HB & Kesa from Ina

[Garden_girl]

Ina would like me to post this (she didn't like 1/2 of my answer, lol). For those of you that don't know Ina, her two Newfs get to lead a life of 'free spiritedness'. They spend a lot of their time outdoors hiking with Ina and hunting (of sorts). Aging HB (10 years old) has quite the prey drive, Kesa (3 years old) doesn't. Here goes...

Ok,,when HB was a 3 yr old..she had already..some 'kills'..under her belt..as a single dog here. Possum, coon, squirrels,and pheasants, and fox and kit..which run away..we now have..as we did about a year and a half ago..a coyote who is..pretty brave. Kesa sits down and faces it..sometimes stands..but will not challenge it. HB was with us on a short-hike yesterday, dogs are staring at the same spot about half a block away..Coyote! HB is getting her hackles up..and staring..Kesa is watching..and I yell at it..it keeps coming..only watching a ..sitting Kesa. HB..barrels into chase mode..it sees 2 after it..and runs..none too fast..off into the other hayfield..and HB is lost in grasses as I scream at Kesa to come back. She does..then I realize HB is going to get killed by self..if situation stays..as it is..and yell for Kesa to..come back..and I go charging after the C and HB..yelling. Before I hit the grasses..HB has figured out she is alone..and she comes running back to us..no coyote trailing..thank heavens. So..it seems I should keep HB from getting into battle..even if Kesa joins her..because she'd prob. die..from the effort. Kesa..needs to learn to kill..and thus far..is a ..Ferdinand the bull from children's story of yesteryear. There may come a moment..before son the second arrives to work on some farm stuff..at which time he will..dispatch..the coyote...but during which..both dogs..'wade into' the coyote. HBs skills would show Kesa..how its done..and yet..is her having the glory..as she sees it..of Battle On..worth her getting killed..over exerted? I am..thinking not..and hope she..from yesterdays little adventure..will realize she is not up to her old skills..and..hang-back.. I tread a line here..and will not actively..let a battle happen..and yet..it may come a time..when it is..out of my hands. She looks at me..with truly..sad eyes..on the trips where I daily take Kesa out for the long hikes..she knows..she is..left behind..even though I love on her bunches..before and after. Ok..gotta go stock up on assorted bedding and kibble stuff..

Then.....

see wot others think..as I am certain others in the newfy groups..have faced such a concern..with an aging hunting girl. hugs and thanks, ina

 

[Garden_girl]

I think she misses Newf Net. I do send her all of the replies from the Mother's Day thread, but I didn't want to post this in that thread. This is probably the proper forum, though not necessarily an obedience issue. How do you stop an aging dog from doing what they like to do best or DO you stop an aging dog from doing what they like to do best?

Maybe..given that I can deal with all sorts of..personalities..you put my email 'out' to the most of those were kind enough to leave comments on the thread I guess is going on? That way I can visit..in my misspelled..wordblock fashion..with any who wish. Thanks for the perspectives..and yes..I do want to cuddle her close..as long as can..I like to think HB has helped..raise me... more hugs and love and..Thanks Paula! ina

Lol, wordblock, yup, that's about right. She knows I like paragraphs, lol.

 

[Jeannie]

I think she misses Newf Net.

There is no one keeping her from NN except herself. She is welcome anytime.

 

[Angela]

It was Ina's choice not to come here any more guys, no one elses.

 

[BoundlessNewfs]

I know Lucy wasn't "aging" in the time sense, but physically, she was NOT up to any of the young dog shenanigans. I did try to "discourage" her from doing things that I thought would leave her gasping for air, but in the end I decided to let her be the judge of what she could or could not do. If she died playing with Maggie in the snow, or chasing a deer from the yard, then she died doing something that gave her pleasure.

In the end, it turned out, her organs finally shut down on her, and we had to help her cross the bridge. It wasn't an activity that stopped her.

 

[Bella and Gabe]

I'm not an expert by any means, but my heart tells me and in agreement with Laurel, that while I'd try to curb too much stress beyond HB's ability to live as she was once able, I also wouldn't want to deny completely that which gives her the joie de vie that she's thrived on. I liken it in my mind to my dear grandpa. He dropped dead of a heart attack while working in his garden. Sure, we could have insisted he no longer do that type of physical labor, but sitting in a chair soas to "take care of himself" would have killed him sooner. I mourned the loss of my grandpa terribly, but there was some comfort in how he died knowing he loved what he was doing rather than the death of grandma, who died of cancer and suffered and couldn't do that which she loved to be doing.

Maybe that is simplistic but that's just how I feel.

 

[Tula]

Could she try walking her on a long lead, thus allowing her freedom, but being able to get control if danger / coyote is near? Kim

P.S. I've wondered where Ina was.

 

[Joy]

Kentucky coyotes are extreme cowards, and any cow will chase them from the field. On summer nights at the farm, Hot Rod and Hully Gully chase the coyotes into the woods, come back to the porch until they hear the howling, and then go at it again. I have read that coyotes and dogs respect each others' territories somewhat. Let HB continue to be Ina's "security detail" and chase those cowardly coyotes who dare cross her land. HB knows she has back-up, even though she won't need it. Go Ina!!

 

[Popcorn]

Coyotes are nothing to be trifled with, Ina, at least where I live. Here, they hunt in packs. A friend of mine almost lost her German shephard to a pack that would troll her backyard (and harass her child and her babysitter). They gather around the single dog, and make attacks from all sides. The dog must circle around to defend itself from all sides and eventually gets dizzy and exhausted. My friend's dog was almost eviscerated and nearly died before the husband returned and scared them off with a gun.

Another tactic is a single coyote will come and approach the house dog and act friendly. The coyote plays a bit with the dog, then let's itself be chased by the dog, in play, out into the woods. There awaits the rest of the pack. The lone dog meets it's fate. These are big dogs, but the numbers are not in their favor.

Of course, small dogs in people's yards are often filched for a snack by a single coyote.

I've had four newfs. The 3 females were all great about standing their ground against black bear, other dogs, etc. We never had an encounter with coyotes ourselves.

My male, the biggest newf I've owned, shows a complete lack of courage towards bear or even other big dogs. He tends to fear bark and run behind me. He doesn't join my elderly female as she stands her ground against black bear.

What can I say? The spirit to defend, be brave and stand ground are probably inborn. I don't think that can be taught to Kesa. Yes, HB could teach Kesa what to do in terms of technique in terms of a fight or a chase-off. But if Kesa is not even packing = up and joining the charge towards the coyote ... it's a non-starter.

And would I let a brave, lone, aging Newf whose spirit outmatches her strength ... fight a coyote on her own? I would not. Yes, it may happen and the results are ... life. But I would be putting some reasonable effort to prevent HB from doing this since she doesn't have the crucial "back-up."

 

[pabusinesswoman]

I've been think about Ms. Ina a lot lately. I hope the cancer treatments are going well too.

It will be interesting to see what other folks say here.

I hope she carries a pistol on her hikes just incase things got hairy. Even if she shot it in the air, it would hopefully scare the coyote enough help to give her time to try to get a clearer shot or get HB to safety.

The long line would work, but I don't see Ina using a long line for some reason.

We had a similar problem with my Chow and it was one of the few instances I broke down and purchased a shock collar. She knew her recalls and was normally fine. I would be outside working, would see a rabbit or a squirrel. Most days you could call her off but there was always that once in a blue moon that you could scream your head off and you might as well talk to the wall. She wasn't listening to anything you were saying.

We had one instance in which she ran across the fields (probably about 3/4 of a mile before getting to the road) full force and went straight across the road. She was almost hit. At that point, I knew I needed to do something for those few times she did not listen. It still gave the freedom for regular walks and hikes, but gave me some back up.

****Though I do not promote the use of shock collar for regular usage (please hold the flaming), she was one that it literally helped to save her life when she tried to chase another squirrel another time. Kayra lived to age 11 and I only had to use the collar 2-3 times her entire life, but it was there incase of emergency.

Kayra was very hard headed, but I loved her to pieces. She remindes me a lot of your description of HB. Sadie sounds alot like Kesa. I would be afraid a coyote would put a hurtin' Sadie on her before she tried to fight back even if she was there trying to help Kayra. Her personality is just not that of a hunter or fighter.

 

[Windancer]

I think Kessa will step up to the plate if needed,,so far she has had HB in the fore.

 

[Erika]

Oh Ina .....thats 1 special woman.