Another Shaggy Dog Story
This one from Graham Burgess
Your story of a Maremma dog with Australian Lowline cattle in the first edition is typical of the breed.
We too own a Maremma dog. She came to us as a nine weeks old pup, a real ball of fluff, consequently her name, Fluffy. I never had my Lowline cattle when we first got Fluffy, but as soon as I got them she started accompanying me to the paddock whenever I went to check on them. Now Fluffy does her own checking, visiting the cattle of her own accord and checking on the calves and dodging any mother cows that don't appreciate her.
We got Fluffy originally because dingos are a problem in our area and we had lost two good dogs, killed by dingos within 100 metres of our house. Our cattle dog was even attacked while on the chain within 20 metres of the house. We decided we needed a Maremma to protect our animals. Fluffy was at first a house dog but as she grew she was delegated to the area outside of the house yard. Now our dingo problems are gone.
One thing about Fluffy. She may be a guard dog but she is also an Australian champion having won her title in the show ring, including the Brisbane Exhibition.
Here are two examples of what these wonderful dogs can do. On the Sunday afternoon before Xmas 2007, I was working with a tractor in a back paddock when it rolled over and trapped me underneath. I was conscious but could not move as I lay over a barbed wire fence with the tractor upside down on top of me. I started calling for help and blowing the horn on the tractor as I was about 500 metres from the house.
Margaret, who was at home, didn't hear me but Fluffy did and started running round and round the house barking. Eventually Margaret got so annoyed with Fluffy's barking that she decided to feed her and lock her in her pen to shut her up. As she walked back from Fluffy's kennel she finally heard me and after an hour of being trapped I was freed and taken to hospital. I owe my rescue and lucky escape to Fluffy. Neither of us will ever ignore Fluffy's barking again.
Fluffy also saved our blind pug dog, Daisy,when she bumbled her way out of the house yard one afternoon, wandered off and couldn't find her way home. Because we didn't realise she was gone until evening, we had to wait until next morning to start the search. As I walked towards the cattle yards, I found Fluffy lying in the middle of the track.
As I approached, she got up and walked down the bank towards a water hole in the creek. I followed her, and there, under a lantana bush, was Daisy safe and sound and fast asleep. Fluffy had been guarding her. When I carried Daisy back to the safety of the house, Fluffy returned to her usual position under the car port near the back gate and went to sleep too.
What about the dingos?
Well, we still hear them but one bark from Fluffy and they're gone.
Graham Burgess, Burjoise Stud, Gin Gin, Queensland.
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