abilene and Drover. Amarillo did her down stay at the sheep gate and I turned the sheep in. The puppies were so cool to watch as they saw the sheep for the first time. They stood up with their front legs on the chain length fence all 8 stood still and looked at the sheep with their tails curled or held high! No fear! Amazing! (no camera!)
I gave the puppies a run in the round pen then they followed me back up to the house with all the big dogs and boy were they some tired whining hungry puppies! They wanted supper! and I am the cook ! Soon they were happy tired full and asleep! Dreaming of sheep and ducks and tomorrow for I promised them more of the same!
