[whitby_sam]

Woke up this morning to one of our cockerills crowing. Normally we can't hear them so I went out to investigate and found one of the shed doors wide open.

On closer inspection there were some unregognised boot prints in the snow (Mine and Alex's are quite distinctive as we have the same boots and mine are a whopping size 13) surrounded by dog prints and a couple of bits of stuffing type fluff.

I can only assume that the dogs disturbed whoever it was and took a chunk out of their jacket (and hopefully their arm)

What a ridiculous time of year to try and steal chickens! Bet they'll pay more attention to the big WARNING, GUARD DOGS! sign on the gate next time!

[jameslindsay]

Well done your dogs. I hope they managed to get a bite out of the thieving gits.

[whitby_sam]

I gave them some extra treats this morning to say thankyou!

I almost feel sorry for the idiot that tried to take them on. A lunatic collie and a 16 stone Old English

[doganjo]

Do your dogs sleep outside?

[whitby_sam]

No, they have the kitchen and their own little (heated) corridor but they have a dog door allowing them access to outside and to be honest, even in this weather, that's where they prefer to be!

They spend all day with us and are very much part of the family but at night the go to work...

I find they're better guard dogs because they have such a relationship with us. One of my friends turned up unannounced the other day and let himself into the back field (obviously looking for us) and if I hadn't seen him and called the dogs off he'd have been mincemeat. In contrast they're great with my 3 year old and when you see them all playing together you wouldn't think they had an agressive bone in their bodies. Infact, I don't think they do, just an instinct to protect their family!

I'll be sleeping with one eye open tonight, if the buggers are daft enough to come back I'll be there to greet them. I don't like not feeling safe in my own home. I've worked so hard to get where I am, who is anybody to try and take it from me?

[little blue]

Well done dogs! 

[doganjo]

Great dogs, you have there, Sam.  I don't have a dog door for mine so they can't get out at night.  Not sure where would be best to have one anyway as my house is bang in the middle of the plot.  The cat flap goes onot the open drive so i wouldn't put it there or they'd be off down the bypass!