It's Alive! Anatolian Shepherds and Spring Blooms (finally) in Seattle.

Some photos shot last weekend during a reprieve from the weather. Blooms and foliage have been a long time coming, but proving that the Pacific Northwestern United States spring eternal!<br /><br /><br /><br />By the way, that polar bear posing as a lazy dog is Sitka, our rescued Anatolian Shepherd dog. Anatolians are a flock-guarding breed and very serious about their work. They have been bred through the last millenium to work independently of human shepherds and are known to become bonded to sheep and goats, even sleeping amongst them. <br /><br />Anatolian Shepherds have exceptionally good hearing and are said to "hear things before they happen." This attribute helps, of course, in the protection of flocks from wolves and coyotes and Sitka is reputed to have several kills while working a ranch in Idaho (as we understand it). <br /><br />She was injured (we believe she was hit by a truck because she hates diesel pick-ups) at age four and after a year rehabilitating in foster care, we adopted her. She has become bonded to her new flock of tres_arboles. Ever protective, she does a nice job of minding the yard from all comers, including a pack of fierce racoons that are always looking to break into my garbage for a salmon offal treat.<br /><br />Sitka was born to a litter of Anatolians in Oregon, where I know she had at least one brother. If anyone happens to read this post and knows anything about her life before going to work in Idaho, please drop me an email address so I can connect. Also, please visit the National Anatolian Dog Rescue link at the right side of this page!<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ThreeTreeJournal/~4/282373364" height="1" width="1" />