Abby’s “misbehaviors” translating to her just preferring larger livestock is beautiful and can teach us all a lesson about utilizing all of our own assets.
It's more a testament to Morgan's flexibility because Abby dog has been a terrible poultry dog, and her personality is much more suited to that of a house dog. Morgan should have re-homed her as a family pet to someone who needed one earlier on, but he really loves her, so he kept her. I feel bad for Toby dog, he's a really good dog, and he doesn't get anywhere near the attention and affection that she gets, and he's a really good pic for this. He does his job, but happy is an attention-seeker, but she's a terrible fit for this farm, Morgan just has figured out a way to make it work because he really likes her.
@@amandaweires you make rehoming sound as easy as a change in diet. It’s not just how the people care for the animals when it comes to the guard dogs. The relationship is symbiotic. Mutually beneficial.
true i trained my puppy from 7 weeks to 1 year but had to give him away cus he kept rejecting me, bit me when i tried petting him and kept stealing my food off my plate even when his bowl was full my last straw was when he shit and pissed on my bed when i left him inside but the worst thing he did was dent my fence to break into the neighbors lawn and fight their dog and he got his ass almost killed
@@whiteguy6401sorry to hear it didn't work out. It ain't always easy, hopefully attempt number 2 might be better, if attempt 2 even happens. No judgement
Kind-of funny, much of your reasoning for getting Abby (except for the breeding) are the same as people deciding to have a second kid...and the results match too!
@@bellepfeiffer3630 Same here. My parents decided not to have any more children after seeing much of a hellion that I turned out to be. Out of curiosity, does the middle child in your family conform to the "forgotten child" stereotype?
@@katschrodinger954 Number 2 - a boy between 2 girls got blamed for most things, however he was a serious piece of work (ADHD almost genius) and did cause a lot of stuff. He did often feel that my sister and I - mostly my sister, were the receivers of more things. So in that sense maybe the forgotten one. I did my best to follow in his footsteps so my parents ended up with a set of twins 6 years apart - lol.
I wonder if Abby's age also made a difference. Seeing footage of tiny puppy Toby, barely bigger than the ducks he was being trained to protect, I wonder if it influenced how he perceived the birds even after he got bigger than them, where as Abby, starting as a bigger pup before being introduced to poultry, might differ. Something to consider if and when you decide on bringing another LGD on the farm.
Isn't that the key to marema dogs? That as pups they grow up with the animals they are to protect, and thus, they bond for life, and all of their instincts to protect and guard are directed to that animal?
Honestly I wonder if the breed lied about introducing Abby to poultry before sending her out since she recommended her be put with cattle. It feels extra sketch when Abby was specifically selected as a poultry dog along with not caring about her genetic defects for breeding.
Raising my daughters was much like raising Toby and Abby. My older daughter is very much like Toby (deep thinking and rational), my younger was very much like Abby (amazing zest for life.) My approach to them had to be very different. They each brought their unique joys to my life. Wish I could do it all over again! ❤️
Yeah, I noticed a ton of Maremas have been abandoned in the Almond orchards. Some might have been bought by bougie families and then decided to dump them because they are not suited to be indoor pets. So if you want Maremas on the cheap, come to Stockton Ca.
@@fianait Sad to see people not showing commitment to their pets. Also seems to show that training a LGD is hard work and not all dogs will take to it quickly.
Abby is a perfect example of dogs being situational learners. It is likely she did well on her farm around the birds she grew up with, but once she was in a new environment with animals she didn’t know, without a lot of guidance in the beginning, and no one effectively reinforcing the rules the way her mother would have, she turned it into playtime. It’s also the same with things like obedience training. Just because a dog knows how to heel, sit, and stay inside your house where most people start training doesn’t mean they’ll understand those skills outside. There are some exceptions to this, some dogs pick things up faster than others, but for the most part situational learning is a steep curve. That being said, you did an amazing job with her. I’m so glad you found a humane yet effective way of communicating with her, and she’s turned into such a great dog because of your hard work, patience, and guidance.
@@JoeyBlogs007 I think there are some great takeaways from Abby’s situation. The number one most important thing is not to wait so long to get a puppy. The first 12 weeks of a puppies life are really, really important for socialization. If Morgan had gotten her at 8 or even 10 weeks she would’ve been a lot easier to desensitize to chickens, and prevent play behavior altogether. Socialization is a lifelong thing, but the first 12 weeks are just too important to pass over. I understand his concerns with her not being vaccinated before that, but in my opinion, it’s worth the risk. Number two is I think a big mistake Morgan made was comparing Abby to Toby all the time. He said it himself, Toby is a one in a million dog, and expecting Abby to pick up on taking care of birds as well as Toby was a bit unrealistic. Every dog is an individual, and constantly comparing one dog to another, especially when you’re focusing too much on their differences, can create unrealistic expectations and frustrations. I’m not saying he did it on purpose, but almost every video with Abby he pointed out how Toby picked up on working with the birds so quickly, and Abby was struggling. When in reality it’s Toby is naturally calmer, more sensitive to corrections, and looking after birds doesn’t come naturally to the majority of LGDs and they take more work desensitizing to them. Toby really is one in a million. Number three, learning about assertiveness levels in dogs is super important. Toby is a more sensitive, less assertive dog so verbal corrections are more aversive to him than to a more assertive dog like Abby. At the first sign of Abby chasing chickens, and the verbal corrections not working effectively, Morgan should have either used a long line to gain physical control over her quickly to stop the behavior, or used the ecollar. This was definitely an important learning process for Morgan, and everyone watching his videos. I’m not talking shit or anything, you don’t know what you don’t know, and to his credit he didn’t give up when someone less patient would have returned her to the breeder or dumped her at the shelter. Abby is an amazing dog in her own right, and that’s all because of Morgan’s willingness to learn, and determination to make it work.
Absolutely. What a great story to show that even if you don’t fit in a box, you can still be successful. Finding a niche that suits you is the important thing. And Morgan never gave up!
Abby has had a lot of amazing moments, but I really do feel like the culminating moment where it was "all worth it" was seeing her cuddle up against the little cow born recently. ❤❤
It sounds like a breeder would have to be able to recognize their personality to match them with the right animals. It seems like some animals need a gentle dog like Toby. Some might need a more stubborn and high energy dog like Abby. She seems to have become a great calf nanny.
It was supposed to work that way but the breeder ended up not being the best. He has some more thorough videos on the subject if you search them but basically the woman he got Abby from ran more of a puppy mill operation than an ethical breeding operation. Abby was bread with genetics that resulted in her having a hernia that needed surgery soon after she arrived to the farm. The breeder knew this, minimized it's significance in all conversations with Morgan, and due to his ignorance he didn't realize how much of an issue it was until after Abby was on the farm. But basically any puppies from Abby would most likely ALSO have this hernia issue and ALSO need to have surgery to fix it early in their lives. He also mentioned that when talking to OTHER breeders, after the fact, they said the hernia issue alone would disqualify her from ethical breeding practices on their farms, yet this breeder in CA not only KNEW about it beforehand but also minimized it. That breeder also went on the war path against Morgan and blog posted an entire fucking thesis on how awful of person/farmer/dog owner Morgan was, which he promptly dismissed and disproved with a few videos. Unfortunately, that breeder also has some sway with the organization in charge of officially licensing dogs for breeding and has stonewalled Toby's application to get his official papers, which will prove to be an issue in the future if Morgan ever decides to try again with another female Maremma. So yea, unfortunately Morgan got involved with a garbage tier human being which has resulted in his livestock guardian dog being less than ideal.
What a great documentary dedicated to Abby. She is a huge asset to you and the farm. But I just adore how Abby embraced the baby calf. It's so damn sweet. She's the perfect babysitter or nanny. And every mom needs a break.
Ahhh, seeing little Abby in her travel vest was sooooo freakin' cute. Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive video, Morgan. An hour and twenty-four minutes is movie theater grade film-making!
I never doubted you would keep Abby. I am of the opinion you should have gotten her much younger so Toby could have been her primary influence early on.
I also think the discipline for the errant dog was too lax. If it was the mother dog as annoyed parent, it would have growled if the child dog behaved badly. Toby was younger when introduced to the farm and I think that might have been a factor influencing adaptation also.
I just want to reiterate, I’m so very proud of you. You researched the hell out of Toby’s mate. You spent really good money to buy the best mate for Toby. You got everyone’s genetic health done. And when you found out Abby had a few genetic issues that you knew you shouldn’t breed onward, you spayed her and refocused her primary job. I know from experience how hard it is to spend several thousand on breeding stock only to realize they shouldn’t be. If only every breeder was as ethical. Question, have you considered importing Toby’s new mate? If the N. American continent’s choices seem to be too closely related to Toby, maybe look overseas? I know German Shepherd and Lab breeders do. Also, I’m envious of their recall. Mine look at me like I’m dumb, and point at the yotes what need eatin. And by yotes, I mean, the neighbors….. Anyway, again, good on you. You’re doing it right.
Also, I see nothing wrong with setting up a remote kennel for her and letting her stay with the cattle. Especially overnight. You’ll need a guardian for your calves. In the daytime everyone gets to visit. At night she’s on duty.
I had never seen the footage from where Abby was born...the trouble you were having makes SO much more sense now. Regardless, Abby is an amazing dog in her own right and I'm so glad she's found a job suited to her personality.
Abby has turned out so great. She is now doing exactly the job that the Maremmanos were born and meant to do: protecting and guarding the herd. Originally it was sheep and goats, but Abby is protective of her beloved Highland cattle, especially the newborn calf 😍. Abby, you are such a sweet girl! Morgan can be infinitely proud of you 😍🥰 Thanks for this great video Morgan. You are a gifted storyteller, I love every single one of your videos and i could watch all day 😅! My favorite storyteller/youtuber/farmer. ❤️ Much love and a BIG THANK YOU 🙏🏼🥰 from Bavaria 🙋🏼♀️
I think she has really found her place amongst the cattle. You have done a good job with her, and especially since you discovered the best way to train her she blossomed even more.
While I've been here from the beginning with Toby and Abby, I greatly enjoyed this small film you did about their life over the years. Great memories; great reminders about Abby's struggles and the contrast between both dogs. Thank you Morgan for putting this together. It really showcased your talents as well---wonderful story telling, good use of historical footage and you did much better than Hollywood at holding my attention. There was never a lull, kept my interest and ended on a high note. Cheers!
Abby's a testament to your persistence and patience and love for her. She hasn't been easy, as a lot of the lessons you've had to learn haven't been, but you've stuck in there, and it does look very much like she's going to work out well with the herd. I have my fingers crossed, but more importantly, I have faith in your determination to set Abby up for success and steer her away from failure.
I always tell parents one of your kids will be super easy and a total delight. The other turns your hair grey. Those are rules. I guess that goes for dogs too.😂
God I hope not because my dog is definitely more Abby, maybe slightly more energetic and playful. If I get another dog who is more energetic and playful than my dog I will love them but 😅
Morgan this was beautifully done, loved seeing ms. Abby from before she arrived to how she has come into her own way with your determination and guidance. Thank you Morgan for sharing this wonderful journey.
Not me over hear getting emotional about a dog’s life story… it was so great to see how far she’s come and I’m grateful you refused to give up on her ❤
Omg Morgan. Im crying this was so incredible. The montage of Abby growing up has me so emotional!! 😭😭😭 thank you for your patience with her! You’re a good dog dad and farmer
It's SO wonderful to see how far Abby has actually come. It's definitely a good idea to use her herding instincts and train her to be a herding-cum -guardian dog. And YOU Morgan have been incredibly patient with her. Thank you so much for not giving up on her. Love you Lady Abbington❤
this video sent me down a rabit hole of gold shaw farm and I gotta say this is my new favorite show lol.. me my daughter and my mom just sat around and watched his videos for the last 6 hours just enjoying the farm animals and his passion for his animals thanks for making this content
I've always had Aussies - just adore them! Each of my dogs had their own specialty- one was calm and delicate enough to gently work ducks, the other brave and quick enough to work cattle well. Each did their own jobs well. My current guy has zero interest in herding but is an amazing snuggler and is shaping up to be an awesome therapy dog and just love loves the elders. Like people, we all have things we are good at. Good Luck Dear Abby
I loved this video. I'm so glad Abby is finding her stride on the farm. I remember feeling so heartbroken when you announced you had her fixed. But, I think she's in a good place now.
Recognizing Abby's strengths and patiently training to bring those out and make her a success...if only every teacher and parent would do that how the world would change!
I know Abby was not the type of dog you expected or wanted, BUT she is exactly what you need. Watching her with the newborn calf is beautiful. She instinctively knows BP is the most vulnerable member of your herd and is keeping a close eye on her. One awesome dog you have there. 😊 Toby dog is awesome too.
If your gonna judge a man’s character judge it on how he treats his dog. I think I love my pups, but you couldn’t get me to make an hour long perfectly shot and edited video on them. God bless, Toby dog is in good hands and I haven’t even watched this video yet and know it’s gonna be good. You gave toby dog a great life and he’s still enjoying it. It warms my heart
Knowing how protective cows are with their calves, I'm a little surprised that Beatrix's mother is so comfortable with Abby's interest in her baby. I think you can trust her instincts. Great vid production, Morgan.
So glad you came around on the "shock" (e-collar). If used correctly they are a valuable tool in some instances. When you said in your video that it was the same as "hittng your dog", I was a bit miffed.. We have a high testosterone (even after his neuter) German Shepherd and a 6 acre un-fenced farmlette - I know, circumstances just worked out that way; and we are slowly getting a fence together. Anyway we didn't want to use an e-collar either, but the trainer explained how to use them correctly. When our dog gets on a scent he looses all awareness of anything else- he is hyper focused on following the smell. He's a bit AD/HD anyway. We use it on the low setting (vibration does nothing for him) that little zap is a way of saying listen up, he looks up at us and is ready for instruction. You do what you have to do to make things work. As the months roll on we use it less and less - maybe a few times a week, but it's nice to know it is there possibly keeping him safe.
She came into her own. You didn't know you needed a guard dog for the cattle, yet, there she was. She found her place, and that's awesome. I've been following you since before Abby came to the farm, and I'm so glad she found her purpose..
Morgan, you've done a fantastic job with Abby. I have a livestock guardian dog (Great Pyrenees), and my girl is a lot like Toby. Stubborn, mellow, and very independent. Being a livestock guardian came very naturally to her. I know a lot of livestock guardian dogs can struggle with poultry, but I can see all the work you've poured into Abby making her a livestock guardian with her high energy personality. I really commend you. I think most people would have just rehomed her as a pet.
This is effectively a feature length documentary Morgan, your storytelling and filmmaking skills are reaching new heights!! You ought to be very proud of this feat ❤ I absolutely loved every minute of it
I’ll be honest, it’s been a while since I checked in with the GSF channel, and last I’d seen things re Duchess Abby still pretty uncertain-she had recently killed Blanche and it was heartbreaking to think that she might fail at the thing she was born to do. Now seeing the recent footage of her cuddling the fresh “surprise” calf (Beatrix?), it’s just the best feeling. It’s so clear now that her personality and instincts are tailor-made for guarding and nurturing mammalian livestock, specifically those which can actually reciprocate her desire to make friends and play. I’m so happy for both of you (-even if a selfish part of me is a bit disappointed that Toby and Abby won’t be producing any cute little polar bear cub-puppies for us to watch grow up 😅). Here’s to many more years of prosperity and pleasant surprises for the GSF and its residents!
1000% agree with your statement about our responsibility as dog owner, proper diet care and not passing them off just because we are having a hard time. MANY people need to hear this!
Most of the time yes, but if you can look at a dog and say "They would be happier in a different environment" rehoming should be a serious consideration when it's the welfare of the animal and not "too much work". My friend had a bulldog he adored, but travelled for work a lot which caused a LOT of bad behavior in the dog, up to and including aggressive behavior. The dog was eventually rehomed to a family with a stay at home parent and the problem behaviors disappeared in a week.
Yeah Abby!!!!! This a long one. Loves me some Abs. Toby is your buddy like Alfred and such a chill dog when not in beastmode. Abby might be your spirit animal a little, you know the ADHD and enjoyment of of the cattle. But still love me some weird chickens. Maybe my spirit animal.😀
the main reason I follow you is because of the way you treat all your animals. I agree that when you take an animal in it's a commitment for the entire life of the animal. you embody everything I believe in the treatment of animals. Your decision to separate Toby and Abby shows just that. Kudos to you!!
YASS -- A feature-length Goldshaw video! Just what my Sat. afternoon needed. 😎But Morgan, you should have *no regrets about Abbykins*! She has turned out to be a great addition to your farm. Your were ethical enough to have her fixed rather than breeding her due to her hernia issues & the cardiomyopathy gene. But despite all the $$ you spend to acquire Abby & even after she had that 1 (& only 1) fatal mishap with a chicken, you did the right thing , kept her spayed her. (And for whatever it's worth, I think she just wanted to play with it & got carried away & accidentally hurt it.) After the passage of time allowed her to mature & you putting the effort in to train her well, a year later, Abby is clam & respectful around the chickens & the other birds. You even opted briefly for a shock collar, which worked well. Best of all, she now shows a great affinity for those enormous Highland cattle of yours! *Abby's gentle behavior toward that unexpected newborn calf, the fact that the mom & the other cattle totally accepted Abby lying next to that newborn -- you can't buy those instincts!* That was all Abby's individual nature. And having Toby as a mentor has helped Abby become a blessing for your farm. So it all worked out for the best. I can't wait to see you find your next female pup so you will actually have the chance to breed Tobykins. And mad props to you & your editor for taking the footage from your old videos & turning it into such a great documentary. But methinks you'll need to buy a Maremma from Europe to get one that meets the right genetic specs & isn't too closely related to Toby. So it's gonna cost a mint, but you & Allison can make a holiday trip out of it. 😁
I got an old girl dog and she just ran 3 miles away on Fourth of July and I saw her driving back from work at my brothers cemetery. Some things are meant to be!
Abby's journey has been interesting. I honestly wasn't sure how she would turn out. I was happy to see how invested you were- and never judged you, because I knew you were doing what was best for Abby. ❤
This video was such a lot of fun to watch Morgan. Seeing your dog's from early ages was adorable, and following your journey with Abby as she has developed was great. She is a wonderful dog and will prove your decision to not give up on her, was the correct one, when she turns into the best darn livestock guardian dog in the county! She has taken to the cattle so well, and her natural instinct to nurture your new calf is awesome to see. I really enjoyed watching her help you when you were herding the cattle. Yes, I foresee.a bright and happy future for Lady Abby, and for all the animals on Gold Shaw farm. They are all safe in your ethical, capable hands and all the efforts you make are of good effect, which shows in how comfortable and content your livestock are and how at peace and filled with joy your livestock guardian dogs are. God bless you, Alison and all the animals on your farm. Have a great rest of your weekend.
Loved being able to watch as Abby dog grew as well as the whole farm. Remembering the changes and growth was a real treat.😊. Thanks for compiling lovely Abby’s journey
I think Abby will eventually find her guardian groove. I personally think you had less issues with Toby because you had him at a very early age, where any came to you already 4 months old and was never trained in even basics, so she will just take a longer time to learn all the things. Overall you've done a great job with her and I believe your patience with her will pay off.
I agree I think he probably should have gotten Abby around 3 months. Honestly I thought the dogs were Great Pyrenees dogs when I saw them until he mentioned the breed they were.
Love Abby and Toby typical siblings second child is usually the one that gives you grey hair 🤣I think the cattle are her niche look at how she is with that calf ❤️
I absolutely LOVED this video and I am so glad you made it. We are about to add one to our homestead and this video answered so many questions I had. Loved to see the journey you had with Abby from the start and how much she has grown and matured. 😊
Morgan, this was such an incredible video. I've said it before and I'll say it over and over, you are wonderful with those dogs and have done a magnificent job with Abby girl.
Even though I've been on this whole ride with you and Abby through the years, this was a good overall presentation and review. I have the utmost respect for you, Morgan, for your pet-owning responsibility and compassion.
Abby is NOT your fault! It's all the same that you had her spade cos of the umbilical cord hernia, cos she does not have the desired traits for a Maremma. That's not to be mean to Abby, she deserves all the love still. You have gone way beyond for her. And as I commented in another short, it seems we have found where Abby shines. With the cattle. But that's not something you want in a Maremma. Anything that is a threat to your cows, the Maremma is probably not gonna be very effective, as it is a smaller breed of livestock guardian. But if it makes Abby feel fulfilled, that's nice. An older dog does help with training, but there's only so much you can do with Abby. From what I have seen, Toby just got annoyed with Abby and her antics. And maybe a little jealous that you have had to spend SO MUCH time on Abby, which means less time for him. I do still think you should breed Toby though. He is perfect (ideal traits), if it wasn't for the fact that he is related to every bloody maremma in North America. 😄 Even Abby, even though her breeder said she wasn't, yeah, I don't like her. She's an A-hole. lol You may have to send Toby's man milk to Italy. lol You can't breed him with a good pyr. Unexpected outcome with ragards to temperament. Even if it's good cos smaller male on female makes not impossible birth. Edit: I am a sucker for those brown eyes and dark pigmented skin on the white fur mask, just like the Pyrenees. ♥ Edit #2: Abby was born around geese, yes? She's always been fine with animals bigger than her. Yes, Cowgirl Abby, it is. lol Toby isn't a 1 in a million livestock guardian Maremma. His traits are the standard you look for. For me growing up with a Pyrenees that wasn't trained for livestock, she still had the temperament you need. It's generally the kind of dogs that will look at you with judging eyes if you try make them do tricks. My mum still tried to do agility with our pyr and that was hilarious. lol The perfect livestock guardian is not supposed to be perfect at obedience when they get older. They're supposed to be independent and rely on their own choices. Like the choices that pyr did by jumping over a fence and attacking coyotes or whatever it was. The dog made that choice, not the owner. The owner did not want that and was out looking for his dog. The dog made the call he did in the situation. He survived luckily. He may have learnt from the experience.
I also think the discipline for the errant dog was too lax. If it was the mother dog as annoyed parent, it would have growled if the child dog behaved badly. Toby was younger when introduced to the farm and I think that might have been a factor influencing adaptation also.
I'm with you. I don't know much about dog breeding but the fact that a 4 month old dog in the breeder's care hadn't already been desensitized to being touched while eating is crazy to me. That's the FIRST thing you train for as soon as a dog is put on solid food! Huge safety hazard to skip this step.
I love with Toby and Abby so much! You are so sweet with them, and I just love to watch you at your farm with all the animals! What a kind heart you and your wife have!
Great video. My girlfriend loved this. Not only did we see Abby's progress, we saw your weight loss progress. I really need to crack down and drop about 70lbs myself.
This was a wonderful story about wonderful Abby Dog! I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Thank you for not giving up on her. It was heartwarming and an inspirational story about loving unconditionally.
Puppies, like kids, often seem to be unique and different from each other. But Abby is worth it 🐕 In the words of an old blues song - "Ain't misbehaving, I'm saving my love for you" 🎶
Thank you very much for the recap of Abby's life on the farm. I didn't remember all of it and it was fun to be reminded of all the cycles you two went through. I think she will be a dog you're very proud of, if not so already. I think the cattle are her animals. Keep up the good work; love your shows.
Abby Dog and Toby Dog are such beautiful, happy, courageous, loving, gorgeous creatures and your love, care and dedication to training the dogs you have and not trying to force them to become the dogs you want is wonderful to see. I very much appreciate the way you pivoted when Abby turned out to be a different temperament and skill set than Toby and found a way to help her fit in and be a part of the farm instead of just throwing her away (metaphorically of course) because she would take much more work, time and patience than Toby.
Yeah, when 2 of your animals are in a conflict, like when Abby was chasing chickens, goal #1 is always keeping anybody from dying. Once that is established, you can deal with the feelings of the offending party (Abby lol). We got extremely lucky, our house dog is terrified of our chickens, so much so that I find I have to keep the chickens (the duck in particular) from bullying the dog 😂
I watched this on my TV so I had to get on my computer to tell you how much I loved it. I had forgotten about the possible health issues for Abby dog but not that she is a first cousin to Toby dog.
This video just reinforces what’s makes you a great animal owner and why I love you. You meet the animals where they are and highlight their skills teach them in a way designed for them rather than trying to fit them into a predesigned box of assumed expectations. You evaluated, assessed, adjusted and thrived. That is what sets you a part from everyone else!
Abbys journey at Goldshaw has definitely been filled with drama and many ups and downs. I had faith it would all work out and it did. Thank you for staying dedicated. ❤
Morgan, I’m glad to hear that you tried out an e-collar for Abby. I once had a big, furry, stubborn dog that benefitted from the introduction of an e-collar as well. It can speed up their understanding what you want.
Abby always seemed to be in a state of trying to find a role on the farm. Toby pretty much had a lot of the work under control. So she's going to look to fill any gaps. It's a simple matter of giving her a job of her own that suits her personality. With all that you've going on, she seems to me (as a viewer) to be finding a nice role. She's an awesome, loyal dog and I think that you will always have a job for her.
We adopted a one-year-old hunting dog from a couple on social media in 2020 after our elderly dogs passed. Scoobie has been a challenge, more so because we live in the city center. However, after two and a half years he is finally calming down. He was more than I knew how to handle, but we've both learned a lot.
Abby’s “misbehaviors” translating to her just preferring larger livestock is beautiful and can teach us all a lesson about utilizing all of our own assets.
🤮
@@mattshaffer5935whats your problem
It's more a testament to Morgan's flexibility because Abby dog has been a terrible poultry dog, and her personality is much more suited to that of a house dog. Morgan should have re-homed her as a family pet to someone who needed one earlier on, but he really loves her, so he kept her. I feel bad for Toby dog, he's a really good dog, and he doesn't get anywhere near the attention and affection that she gets, and he's a really good pic for this. He does his job, but happy is an attention-seeker, but she's a terrible fit for this farm, Morgan just has figured out a way to make it work because he really likes her.
@@amandaweires you make rehoming sound as easy as a change in diet. It’s not just how the people care for the animals when it comes to the guard dogs. The relationship is symbiotic. Mutually beneficial.
@@mattshaffer5935😊😊tyytt ty tythe ty
Training any puppy is hard,setbacks will happen.
Abby has turned into a surprisingly good cattle dog, especially with the new calf.
true i trained my puppy from 7 weeks to 1 year but had to give him away cus he kept rejecting me, bit me when i tried petting him and kept stealing my food off my plate even when his bowl was full my last straw was when he shit and pissed on my bed when i left him inside but the worst thing he did was dent my fence to break into the neighbors lawn and fight their dog and he got his ass almost killed
and me almost sued
@@whiteguy6401 Wow, that dog hated you.
@@whiteguy6401sorry to hear it didn't work out. It ain't always easy, hopefully attempt number 2 might be better, if attempt 2 even happens. No judgement
Almost one hour and a half video that includes snippets from older videos? Damn, i will enjoy this walk down memory lane.
I selfishly want hour+ videos weekly now.😂😂😂
Great film-making here.
Kind-of funny, much of your reasoning for getting Abby (except for the breeding) are the same as people deciding to have a second kid...and the results match too!
Your comment made me spit out my tea! I am that "second child decision". I am Gen X. I am chaotic goodness. :)
I'm waiting for the 3rd dog. Because after 2 kids you think you have it figured out, the third ones break all the rules.
@@oriongemini5663 LOL - I'm an "Extra" - number 3, and yes my poor parents.
@@bellepfeiffer3630 Same here. My parents decided not to have any more children after seeing much of a hellion that I turned out to be. Out of curiosity, does the middle child in your family conform to the "forgotten child" stereotype?
@@katschrodinger954 Number 2 - a boy between 2 girls got blamed for most things, however he was a serious piece of work (ADHD almost genius) and did cause a lot of stuff. He did often feel that my sister and I - mostly my sister, were the receivers of more things. So in that sense maybe the forgotten one. I did my best to follow in his footsteps so my parents ended up with a set of twins 6 years apart - lol.
I wonder if Abby's age also made a difference. Seeing footage of tiny puppy Toby, barely bigger than the ducks he was being trained to protect, I wonder if it influenced how he perceived the birds even after he got bigger than them, where as Abby, starting as a bigger pup before being introduced to poultry, might differ. Something to consider if and when you decide on bringing another LGD on the farm.
Exactly
Isn't that the key to marema dogs? That as pups they grow up with the animals they are to protect, and thus, they bond for life, and all of their instincts to protect and guard are directed to that animal?
Exactly
She was supposed to be introduced to them before he got her...
Honestly I wonder if the breed lied about introducing Abby to poultry before sending her out since she recommended her be put with cattle. It feels extra sketch when Abby was specifically selected as a poultry dog along with not caring about her genetic defects for breeding.
Glad you kept Abby. Smart to have spayed her. She will be a great champion for you Highland fold.
I'm surprised.
Raising my daughters was much like raising Toby and Abby. My older daughter is very much like Toby (deep thinking and rational), my younger was very much like Abby (amazing zest for life.) My approach to them had to be very different. They each brought their unique joys to my life. Wish I could do it all over again! ❤️
i never doubted your commitment to Abby Dog. You have done a great job with her.
Yeah, I noticed a ton of Maremas have been abandoned in the Almond orchards. Some might have been bought by bougie families and then decided to dump them because they are not suited to be indoor pets. So if you want Maremas on the cheap, come to Stockton Ca.
@@knoahbody69Southern Missouri is FULL of abandoned LGDs, as well as many other breeds and mixes. And cats.
@@fianait Sad to see people not showing commitment to their pets. Also seems to show that training a LGD is hard work and not all dogs will take to it quickly.
Abby is a perfect example of dogs being situational learners. It is likely she did well on her farm around the birds she grew up with, but once she was in a new environment with animals she didn’t know, without a lot of guidance in the beginning, and no one effectively reinforcing the rules the way her mother would have, she turned it into playtime.
It’s also the same with things like obedience training. Just because a dog knows how to heel, sit, and stay inside your house where most people start training doesn’t mean they’ll understand those skills outside. There are some exceptions to this, some dogs pick things up faster than others, but for the most part situational learning is a steep curve. That being said, you did an amazing job with her. I’m so glad you found a humane yet effective way of communicating with her, and she’s turned into such a great dog because of your hard work, patience, and guidance.
Abby Discipline seemed a bit lax.
@@JoeyBlogs007 Yeah she was just chasing chickens the breeder did nothing to modify her behavior.
@@knoahbody69 The breeder didn't have chickens
@@JoeyBlogs007 I think there are some great takeaways from Abby’s situation. The number one most important thing is not to wait so long to get a puppy. The first 12 weeks of a puppies life are really, really important for socialization. If Morgan had gotten her at 8 or even 10 weeks she would’ve been a lot easier to desensitize to chickens, and prevent play behavior altogether. Socialization is a lifelong thing, but the first 12 weeks are just too important to pass over. I understand his concerns with her not being vaccinated before that, but in my opinion, it’s worth the risk.
Number two is I think a big mistake Morgan made was comparing Abby to Toby all the time. He said it himself, Toby is a one in a million dog, and expecting Abby to pick up on taking care of birds as well as Toby was a bit unrealistic. Every dog is an individual, and constantly comparing one dog to another, especially when you’re focusing too much on their differences, can create unrealistic expectations and frustrations. I’m not saying he did it on purpose, but almost every video with Abby he pointed out how Toby picked up on working with the birds so quickly, and Abby was struggling. When in reality it’s Toby is naturally calmer, more sensitive to corrections, and looking after birds doesn’t come naturally to the majority of LGDs and they take more work desensitizing to them. Toby really is one in a million.
Number three, learning about assertiveness levels in dogs is super important. Toby is a more sensitive, less assertive dog so verbal corrections are more aversive to him than to a more assertive dog like Abby. At the first sign of Abby chasing chickens, and the verbal corrections not working effectively, Morgan should have either used a long line to gain physical control over her quickly to stop the behavior, or used the ecollar.
This was definitely an important learning process for Morgan, and everyone watching his videos. I’m not talking shit or anything, you don’t know what you don’t know, and to his credit he didn’t give up when someone less patient would have returned her to the breeder or dumped her at the shelter. Abby is an amazing dog in her own right, and that’s all because of Morgan’s willingness to learn, and determination to make it work.
The Abby sticker that you had made describes her perfectly: Chaotic Good.
And I think Abby's story deserves its own book someday.
Perfect! Put my name on one!❤
Absolutely. What a great story to show that even if you don’t fit in a box, you can still be successful. Finding a niche that suits you is the important thing. And Morgan never gave up!
Abby Dog’s New House
You should have had her leashed when you were letting the birds out
Abby has had a lot of amazing moments, but I really do feel like the culminating moment where it was "all worth it" was seeing her cuddle up against the little cow born recently. ❤❤
It sounds like a breeder would have to be able to recognize their personality to match them with the right animals. It seems like some animals need a gentle dog like Toby. Some might need a more stubborn and high energy dog like Abby. She seems to have become a great calf nanny.
Also, I wouldn't trust anyone from Lemoore. It's in one of the worst parts of California. And it's Le more, not Len more.
It was supposed to work that way but the breeder ended up not being the best. He has some more thorough videos on the subject if you search them but basically the woman he got Abby from ran more of a puppy mill operation than an ethical breeding operation. Abby was bread with genetics that resulted in her having a hernia that needed surgery soon after she arrived to the farm. The breeder knew this, minimized it's significance in all conversations with Morgan, and due to his ignorance he didn't realize how much of an issue it was until after Abby was on the farm. But basically any puppies from Abby would most likely ALSO have this hernia issue and ALSO need to have surgery to fix it early in their lives.
He also mentioned that when talking to OTHER breeders, after the fact, they said the hernia issue alone would disqualify her from ethical breeding practices on their farms, yet this breeder in CA not only KNEW about it beforehand but also minimized it. That breeder also went on the war path against Morgan and blog posted an entire fucking thesis on how awful of person/farmer/dog owner Morgan was, which he promptly dismissed and disproved with a few videos.
Unfortunately, that breeder also has some sway with the organization in charge of officially licensing dogs for breeding and has stonewalled Toby's application to get his official papers, which will prove to be an issue in the future if Morgan ever decides to try again with another female Maremma. So yea, unfortunately Morgan got involved with a garbage tier human being which has resulted in his livestock guardian dog being less than ideal.
@@fibblit2394I’m surprised such a shady breeder has some sway.
One dog gets his own book and the other gets her own movie. There has never been a greater dog-keeper than Morgan Gold!
What a great documentary dedicated to Abby. She is a huge asset to you and the farm. But I just adore how Abby embraced the baby calf. It's so damn sweet. She's the perfect babysitter or nanny. And every mom needs a break.
Ahhh, seeing little Abby in her travel vest was sooooo freakin' cute.
Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive video, Morgan.
An hour and twenty-four minutes is movie theater grade film-making!
Yup
Yes! Such a gem in all ways
Its lovley how Aunt Abby has found her passion and purpose so sweet
I never doubted you would keep Abby. I am of the opinion you should have gotten her much younger so Toby could have been her primary influence early on.
I also think the discipline for the errant dog was too lax. If it was the mother dog as annoyed parent, it would have growled if the child dog behaved badly. Toby was younger when introduced to the farm and I think that might have been a factor influencing adaptation also.
The breeder wouldn't send her until 4 months old
@@marleneclough3173 she was wrong to do so.
@marilynmurray3041 yes and to send a pup with a hernia apparently in her stock and it is hereditary!
Abby is adorable and it is great that she is finding her lane. It is also good that Toby has his place and territory too.
I just want to reiterate, I’m so very proud of you. You researched the hell out of Toby’s mate. You spent really good money to buy the best mate for Toby. You got everyone’s genetic health done. And when you found out Abby had a few genetic issues that you knew you shouldn’t breed onward, you spayed her and refocused her primary job. I know from experience how hard it is to spend several thousand on breeding stock only to realize they shouldn’t be. If only every breeder was as ethical.
Question, have you considered importing Toby’s new mate? If the N. American continent’s choices seem to be too closely related to Toby, maybe look overseas? I know German Shepherd and Lab breeders do.
Also, I’m envious of their recall. Mine look at me like I’m dumb, and point at the yotes what need eatin. And by yotes, I mean, the neighbors…..
Anyway, again, good on you. You’re doing it right.
Also, I see nothing wrong with setting up a remote kennel for her and letting her stay with the cattle. Especially overnight. You’ll need a guardian for your calves. In the daytime everyone gets to visit. At night she’s on duty.
I had never seen the footage from where Abby was born...the trouble you were having makes SO much more sense now. Regardless, Abby is an amazing dog in her own right and I'm so glad she's found a job suited to her personality.
Abby has turned out so great. She is now doing exactly the job that the Maremmanos were born and meant to do: protecting and guarding the herd. Originally it was sheep and goats, but Abby is protective of her beloved Highland cattle, especially the newborn calf 😍.
Abby, you are such a sweet girl! Morgan can be infinitely proud of you 😍🥰
Thanks for this great video Morgan. You are a gifted storyteller, I love every single one of your videos and i could watch all day 😅! My favorite storyteller/youtuber/farmer. ❤️
Much love and a BIG THANK YOU 🙏🏼🥰 from Bavaria 🙋🏼♀️
I think she has really found her place amongst the cattle. You have done a good job with her, and especially since you discovered the best way to train her she blossomed even more.
Abby is so Maternal, just look how She treats the new baby cow. I love her 💕
To mammals. Not so much with the birdies 😅
Holy crap... I'm about to go 1:23:45 Gold Shaw Farm this morning? I'm not prepared for this. Let me get my drinks ready.
And snacks!
While I've been here from the beginning with Toby and Abby, I greatly enjoyed this small film you did about their life over the years. Great memories; great reminders about Abby's struggles and the contrast between both dogs.
Thank you Morgan for putting this together. It really showcased your talents as well---wonderful story telling, good use of historical footage and you did much better than Hollywood at holding my attention. There was never a lull, kept my interest and ended on a high note. Cheers!
Abby's a testament to your persistence and patience and love for her. She hasn't been easy, as a lot of the lessons you've had to learn haven't been, but you've stuck in there, and it does look very much like she's going to work out well with the herd. I have my fingers crossed, but more importantly, I have faith in your determination to set Abby up for success and steer her away from failure.
1 hr 23 min ? I'm gonna pause and get my drink & popcorn sorted before I start watching this! 😁👍🍿🥤
I always tell parents one of your kids will be super easy and a total delight. The other turns your hair grey. Those are rules. I guess that goes for dogs too.😂
God I hope not because my dog is definitely more Abby, maybe slightly more energetic and playful. If I get another dog who is more energetic and playful than my dog I will love them but 😅
@@vegasa2067 My older sister was the wild one, I basically sat quietly playing with toys or reading books.
This video is one of your best. Abby is a true asset to your farm and a wonderful, loving dog.
Morgan this was beautifully done, loved seeing ms. Abby from before she arrived to how she has come into her own way with your determination and guidance. Thank you Morgan for sharing this wonderful journey.
Not me over hear getting emotional about a dog’s life story… it was so great to see how far she’s come and I’m grateful you refused to give up on her ❤
I'm really proud of Abby. She has come a long way. I can't wait to see her protecting her cattle and with Toby with the rest of the farm.
Abby saw Dotty as an aggressor to the other chickens. She is very observant to the different behaviors of the chickens. Love her.
Omg Morgan. Im crying this was so incredible. The montage of Abby growing up has me so emotional!! 😭😭😭 thank you for your patience with her! You’re a good dog dad and farmer
It's SO wonderful to see how far Abby has actually come. It's definitely a good idea to use her herding instincts and train her to be a herding-cum -guardian dog.
And YOU Morgan have been incredibly patient with her. Thank you so much for not giving up on her.
Love you Lady Abbington❤
this video sent me down a rabit hole of gold shaw farm and I gotta say this is my new favorite show lol.. me my daughter and my mom just sat around and watched his videos for the last 6 hours just enjoying the farm animals and his passion for his animals thanks for making this content
I've always had Aussies - just adore them! Each of my dogs had their own specialty- one was calm and delicate enough to gently work ducks, the other brave and quick enough to work cattle well. Each did their own jobs well. My current guy has zero interest in herding but is an amazing snuggler and is shaping up to be an awesome therapy dog and just love loves the elders. Like people, we all have things we are good at. Good Luck Dear Abby
I loved this video. I'm so glad Abby is finding her stride on the farm. I remember feeling so heartbroken when you announced you had her fixed. But, I think she's in a good place now.
Recognizing Abby's strengths and patiently training to bring those out and make her a success...if only every teacher and parent would do that how the world would change!
I know Abby was not the type of dog you expected or wanted, BUT she is exactly what you need. Watching her with the newborn calf is beautiful. She instinctively knows BP is the most vulnerable member of your herd and is keeping a close eye on her. One awesome dog you have there. 😊 Toby dog is awesome too.
If your gonna judge a man’s character judge it on how he treats his dog. I think I love my pups, but you couldn’t get me to make an hour long perfectly shot and edited video on them.
God bless, Toby dog is in good hands and I haven’t even watched this video yet and know it’s gonna be good. You gave toby dog a great life and he’s still enjoying it. It warms my heart
Knowing how protective cows are with their calves, I'm a little surprised that Beatrix's mother is so comfortable with Abby's interest in her baby. I think you can trust her instincts. Great vid production, Morgan.
So glad you came around on the "shock" (e-collar). If used correctly they are a valuable tool in some instances. When you said in your video that it was the same as "hittng your dog", I was a bit miffed.. We have a high testosterone (even after his neuter) German Shepherd and a 6 acre un-fenced farmlette - I know, circumstances just worked out that way; and we are slowly getting a fence together. Anyway we didn't want to use an e-collar either, but the trainer explained how to use them correctly. When our dog gets on a scent he looses all awareness of anything else- he is hyper focused on following the smell. He's a bit AD/HD anyway. We use it on the low setting (vibration does nothing for him) that little zap is a way of saying listen up, he looks up at us and is ready for instruction. You do what you have to do to make things work. As the months roll on we use it less and less - maybe a few times a week, but it's nice to know it is there possibly keeping him safe.
Don’t listen to the ‘advice’ or condemnation from people. You do a FANTASTIC job and I find your animals a joy to watch!!!
🦆🐓😻 🐶 ❤️❤️❤️
She came into her own. You didn't know you needed a guard dog for the cattle, yet, there she was. She found her place, and that's awesome. I've been following you since before Abby came to the farm, and I'm so glad she found her purpose..
When you showed the e collar footage, you missed a HUGE opportunity to insert footage of you zapping yourself in the head.😂😂😂
Morgan, you've done a fantastic job with Abby. I have a livestock guardian dog (Great Pyrenees), and my girl is a lot like Toby. Stubborn, mellow, and very independent. Being a livestock guardian came very naturally to her. I know a lot of livestock guardian dogs can struggle with poultry, but I can see all the work you've poured into Abby making her a livestock guardian with her high energy personality. I really commend you. I think most people would have just rehomed her as a pet.
This is effectively a feature length documentary Morgan, your storytelling and filmmaking skills are reaching new heights!! You ought to be very proud of this feat ❤ I absolutely loved every minute of it
What a great video!
A great explanation of Abby's growth into a useful worthy Farm Dog.
It definitely was worth the watch.
I’ll be honest, it’s been a while since I checked in with the GSF channel, and last I’d seen things re Duchess Abby still pretty uncertain-she had recently killed Blanche and it was heartbreaking to think that she might fail at the thing she was born to do.
Now seeing the recent footage of her cuddling the fresh “surprise” calf (Beatrix?), it’s just the best feeling. It’s so clear now that her personality and instincts are tailor-made for guarding and nurturing mammalian livestock, specifically those which can actually reciprocate her desire to make friends and play. I’m so happy for both of you (-even if a selfish part of me is a bit disappointed that Toby and Abby won’t be producing any cute little polar bear cub-puppies for us to watch grow up 😅). Here’s to many more years of prosperity and pleasant surprises for the GSF and its residents!
1000% agree with your statement about our responsibility as dog owner, proper diet care and not passing them off just because we are having a hard time. MANY people need to hear this!
Most of the time yes, but if you can look at a dog and say "They would be happier in a different environment" rehoming should be a serious consideration when it's the welfare of the animal and not "too much work".
My friend had a bulldog he adored, but travelled for work a lot which caused a LOT of bad behavior in the dog, up to and including aggressive behavior. The dog was eventually rehomed to a family with a stay at home parent and the problem behaviors disappeared in a week.
You can feel how much love you have for Abby & Toby
Your love and patience made her right
Toby was a dream dog! Hard act to follow! So glad she is calming down… too bad she wound up not being able to be bred.
Yeah Abby!!!!! This a long one. Loves me some Abs. Toby is your buddy like Alfred and such a chill dog when not in beastmode. Abby might be your spirit animal a little, you know the ADHD and enjoyment of of the cattle. But still love me some weird chickens. Maybe my spirit animal.😀
the main reason I follow you is because of the way you treat all your animals. I agree that when you take an animal in it's a commitment for the entire life of the animal. you embody everything I believe in the treatment of animals. Your decision to separate Toby and Abby shows just that. Kudos to you!!
I have always suspected that you got the cattle primarily so that Abby could have a job she was suited to! 😂😂😂
YASS -- A feature-length Goldshaw video! Just what my Sat. afternoon needed. 😎But Morgan, you should have *no regrets about Abbykins*! She has turned out to be a great addition to your farm. Your were ethical enough to have her fixed rather than breeding her due to her hernia issues & the cardiomyopathy gene. But despite all the $$ you spend to acquire Abby & even after she had that 1 (& only 1) fatal mishap with a chicken, you did the right thing , kept her spayed her. (And for whatever it's worth, I think she just wanted to play with it & got carried away & accidentally hurt it.)
After the passage of time allowed her to mature & you putting the effort in to train her well, a year later, Abby is clam & respectful around the chickens & the other birds. You even opted briefly for a shock collar, which worked well. Best of all, she now shows a great affinity for those enormous Highland cattle of yours! *Abby's gentle behavior toward that unexpected newborn calf, the fact that the mom & the other cattle totally accepted Abby lying next to that newborn -- you can't buy those instincts!* That was all Abby's individual nature. And having Toby as a mentor has helped Abby become a blessing for your farm. So it all worked out for the best.
I can't wait to see you find your next female pup so you will actually have the chance to breed Tobykins. And mad props to you & your editor for taking the footage from your old videos & turning it into such a great documentary. But methinks you'll need to buy a Maremma from Europe to get one that meets the right genetic specs & isn't too closely related to Toby. So it's gonna cost a mint, but you & Allison can make a holiday trip out of it. 😁
AWWWWW...ABBY IS SUCH A SWEETHEART!! THANKS, MORGAN, FOR SHARING THIS UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS OF HER BECOMING ALL THAT SHE CAN BE. 🥰
I got an old girl dog and she just ran 3 miles away on Fourth of July and I saw her driving back from work at my brothers cemetery. Some things are meant to be!
Abby's journey has been interesting. I honestly wasn't sure how she would turn out. I was happy to see how invested you were- and never judged you, because I knew you were doing what was best for Abby. ❤
This video was such a lot of fun to watch Morgan. Seeing your dog's from early ages was adorable, and following your journey with Abby as she has developed was great. She is a wonderful dog and will prove your decision to not give up on her, was the correct one, when she turns into the best darn livestock guardian dog in the county! She has taken to the cattle so well, and her natural instinct to nurture your new calf is awesome to see. I really enjoyed watching her help you when you were herding the cattle. Yes, I foresee.a bright and happy future for Lady Abby, and for all the animals on Gold Shaw farm. They are all safe in your ethical, capable hands and all the efforts you make are of good effect, which shows in how comfortable and content your livestock are and how at peace and filled with joy your livestock guardian dogs are. God bless you, Alison and all the animals on your farm. Have a great rest of your weekend.
Loved being able to watch as Abby dog grew as well as the whole farm. Remembering the changes and growth was a real treat.😊. Thanks for compiling lovely Abby’s journey
Abby has gotten so much better lately especially with the cattle
I think Abby will eventually find her guardian groove. I personally think you had less issues with Toby because you had him at a very early age, where any came to you already 4 months old and was never trained in even basics, so she will just take a longer time to learn all the things. Overall you've done a great job with her and I believe your patience with her will pay off.
**Abby, not any**
I agree I think he probably should have gotten Abby around 3 months. Honestly I thought the dogs were Great Pyrenees dogs when I saw them until he mentioned the breed they were.
Love Abby and Toby typical siblings second child is usually the one that gives you grey hair 🤣I think the cattle are her niche look at how she is with that calf ❤️
I absolutely LOVED this video and I am so glad you made it. We are about to add one to our homestead and this video answered so many questions I had. Loved to see the journey you had with Abby from the start and how much she has grown and matured. 😊
Morgan, this was such an incredible video. I've said it before and I'll say it over and over, you are wonderful with those dogs and have done a magnificent job with Abby girl.
Even though I've been on this whole ride with you and Abby through the years, this was a good overall presentation and review. I have the utmost respect for you, Morgan, for your pet-owning responsibility and compassion.
Abby is NOT your fault! It's all the same that you had her spade cos of the umbilical cord hernia, cos she does not have the desired traits for a Maremma. That's not to be mean to Abby, she deserves all the love still. You have gone way beyond for her. And as I commented in another short, it seems we have found where Abby shines. With the cattle. But that's not something you want in a Maremma. Anything that is a threat to your cows, the Maremma is probably not gonna be very effective, as it is a smaller breed of livestock guardian. But if it makes Abby feel fulfilled, that's nice. An older dog does help with training, but there's only so much you can do with Abby. From what I have seen, Toby just got annoyed with Abby and her antics. And maybe a little jealous that you have had to spend SO MUCH time on Abby, which means less time for him.
I do still think you should breed Toby though. He is perfect (ideal traits), if it wasn't for the fact that he is related to every bloody maremma in North America. 😄 Even Abby, even though her breeder said she wasn't, yeah, I don't like her. She's an A-hole. lol You may have to send Toby's man milk to Italy. lol You can't breed him with a good pyr. Unexpected outcome with ragards to temperament. Even if it's good cos smaller male on female makes not impossible birth.
Edit: I am a sucker for those brown eyes and dark pigmented skin on the white fur mask, just like the Pyrenees. ♥
Edit #2: Abby was born around geese, yes? She's always been fine with animals bigger than her. Yes, Cowgirl Abby, it is. lol Toby isn't a 1 in a million livestock guardian Maremma. His traits are the standard you look for. For me growing up with a Pyrenees that wasn't trained for livestock, she still had the temperament you need. It's generally the kind of dogs that will look at you with judging eyes if you try make them do tricks. My mum still tried to do agility with our pyr and that was hilarious. lol The perfect livestock guardian is not supposed to be perfect at obedience when they get older. They're supposed to be independent and rely on their own choices. Like the choices that pyr did by jumping over a fence and attacking coyotes or whatever it was. The dog made that choice, not the owner. The owner did not want that and was out looking for his dog. The dog made the call he did in the situation. He survived luckily. He may have learnt from the experience.
Essentially no- and I don't think he either said that or implied it. That being said, his error was assuming she would be a clone of Toby.
@@saraschneider6781 which is proof that maybe morgan isn't quite ready yet to breed dogs lawl
I also think the discipline for the errant dog was too lax. If it was the mother dog as annoyed parent, it would have growled if the child dog behaved badly. Toby was younger when introduced to the farm and I think that might have been a factor influencing adaptation also.
I'm with you. I don't know much about dog breeding but the fact that a 4 month old dog in the breeder's care hadn't already been desensitized to being touched while eating is crazy to me. That's the FIRST thing you train for as soon as a dog is put on solid food! Huge safety hazard to skip this step.
Bad breeder but great dog both ya fur babies are awesome
Hi Morgen I think you doing a good job you open to learn and I think that important 😊
I love watching your videos lot’s of love from Switzerland
I love with Toby and Abby so much! You are so sweet with them, and I just love to watch you at your farm with all the animals! What a kind heart you and your wife have!
Great video. My girlfriend loved this. Not only did we see Abby's progress, we saw your weight loss progress.
I really need to crack down and drop about 70lbs myself.
This was a wonderful story about wonderful Abby Dog! I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Thank you for not giving up on her. It was heartwarming and an inspirational story about loving unconditionally.
I think that's the coolest video you have ever done. Thanks. It's great to see someone advocating for collars that work and don't hurt the animal.
Puppies, like kids, often seem to be unique and different from each other. But Abby is worth it 🐕
In the words of an old blues song - "Ain't misbehaving, I'm saving my love for you" 🎶
Looking good, Morgan! Seeing old footage next to new footage, you can really see the weight loss. Keep it up man!
Both your dogs are so sweet! Can't resist those early puppy faces!
Thank you very much for the recap of Abby's life on the farm. I didn't remember all of it and it was fun to be reminded of all the cycles you two went through. I think she will be a dog you're very proud of, if not so already. I think the cattle are her animals. Keep up the good work; love your shows.
Abby Dog and Toby Dog are such beautiful, happy, courageous, loving, gorgeous creatures and your love, care and dedication to training the dogs you have and not trying to force them to become the dogs you want is wonderful to see.
I very much appreciate the way you pivoted when Abby turned out to be a different temperament and skill set than Toby and found a way to help her fit in and be a part of the farm instead of just throwing her away (metaphorically of course) because she would take much more work, time and patience than Toby.
Yeah, when 2 of your animals are in a conflict, like when Abby was chasing chickens, goal #1 is always keeping anybody from dying. Once that is established, you can deal with the feelings of the offending party (Abby lol). We got extremely lucky, our house dog is terrified of our chickens, so much so that I find I have to keep the chickens (the duck in particular) from bullying the dog 😂
😂
A nice walk down memory lane. You definitely have the material for the companion volume to Toby Dog of Gold Shaw Farm
I mean, she's a chaotic farm legend.😂😂😂
I lost track of your farm and was wondering how Abby is doing. So glad you made this video. Love to all farm members❤
Great movie - better than most full length documentaries. Probably because the star is a dog - two dogs - that we love! Cheers from Denmark!
I know this video is about Abby. But I just gotta say that it is absolutely impossible for Toby Dog to be any more adorable.
I watched this on my TV so I had to get on my computer to tell you how much I loved it. I had forgotten about the possible health issues for Abby dog but not that she is a first cousin to Toby dog.
This video just reinforces what’s makes you a great animal owner and why I love you. You meet the animals where they are and highlight their skills teach them in a way designed for them rather than trying to fit them into a predesigned box of assumed expectations. You evaluated, assessed, adjusted and thrived. That is what sets you a part from everyone else!
You are a great storyteller! Didnt expect to be intrigued for 1,5h but you did an awesome job on the vid and the dog! Great content! ❤
Abbys journey at Goldshaw has definitely been filled with drama and many ups and downs. I had faith it would all work out and it did. Thank you for staying dedicated. ❤
Thank you for this fascinating video. You did an excellent job telling Abby's story. She will be awesome with the cattle.
I love that you gave Abby a chance 💛💛💛
Thank you for sharing.
You are a good dad.
It took awhile, but Abby Girl found her niche with the cattle.
I loved this video. It’s about trial and errors but most importantly love and GROWTH. Thank you.
Morgan, I’m glad to hear that you tried out an e-collar for Abby. I once had a big, furry, stubborn dog that benefitted from the introduction of an e-collar as well. It can speed up their understanding what you want.
Abby always seemed to be in a state of trying to find a role on the farm. Toby pretty much had a lot of the work under control. So she's going to look to fill any gaps. It's a simple matter of giving her a job of her own that suits her personality. With all that you've going on, she seems to me (as a viewer) to be finding a nice role. She's an awesome, loyal dog and I think that you will always have a job for her.
We adopted a one-year-old hunting dog from a couple on social media in 2020 after our elderly dogs passed. Scoobie has been a challenge, more so because we live in the city center. However, after two and a half years he is finally calming down. He was more than I knew how to handle, but we've both learned a lot.
This video warmed my heart. You are so patient and loving with Abby.
right at the very end, she came out and that was blindingly good and sweet, along with your laughter of enjoyment. cheers