Rolling Dog Farm Blog

I mentioned in the previous post that our Maremma livestock guardian dogs weren't in the photos of the goat barn because I had put them outside for exercise that morning. Well, many hours later I brought them in and fed them dinner, then went about feeding the goats. I looked over and saw the trio watching me, looking just as cute as can be, so I pulled out my phone and took that photo. (Click on photo for larger image.)

On the left is Maggie the now 8-month puppy; our big boy Aaron in the background, and the old lady of the bunch, Gina on the right lying down. You can't tell from the photo but Maggie has her left front paw on Gina's head and was pawing at her while sticking her face through the panel. (The bent corral panel is courtesy of one of our blind horses back in Montana.)

These dogs get "cabin fever" in the winter, so unless it's pouring rain or sleeting, we generally put them out at least twice a day to run around for an hour or two each time. And on a gorgeous, warm winter day like Wednesday, they'll stay out all day. Aaron and Maggie, because of their youthful energy, will frolic in any weather conditions; Gina, because of her advanced age, is more content to stay inside the barn if the weather is really cold. But if she's in for one entire day, then the next day she is ready to head outside, no matter how cold it might be.

The goats, on the other hand, generally prefer staying inside where it's warm and dry and there's plenty of hay to eat. Come March, though, everyone in that barn has cabin fever!

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