Farming involves making decisions – lots of them. Do we trust the weather forecast and cut hay today or wait? Is this dry enough to square bale? Do we take that steer with the horns? (check him out – we did). What sheep to breed and to what ram? Which fields to fertilize? When is it time to euthanize an animal? Where does the potato patch go next year?….
This fall we have also faced a really difficult decision. Many of you have followed the story of Wiley and her coming into our lives and have been extremely supportive – for which we are very grateful. We were very blessed to have our path cross with this amazing dog. But one thing about dogs (and really all our animals) is that they are what they are and were bred to be. And for their best interest we need to respect and honor that. Wiley was bred to guard her farm and her sheep. Although she was extremely affectionate with us and our dogs (with more tolerance for Heidi, the hyper Aussie pup, than imaginable) she started taking exception to other dogs and began expanding her boundaries as her confidence grew. After consulting with some folks with considerable experience with these working dogs we made the difficult decision to let her go. But she is not a dog that could go to just any dog rescue group to be adopted by someone unfamiliar with her needs and without the working dog set up she needs. We are fortunate to have a strong network in the shepherding world and she is now on a working farm, with a very experienced guard dog person, other dogs, sheep, pigs, etc. Many, many thanks to AJ – Wiley gave her the highest recommendation by immediately climbing in her lap and becoming her assistant mechanic. We miss her terribly, especially first thing in the morning doing chores and as we hear the coyotes sing. But she will have a long happy life ahead of her by honoring what she is.