Got this text message while I was out earlier. Gary took the photo of one of the dogs and sent it to me. That's Romeo, the adopted stray who's part Catahoula and not as bright as we'd like, but he's showing maturity by not going after the chickens. After Opal tried to take a bite out of Piglet the chicken a few months ago, we've kept the big dogs out of the backyard while the chickens are free. But it rained the other day, and youngest son let out Romeo, having forgotten the chickens were out as well. As soon as it hit us that they were all out, he and I ran to the back door, fully expecting to see a dead chicken. Romeo instead was walking around, minding his own business. Big sigh.
Gary let him out today with the chickens (on a lead) and after a bit, let him go. He circles the chickens like he's herding them, but other than that, just leaves them alone. Mostly he just looks like he's keeping an eye on them. Romeo is very territorial, and it shows. He's such a loud barker that when someone is at the door, no matter that it's one of us who's gone out briefly to get the mail, etc., he's either got a short memory, or is plain stupid. He consistently barks LOUD like he's going to attack. Whatever. We're sometimes pretty lame too.
