We’re first generation farmers working with Mother Nature and our land to provide local food and food security to our community. We’re here to bridge the great divide that exists between the everyday person and their connection to self-sufficiency and sovereignty. Join us on this journey!
the Italian wolf fighter...that's good with kids?
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Hey Reader, Continuing with the so dang cute puppy content... Who can resist this face?? The puppies are really coming out of their baby phase and enjoying exploring the world around them. I can't say our Svarthöna are impressed by these seven in their midst, but it's important for the puppies to grow up around our livestock.  And weekly weigh-ins aren't showing too much difference from previous weeks. Red is still definitely the leader of the pack at over 6 pounds while her siblings are all a little over 5 pounds. so...how can a ferocious Italian wolf fighter be good with kids?And by kids, I mean both those of the human and goat variety. Well it happens through thousands of years of breeding for instincts, intellect, and temperament by human livestock guardians to reach a dog with a lower prey drive that bonds with its charges. Maremma Sheepdogs, or the Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog, originated in Italy to guard sheep from wolves. The breed is specifically indigenous to central Italy in the Maremmo region and southern Italy in the Abruzzo region - hence the name. They potentially shares a related ancestor with the Great Pyrenees that originated in Spain, the Kuvasz, the Tatra Shepherd Dog, and the Šarplaninac. Maremmas have been depicted in artwork and literature back to the days of ancient Rome when sheep flocks and predator loads were greater than today. Breed standard dictates a solid white dog with thick, coarse fur (thicker around the neck) and black lips, nose, and skin around the eyes. This standard helped (and still helps) shepherds quickly spot wolves and other predators in the flock because the Maremmas blend in with the white sheep. Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella, an ancient Roman writer on agriculture, stated this perfect pairing of solid white in his first century AD writings. Today Maremmas protect all kinds of livestock around the world. Even protecting small penguins from foxes in Australia.
Fascinating to me and, I hope, to you as well! Ciao for now! Jamie P.s. Know someone who needs a good livestock guardian? Our puppies will be available mid December! |
Arda Acres
We’re first generation farmers working with Mother Nature and our land to provide local food and food security to our community. We’re here to bridge the great divide that exists between the everyday person and their connection to self-sufficiency and sovereignty. Join us on this journey!
Hey Reader, Gonna be honest here. I didn't weigh the puppies this week. the horror Other tasks took up my time and let me tell you, it's not super easy weighing these little (but growing!) cotton balls nowadays. I do hope to weigh them today or tomorrow to have some data for this week. Our time with them is slowly coming to an end which is bittersweet. In a couple of weeks they'll be ready for their new homes and jobs. I will absolutely miss being greeted every day by 7 overly exuberant...
Hey Reader, A very Happy Thanksgiving week to you! I appreciate you taking the time in-between cooking copious amounts of food to take a gander at this long, but important email. First an update: Red has lost her lead. I know we're all sad about it. I hope you weren't betting on her otherwise you've lost some money. She is however still our biggest girl at 21 lbs, but Blue and Grey have tied for the lead at 22 lbs. Pink is our most adorable, smallest pup at 18 lbs. I'm starting to think I may...
Hey Reader, Only a few more weeks until these pups are ready for their new homes! And honestly I'm not sure how we're going to get them easily to their next vet appt. This week we took them for their 9 week appointment and Blue and Red are leading the pack at 17.6 and 17.4 pounds respectively. 😳 Thankfully they're very well behaved so the vet visits are a breeze. my CRV has been through a lot in its 16 years so do you really need a LGD? Here's some guidance. 1. Farm dog vs LGD Sometimes a...