As I wrote on Friday, Red is failing, his heart is weakening and his damaged spine threatens to come back at anytime. Ever since he was partially paralyzed in the pasture a month or so ago, Bud, our new Boston Terrier, has been sticking close, and also, to my great surprise, keeping the sheep away from Red.
Border collies herd with their eyes, and Red has lost sight in one eye and is losing some sight in the other. The sheep have been challenging Red in ways they would not have dared to do before, and Bud has rushed into the breach, as he did today, challenging the belligerent ram Liam when he looks to challenge Red or gets close to him.
Boston Terriers are not herding dogs, plus they are small, Liam has butted Red and Fate many times, he could stomp Bud or send him flying with one butt. When Liam looks threateningly at Red, Bud rushes right up to him, and goes nose-to-nose, as he is doing in this photo.
Liam lowers his head as if to charge, but Bud just gets closer, goes nose-to-nose. Liam stops, then backs up and turns around. If Red sees this happening, he shows no signs of it, he just maintains his position and locks onto the sheep.
I don’t really know of anyone who can account for this or explain it, my own view is that Bud, who adores Red, sensed his illness and has become protective of him. I get that part, but how he gets the nerve to challenge Liam – this is something Fate can’t or won’t do – is somewhat beyond me. It’s a touching thing to see though.
I guess we don”t need to to understand it kidtarbel on watching ot jappen.
This photo is amazing and worthy of being framed..I don’t think many terriers usually face off with sheep and I think Bud is just a very empathetic dog, that has enough courage to do what he has to, to protect Red. He obviously is also of higher intelligence and has learned to use pressure, possibly by watching, as Red used to do..perhaps we may never know what goes on in dogs minds, but safe to say, you live with and see things with your dogs, that most people don’t with their dogs..
It is love.
What contrasts in this picture. Red: In position, although possibly more from muscle memory and spirit rather than physical presence; Bud: Head to head, eye to eye with the threat to Red; and Fate: happily confronting a tangent that only she can see, but enjoying it to the max
Google says Boston terriers were bred down from fighting bull and terrier dogs, so Bud was born with a brave fighting heart and spirit, and he is using it (naturally) to protect someone he loves. A lovely thing to see.
I get the deepest feeling in my heart when I read about Bud’s service to Red. Tears well up in my eyes whenever I see the photos. The sweet little bundle of bravery, muscle, and chutzpah is a treasure. At our local dog park, every time a chihuahua named Apollo enters the gate, the ground shakes, the dogs all stop at attention, and we humans know the King has arrived! God gave them that chip to fool us all.
And then there is Fate, who with such joy runs the never-ending circles around a clump of sheep. I watch the videos of those outruns every time I need a laugh. It impossible for Maria to post too many of those! How DO you get such wonderful dogs? The gods bless you every time, don’t they?
And while I am commenting, I want to congratulate you both on your newly designed websites. Job well done!
Susie
I think you were right when you attributed Bud’s actions at least partly to his bulldog heritage. Bull-baiting (a pretty awful sport) required dogs that were enormously courageous and wouldn’t back down when confronted by a much larger beast in attack mode. How wonderful that this heritage, combined with his attachment to Red, has given him an important job to do. Dogs need jobs. Bud has found his and is doing it well.
I guess Bud isn’t aware of his size
If he measures his size by the size of his heart he might think he’s a Saint Bernard…