"Are you really going to die, to save a sheep?
“Someone is”
Comment on Woof is dog for "You may test that assumption at your convenience"
Rose_Thorne@lemmy.zip 16 hours ago
Herd dogs were bred to protect the herd. While many may show a more gentle demeanor most days, when the time comes, they are absolute machines.
Funnily enough, I live close to DeKalb. Great Pyrenees are one of the more common herd dogs around here, and are a great example of gentle giants that will crush throats. They adopt just about anything smaller than they are, treat anything they see as their territory, and are known for tracking coyotes for miles just to exterminate them all for fucking with their stock.
It doesn’t end with their herd, either. They can be highly responsive to their owners. You start showing any signs of tension, they will put themselves between you and whatever is bothering you.
Know_not_Scotty_does@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Rose_Thorne@lemmy.zip 11 hours ago
That’s another terrifying thing about when they’re on the hunt. They have been found in near-death states, still fighting.
So sometimes that “someone” is everyone involved.
psx_crab@lemmy.zip 5 hours ago
and are known for tracking coyotes for miles just to exterminate them all for fucking with their stock.
“It was just a fucking sheep!”
“you can either hand over the perpetrator, or you can die screaming alongside them!”
Rose_Thorne@lemmy.zip 4 hours ago
There is no choice. There is only kill.
I am not kidding when I say they are akin to a Terminator. Their only thought is to eliminate the threat until there is no threat left. Rip and tear, until it is done.
curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 15 hours ago
They can be highly responsive to their owners. You start showing any signs of tension, they will put themselves between you and whatever is bothering you.
When we watch my sisters dog, my wife has to use a vibrating collar for the dog. He reacts to everything as a potential threat to her, and that ramps up with my kids being there.
If its just me walking him, he tends to just be a roaming doofus. If I add in our (little and much older) dog, he’s fine until the moment our dog reacts.
Its actually extremely wild to me just how responsive they are to those around them.
eestileib@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 hours ago
They’re also not deferential or clingy like a lot of dogs (and honestly, why a lot of people want a dog).
Pyrs/Maremmas have a job to do and they don’t want to sit around being scratched while staring into your eyes.
Stamets@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 hours ago
Well I can’t get one because the fucker would try to wedge itself between my brain and the bottom of my skull
EldritchFeminity@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 hours ago
Well, do I have a fun fact for you then: Cheetahs are such anxious and easily stressed animals that zoos consistently failed to set up breeding programs until somebody had a bright idea and paired up a cheetah cub with a golden retriever puppy to be raised together.
Growing up with a lifelong friend in such a chill and loving dog breed allows them to live a lot less anxiously, and has been so successful with keeping cheetahs happy and healthy that the practice has been adopted all over the place.
Dogs are full of love and want to help, even if that’s by simply existing in the same space as you.
cynar@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
That’s a trick many/most breeds of dog can pull off. It’s amazing how well a wet nose, and a slobbery smile shoved in your face can break a bad cycle.
There’s a reason they are used as emotional support animals so often. They can guard us from ourselves almost as well as this dog did the sheep from coyotes.
FordBeeblebrox@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
My dog is usually a chaos demon but if you’re feeling particularly down she will grab one of her toys and keep pushing it into your hands until you play with her as a distraction. Dogs are incredibly emotionally sensitive and empathetic and sometimes that wet snuffling nose is the only thing that gets me out of bed
xylol@leminal.space 13 hours ago
Unless you just gave birth apparently. I guess its common for new mothers to get extremely agitated by their beloved dogs for any noise or sound they make
Rooster326@programming.dev 6 hours ago
…It’s common for new mothers to get extremely agitated at… Everything
You would be too, caring for a new born is fucking exhausting.
cynar@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
It’s often one way or the other. “Get away from me!”, or “more babies!” Pregnancy hormones do a complete number on the mother. That’s before having a parasite attached to you near 24/7, demanding your attention, day or night!
Interestingly, her pheromones can do a similar job on any males around her (both human and dog). That was an interesting surprise.