Post by sarahs on Jun 18, 2010 19:19:04 GMT -5
Belia is our 6 month old Akbash/Maremma sweetheart, and up until now we have been so happy with her. We've been struggling a bit with her being mouthy (on our hands), wanting to ever so gently get our hands/fingers between her teeth when she's feeling friendly and happy. We have discouraged it every time, with strong "NO!" and hitting her under the chin, and all kinds of discipline, but she doesn't seem to get it, but it has ALWAYS been very gentle.
So now we have a week old calf from our jersey who we separated from her mom at day three. Belia has been overjoyed to have a friend who is her same size to cuddle up with in her stall for the past few nights. Yesterday, I went out in the late morning, a few hours after we fed the calf and found strange scratch marks on her ears with fresh blood still drippy. I assumed it was just that she was trying to get out under the fence the way Belia does and got stuck and scratched herself coming back in.. This morning I went out around the same time, and there was way more scratches and way more blood, mostly around the base of each ear and at the tips. Belia came in with me, and started to take the calf's nose in her mouth, and gently knaw on it. I reprimanded her, and immediately separated them. The funny thing is, the calf didn't seem bothered by Belia at all. But I found no blood anywhere else besides the dog (not around the mouth, but smudges here and there. Also, I saw a raw area on the calf's hind leg, which may have also been chewing by Belia.
Sorry, I'm going into so much detail partly because I was so shocked, I just needed to get it out.
Anyone else have a similar experience. Any ideas or suggestions besides separating the calf and dog completely until the calf is older? It was so sweet to see the two seeming to enjoy eachother's company, ... I'm sad to have to separate them. I know with sheep, they stuff a bunch of wool down the dog's throat until it gags to get it to stop chewing on the lambs...
Sarah
So now we have a week old calf from our jersey who we separated from her mom at day three. Belia has been overjoyed to have a friend who is her same size to cuddle up with in her stall for the past few nights. Yesterday, I went out in the late morning, a few hours after we fed the calf and found strange scratch marks on her ears with fresh blood still drippy. I assumed it was just that she was trying to get out under the fence the way Belia does and got stuck and scratched herself coming back in.. This morning I went out around the same time, and there was way more scratches and way more blood, mostly around the base of each ear and at the tips. Belia came in with me, and started to take the calf's nose in her mouth, and gently knaw on it. I reprimanded her, and immediately separated them. The funny thing is, the calf didn't seem bothered by Belia at all. But I found no blood anywhere else besides the dog (not around the mouth, but smudges here and there. Also, I saw a raw area on the calf's hind leg, which may have also been chewing by Belia.
Sorry, I'm going into so much detail partly because I was so shocked, I just needed to get it out.
Anyone else have a similar experience. Any ideas or suggestions besides separating the calf and dog completely until the calf is older? It was so sweet to see the two seeming to enjoy eachother's company, ... I'm sad to have to separate them. I know with sheep, they stuff a bunch of wool down the dog's throat until it gags to get it to stop chewing on the lambs...
Sarah