Farm Crew, farm life, goats, karakachan, kidding season, LGD, Nigerian Dwarf, Uncategorized

Keeping Up with the Karakachans – Episode III

At 6 months old, the puppies were awkward and gangly. Petra and Boris tripped over their own legs and couldn’t keep an ounce of fat on them as they grew. As naughty as this duo was (like all puppies), they always remained sweet with me and my family. In fact, I never had to teach Petra and Boris not to jump up on humans. I don’t know if it was because they already had their mental and physical needs met, but I’m not complaining. Their manners were excellent.

As gentle and considerate as the puppies were with me and my family, that wasn’t always the case with the goats.

Let me start by saying, goats are not always the smartest animals. There is a reason goats are not herded like sheep. Goats can be spastic, spooky, and just plain crazy at times. You know what that looks like to a huge puppy? FUN! FUN! FUN!

Luckily, Petra and Boris had each other to play with and tuckered themselves out. That said, sometimes, especially on rainy days, the duo would get bored… and boredom was often cured by chasing and harassing a few goats. While the mischievous pups were having a blast, I was not amused. These dogs were supposed to bond and protect my goats, not terrify them!

I reminded myself it was just a phase and they would grow out of the puppy stage. But when?! I watched them interact with the goats as often as possible. If I saw Petra and Boris wanting to play or chase a goat they were issued a firm verbal warning. Luckily, this pair was sensitive to my assertive attitude and they would heed my warnings. When I wasn’t available to watch Petra and Boris, they were put in pastures separate from the goats. They could still see the goats, but they could not not use them as play toys.

The puppies kept growing and maturing – mentally and physically. Soon I was able to trust them for longer periods of time alone with the goats. I knew things were getting better when one afternoon I caught the goats snuggling with the dogs. The goats were finally starting to trust their big, furry protectors.

Unfortunately, that image didn’t last for long. We had an excessive rainy season when Petra and Boris were not yet mature. The goats rarely left the barn and the dogs were usually with them as well. I happened to be in the barn one day, when I heard a loud thud against wall, followed by several more. I went to investigate and found the dogs rough-housing with an adult goat who was cornered. Sigh. Back to square one.

I’m not the most patient person, so I’ll admit I was losing my tolerance with these “lions.” Kidding season was approaching and the puppies were close to their first Birthday. I needed Petra and Boris to work!

Stay tuned . . . I promise it’s a happy ending.

Chickens, farm life, goats, karakachan, LGD, Nigerian Dwarf, Uncategorized

Keeping up with the Karakachans – Episode II

Boris and Petra became fast friends. I wish I could say the same for the goats. You see, our goats had never lived with dogs before. Suddenly, I’ve thrown these little furry creatures into their territory. Right away I realized that was a mistake. 

A dominant doe rammed Boris as hard as she could, warning the fluffy furball he was not welcome. Boris shook it off, but his feelings were definitely hurt. He was confused as to why his “family” didn’t accept him. Luckily, Uncle Huppy was there to help and loved having new playmates at the barn. 

I quickly realized, I needed to keep the puppies away from the older does for their own safety. Luckily, the younger goats were much kinder to their new guardians, allowing them to be around the very animals they were learning to protect. With livestock guardian dogs it’s best for them to grow up around the animals they will eventually guard. In our case, it was goats and chickens… more on the chickens later. 

The puppies were so easy at this age. They were gentle and respectful of all the other species. Livestock guardian dogs are meant to have no prey drive, while also being very territorial. Of course, at their young ages, the pups were far from protectors. In order to keep them safe from the nearby predators, mainly coyotes, we kept them locked up in the barn. They were only allowed out while I was present. 

The dynamic duo grew like weeds. My little “lions” were gaining in size and in confidence. They each started to develop unique personalities. This is when the fun really began. The puppies were bigger and needed more freedom. I’ve never kept dogs outside, so, the unsupervised part terrified me. Would they get out of the fence? Would someone steal them? Would they get hurt? I adored them and I was full of worry. 

Well, nothing prepared me for what was to come… mud dogs!

They were huge puppies who got to live outside. It was party time for this duo. They didn’t care about the goats or chickens, instead they just wanted to roll in mud all day long. As a dog groomer, this made me want to pull my hair out! But then I reminded myself, these giant puppies are dogs and this was fun to them! It was the last time Boris ever showed his white coat. 

I made sure we had excellent perimeter fencing and even lined it with an invisible fence for extra security, in order to teach the pups to respect the fence. When I couldn’t find Boris, I would just look for clay areas where he was camouflaged. They were always having a blast, but when would they start to guard? 

Around 5 months of age is when things changed. They finally cared about the animals more than mud! They cared so much, they “played” with a chicken until it died. I remember being SO upset with them and shocked. How could my livestock guardians hurt what they are protecting? It must have been a fluke. Nope, it happened two more times. Feeling defeated and sad again, I locked the chickens up for their safety. 

I even complained to other farmers and their breeders about my “killer” puppies. They all reminded me Boris and Petra were still puppies and that it’s hard to resist a squawking toy running away from you. I knew I had to be patient and keep them a safe distance from the chickens, for now. When they weren’t playing with Uncle Huppy, they needed to be “working”…. or so I thought. I put them with the goats more often. It seemed like a good idea at the time. It wasn’t.

Episode III coming soon! More about Karakachans, here.

Farm Crew, Foster Dogs, goats, karakachan, LGD, Nigerian Dwarf, rescue, Uncategorized

Mud Farmers

Our winter here in Georgia has consisted of rain, and more rain. We like to joke and say we are Mud Farmers! Last winter we had 10 inches of snow, while this winter we set the record for second wettest year! I know lots of you are still seeing snow fall and might roll your eyes at this post, but Spring is beginning to emerge here in the South!

The rye grass I planted in the Fall is lush and just what I hoped for, probably due in part to all the rain. The mud is still plentiful here and the ponies still look like they just swam through a swamp, but the sun is finally out. Oh how we have missed the sun. Every human and animal found a warm spot outside today.

With warm temperatures approaching, we are planning for a busy kidding season. Most of our does are set to kid in April, which is obvious now by their expanding bellies.

But happiest of all for this break in the rain is certainly the dogs. Cindy and Annie are back to their marathon play sessions outside. And yes, Cindy is still looking for her forever family!

Chickens, Farm Crew, Foster Dogs, goats, karakachan, LGD, rescue, Uncategorized

Spring Break at the Tucker Farm

DSC_0701I always know when Spring arrives in Georgia. This farm girl gets a sunburn and first case of Poison Ivy. Although I grew up in the North, I love the warmth of the South. The daffodils begin to bloom in late winter and the days quickly get longer. As the weather warms, we eagerly put ferns on our porch and enjoy an evening cocktail on the deck. We bought this little farm three years ago with the goal of having more animals, especially goats. More importantly, we acquired this land and lifestyle for our children.

DSC_0420I always hoped they would grow up on a family farm and experience what I dreamed of as a little girl. Don’t get me wrong, I had a dreamy childhood, but like most kids I always wished for more. That said, Spring on the farm is magical. It’s full of baby animals and playing in the dirt. When we are outside, our girls enjoy simple things like playing with the hose and running through the long grass. This is why ‘Spring Break’ for us means taking a break from fostering. As much as we love fostering, we need to focus on farm life during Spring.

DSC_1096On a daily basis, we receive at least one request to help an animal in need. We cannot deny, it’s difficult for us to take breaks as rescue will always be an important part of our lives. However, for now, we must be strong and stop to smell the blooming roses. While we are on a Spring Break from fostering, we will not be absent from rescue. We will continue to fundraise for our favorite rescues and share pictures of our pack. Our Tucker Farm family hopes you continue to follow our journey and rest assured, we will soon foster again!

Foster Dogs, rescue

Wanted – Foster Homes!

We’ve been fostering animals for over a decade. First, we were just excited about playing with cute kittens before sending them to their forever homes, but then fostering became so much more to us. We saw the overwhelming need for foster homes and never looked back. It began with kittens and expanded to other animals including dogs, birds, bunnies, horses. And while all of our foster animals are special, our hearts belong to dogs, so that is what we most commonly foster.

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Our most memorable foster experience, Betsy and her 11

Foster homes are crucial in saving animals and they are always needed. What most don’t realize, fostering is easy. It really doesn’t take much. Rescues often cover vet costs and provide supplies for the animals. All that is required is time and love dedicated to the homeless animal until it’s adopted. The rewards far outweigh any sadness on adoption days. The best part about fostering is watching the animals thrive! Just look at our current foster, Stewart. What a difference 10 days of love and care make. It’s amazing. Stewart came to us neglected and emaciated and now he’s a flourishing puppy. We’re proud of the little guy and proud to be his foster family.

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Day 1 at animal control

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Day 3 at the vet

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Day 10 at his foster home

 

What most people want to know about fostering is ‘how do you let them go?’ If you follow us on Facebook, you know some we don’t let go, but the majority we do. We put our feelings aside so other families can feel the love we feel, and we can help another dog in need. You see, when a dog is adopted, it allows for another to be saved. What people don’t realize is foster parents are proud of what they accomplish. It feels amazing to help homeless animals and to make other families complete!

FTTF-simple-logoWe foster for Friends to the Forlorn Pit Bull Rescue. They are an amazing group of selfless, dedicated compassionate people. FTTF is currently seeking foster homes. If you want to foster a pup like Stewie and live in the Dallas, Georgia area, please apply here. If you don’t live in Dallas, GA, please check out your local rescues. We guarantee they need your help and we promise you won’t regret your decision.

 

 

Chickens, Farm Crew, goats, karakachan, LGD, Uncategorized

LGD Life – 4 months

The puppies are 4 months now and entering that awkward teenage stage that large breed dogs go through. They are on the go most of the day and take a few naps to recharge their batteries.

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I have experience with so many dog temperaments – both fosters and family dogs. I’ve had dogs that were dog aggressive, food aggressive, feral, etc. But I was near those dogs most of the day and was able to give them constant direction. It’s different with the LGD pups. Although I am giving them as much training and supervision as I can, it is impossible to be with them all the time. In fact, I want them to bond closer with the livestock than with me. The biggest difference is watching them grow and mature in their own pack.  And as hard as it is for me, I know I must remain hands-off for the most part.

The puppies are still working out who is the team leader, but I already know it will be the female, Petra, of course. Ranger is only with them while I am around but they clearly respect him at this point. While they may bicker over a bone or a dead animal they find, they wouldn’t dare challenge Ranger. I’m so lucky that Ranger is very appropriate with them in his corrections. Though he’s young, he is a good teacher… except when he chases his best friend, Chuckie the cat.

untitled-35One of the main reasons we got the working team was to help protect the chickens, because we lost almost our entire flock our first year here (along with other animals). But now I find myself making sure the chickens are safe from the puppies! HA! You see, they are still puppies, and big ones! Although their instincts and breeding definitely shows when it comes to goats, it’s harder for them not to think of the chickens as toys from time to time. They are perfect 99% of the time. During that other 1% I will see them bounding joyfully after a chicken. So we’ve been working on this and I can already see an improvement. Eventually I know we will be able to trust them completely with the chickens.

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Often people get LGDs and think they can just put them out with the animals and it will just work. That has not been the case for us considering they are so young. Teenage dogs are in-fact teenagers, so we must be patient and continue to work with them. Most afternoons, now that it’s warming up, I see the puppies lounging with the goats. It makes me feel good to know that the goats now feel safe around them. Petra in particular adores the goats – she will even eat hay with them!

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We hear the coyotes on a daily basis here, but since the puppies arrived we haven’t lost anymore animals! They are still not out alone full-time, so we are really impressed! Although these dogs are a work in progress, we know in the long run they will be worth it! IMG_4613

Farm Crew, goats, LGD, Uncategorized

It’s not all butterflies and kittens

I get it. From the outside our farm may look like a petting zoo. I post pictures of goat kids, puppies, kittens, bunnies… If it’s cute and furry, we probably have it. But it’s not all butterflies and kittens here.

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A year ago today I was out farm hunting and stumbled across this place. It met almost all of our criteria and came with a farm-load of work. To be honest, I really had no idea how much work really goes into a farm – but I do now!

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We have been here almost a year and we’re already officially legal to sell our goat milk and eggs! But with that comes long hours, never a day off, and no naps! Most days I wake before my children after being up most of the night nursing our youngest. I try to at least get the animals let out before my husband leaves for work, and start milking once my girls are awake. I work a “real job” 3 days a week to pay for animal feed and other farm essentials. And on those days, I am often doing chores after the girls are in bed.

untitled-31Today while mending fences (a never ending task), rotating shifts with my other half, a huge white puppy escaped. I had to slide down 10 feet into a creek to get near him and beg for him to come back to me. Luckily I found the hole from which he escaped and patched it. Although things ended well, containment is a constant worry here.

untitled-30I work through illness and nasty weather because the animals can’t wait, and I’m in bed before 10 every night for a reason. So when I have no idea what is on television at night, that is why. I am beyond grateful for the farm friends I’ve met over the last few years. They inspire and support me on a daily, and sometimes even an hourly basis. There are days when I want to call it quits, when wine will never take the edge off, but I wouldn’t give it up for the world.

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I dream of making this farm my full time job. Working outside everyday with my girls and actually making some money from it. But on difficult days I have to remind myself why I am doing this, because it is not for the faint of heart.

Thank goodness I take photographs of everything. They renew my passion and remind me of my ultimate goals – a sustainable life and an unforgettable childhood for my girls!

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Chickens, Farm Crew, goats, LGD

LGD Life – The Adventures of Boris and . . .

Petra! Sorry for those of you routing for Natasha. I just can’t yell that across several pastures.

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It’s been a week since Petra arrived and I feel terrible I haven’t introduced her formally. I wanted to give her some time to adjust, and to be a dog. Yes, “be a dog,” a notion that is somewhat foreign to me.

I’ve spent my entire life loving dogs, often going beyond that by dressing them up, the babying, cooking their meals, etc. And I will still do that! But these dogs (Livestock Guardian Dogs) are different. They don’t want all of that, and of course they don’t need it. So as much as I want to scoop these adorable puppies up and love on them constantly, I don’t. I let them do what they love – work.

They’re still in the bonding phase where they are getting to know all of our animals, and vice versa. They are fantastic with the goats and donkeys, but can’t be fully trusted not to chase a bantam chicken yet.

Petra was ready to work from the minute she got here, feeling more comfortable around the goats than me. Don’t get me wrong, they love us too, but are even happier romping with the goats all day. They don’t come bounding at me when I call them, and that’s okay. I want them to prefer staying with the animals.

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This has certainly been a unique experience for me, considering I never imagined myself raising working dogs outside. I learn something new every day and know these dogs are happiest while working. I will not interrupt that. I’m so thankful they are in our lives and will soon be protecting our animals. We hope you will follow along… the adventures of Boris & Petra have just begun!

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Farm Crew, Foster Dogs

What’s In a Name

I have over a decade of experience naming foster animals, and then after deciding on two human names, I felt tapped out. After deciding on names with my husband for our daughters, I’m very glad we didn’t always have to agree on foster animal names!


untitled-6A dog’s name is important and often the first thing they learn. It needs to suit their personality, not just their appearance.




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My track record with naming fosters is pretty good. I would guess about 80% of our foster pets kept their names (Myrtle, Billie, Eddie, Vera, Calvin, James, Betty, Ethel, Steve, Abe, Chip, Wilbur, Louie, Norman … the list goes on).


DSC_0491As goofy and silly as this puppy is right now, I wanted to name him based on what he could become.



DSC_0115His breed, the Great Pyrenees, has been used a livestock guardian for many years. Originally the breed worked with Shepherds in France and Spain. The breed is known for their impressive size, gentleness with children, and loyalty to their family (herd and human). Obviously, you can see here he is definitely cut out for guard work. 😉


DSC_0613The Great Pyrenees will guard their territory by using the least amount of aggression/force possible, often times just their bark is enough to scare off an unwanted guest. Because of this, I like to refer to them as a peacekeeper.


untitled-5RANGER … is what we are calling him. It’s a strong name meaning “protector.” Sorry for those of you who voted for Fluffy, Puff, Cotton, or even my daughter’s favorite, “Huppy.” Although “Ranger Huppy” will be his full name. 😉