Louie Kisses

I'm sure all ranches have their own special ranch dogs, but how many of those dogs give kisses to everyone they meet??  Louie has appointed himself the official greeter at Blue Fountain Farm.  Here's a shortened version of Louie's story.....

I found Louie at the shelter in Grass Valley in October - he had been abandoned with a couple of other dogs at a  house in Nevada City.  He is most likely all or mostly Anatolian Shepherd.  He was lying quietly in his enclosure while all around him there was mass chaos, with dogs barking and people moving from pen to pen to see which dog they wanted to take home.  As soon as I saw him, I knew I needed to have him, even though I wasn't the one who was looking for a dog that day........ what can I say........ sometimes you just know that things are meant to be.

It was obvious when he arrived that he'd never been around horses or other large animals in his year and a half or so of life.  He jumped a mile high when he heard a horse whinny!  Well, since he had no bad connotations connected with these big animals, he has decided to be friends with everyone, man and beast.  He's very curious, and goes up to everyone and everything...........with the exception (thankfully) of a snake.  This is as close as he would come to it............

He loves kids - like little Aurora, who comes weekly for her lessons........

As seen in the very first photo, he really loves the cows.  At first the calves came over to the fence, and he kissed them, then big mama came over to make sure everything was OK.........

And this calf looks like he's saying, "My, what big teeth you have!"

Louie loves to follow Rhea and Beaver on their rounds (see the blog on them dated April 10th). 

Here he's communing with "Lil Beaver.

   and he and Rhea are checking in with each other...........

He met "Beetle" the Shetland sheep ewe, and soon........

they were telling each other their most special secrets.

He even gets along well with Alexandria, the princess house kitty...

Louie is a fun-loving dog with many talents - such as leading horses

and playing imaginary games with his toys...........

In his short time here at the ranch, Louie has endeared himself to all around him, and, like many of my photographic subjects, I have many more photos than I would put up here.   He's quite the character - I always wonder what he's going to be up to next...........