Bravehearted Highland King

Hey all:
This dog gave me a suprise the other day. We were over by the neighbor's pasture where they keep a big two year old work horse crossbred colt named Mr. Bill. Well, I've sort of adopted Mr. Bill, King and I stop every morning to pet Mr. Bill and I always give him a carrot to eat. King likes this big silly horse BTW. Anyway, to make a long story a bit shorter. Mr. Bill's owner stopped by with his truck to feed Mr. Bill (the owner doesn't live near the pasture but up the hill. King and I have never met this fellow before). King didn't like this guy stopping his truck near Mr. Bill at all and let him know. He got in front of Mr. Bill when the guy got out of his truck and kept barking. Luckily I had him on a leash still and pulled him away and told King "that's its okay" The guy introduced himself as Buddy and stopped moving towards Mr. Bill, then King hushed up and kept a wary on him. But when Buddy started moving towards Mr. Bill again, he started to bark at him (very aggressive sounding I might add). I think it had something to do with the guy holding a big object in his hands and King wasn't sure about this guy. Anyway, as soon as King realized that Buddy was just feeding Mr. Bill and Mr. Bill was eating the food he had poured onto the ground, He quit barking and wagged his tail and acted friendly towards Buddy. It was like he was a completely different dog.

Now, I know why King barks at the cars and trucks that stop in front of Mr. Bill's pasture. Who would have thought that a dog of 80 lbs. would be trying to protect a horse of 1,000 + lbs.? Guess King thinks that Mr. Bill belongs to me! Frankly, I think I would pick a prettier horse and one made for riding not plowing!

Hazelanne

Coozie (her real name is Katharine) and Pete own the farm down the road from us. They have three black Angus bulls-these fellows were yearlings when we moved here about two years ago. I have never paid them much mind but today- I realized just how big these boys have gotten, (I would say around 2,000 lbs or more). Coozie and Pete have a creek that runs along the road and their fence along the creek side isn't very high-only about 3 1/2 feet high and just a few strands of old bob wire. Well, I have never been scared of their cattle but today was different. One of the bulls was standing in the creek when I was walking King by the fence (we were on that side of the road and not more than two foot away). This bull got a funny look in his eye and lowered his head a bit and snorted (I think maybe he didn't like my hat). Then he decided to start up the bank towards us too fast for my taste. I thinking, this isn't an old tame milk cow and this can't be good. I heard King start to growl. I knew the last thing we should do is run, so I just said in a soft voice "King get him" and King's tail curled over his back and his mane was all fluffed up. He barked the same deep bark that he does when he is protecting the house. The bull stopped and looked kind of puzzled. King kept barking. The bull tossed his head and trotted back to the other bank and decided to play fight with one of his buddies instead. Whew- I don't know if he would have gone through the fence or over it-but he sure acted like he wanted too. Now- I know why Collies have that big "ear splitting," and I was glad of it today.

Hazelanne