Winston the Working Dog

I am so sad to share with you all that Winston, our Great Pyrenees Livestock Guard Dog has passed away. 

Winston was such a fantastic dog - a kind and gentle soul. Winston's job here at the farm was to guard our sheep from predators - mostly coyotes who are a continual source of anguish and loss of life here at our farm. He slept outside, mostly during the day. At night, he patrolled our fields, barking constantly to keep the coyotes away from our sheep. 

Our Border Collies Ness and Kate are here for a different reason - to herd our sheep. The two breeds of dogs are so different - their personalities, their demeanor. It is really amazing to live with such fine animals who are still doing what their breeds were developed to do. 

Winston arrived with his brother Archie in November of 2011. You can see more photos of them as young boys here. In fact you all helped to name the two boys and some of you even donated to the fund that helped to pay for the pups. Sadly we found Archie dead one day when he was just a year old. 

Winston's purpose here at our farm was to guard our sheep from the coyotes. That is what his breed - the Great Pyrenees has done for over 14,000 years. 

Winston did an excellent job for 4 years - we barely lost an animal when he was on the top of his game. A few months ago, we noticed a swelling in one of his front knees. We had the vet check him over - thinking it was a fracture or something. On the vet's second visit, she mentioned the possibility of bone cancer since it is so common in large dogs. Winston lived on through the summer guarding the sheep, barking all night long. 

Last week, I could tell his time had come. I sat with him outside for several evenings, petting his thick coat, making him feel like the special guy we was. I tearfully called Amy, our vet, and she put him to rest. Mark dug a giant hole with the bucket of the tractor and we laid him in and covered him with brown soil. Winston is next to Paisley and Phoebe, two of our working Border Collies. 

I remember when we first got Winston and Archie. We were told not to socialize with them nor make them part of the family. The sheep were their charges. Winston took care of the sheep in his own gentle way and still was part of our family. I love this selfie I took of him and me one snowy winter day. After the photo, he knocked me over in the snow and I lay there laughing. Such a lovable, sweet gentle dog even if he weighed 170 pounds. It's a good thing the coyotes didn't know that his bark was way worse than his bite. 

It's an end of the Winston era here at Leyden Glen Farm. Thank you Big, Beautiful Boy of Mine. We all miss you. XO