• Rose Thorne(She/Her)@lemmy.zip
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    23 days 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.

    • Stamets@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
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      23 days ago

      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.

      Well I can’t get one because the fucker would try to wedge itself between my brain and the bottom of my skull

      • cynar@lemmy.world
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        23 days 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
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          23 days 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

      • Rose Thorne(She/Her)@lemmy.zip
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        23 days 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.

    • Annoyed_🦀 @lemmy.zip
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      23 days 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(She/Her)@lemmy.zip
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        23 days 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.