u/Clean_Possibility_56

Barbara and Walter are my families dogs, helping to run our family farm in Virginia. They keep the deer at bay and impressive barks keep questionable parties away. Walter draws attention wherever he goes because of his size, two-hundred plus, he is well socialized and excellent in crowds with a kind temperament. This breed will generally tolerate anything and are easily trained. The English Mastiff breed is my favorite for all these reasons and more!

Barbados Black Belly Ewe and their dorper mixed lambs enjoying the tall summer grass.

Barbara, age 11 months, sitting on her brother Walter who is 1 year, 8 months.

And this doesn't include what I picked yesterday and all last week... I have canned, I have dried, I have frozen... need more tomato ideas that don't include tomato sauce or salsa.

My two Great Pyrenees are LGD for my sheep, watching and guarding against a mid-level predator load.. coyotes mostly, fox (isn't as concerning), local free roaming dogs, and chance for a bear once a year.

The problem isn't the predator load, it's the bugs! My GP's are brother and sister. My male doesn't have fur covering the skin leading to his nose. This exposed skin is perfect for insects bites. In the summer, gnats bite him in this area and the bites are itchy so he rubs his nose, which makes it bleed... which attracts flies, which make him rub his nose more... which makes his nose bleed more and it just goes downhill from there.

I have tried to protect his nose with Vaseline, Swat, Equiderma wound care, among other ointments to no avail. Recently I tried Desitin because it works well for my white horse when he has a bug bite. It's definitely a better ointment than what I've been trying. I am wondering if anyone else has the same issues with their GP and if so what are you doing to help protect their nose from the most vicious predators, insects!

Photos included for reference.

One week old lambs with my great Pyrenees playing babysitter.

Lambs are dorper blackbelly cross.

Belle and Sebastian watching one week old twin lambs this morning(dorper blackbelly mix). This is their first lambing where I left them with the ewes and they did an amazing job. Great Pyrenees are amazing, versatile dogs!

White dorper Barbados Black Belly cross born on Saturday

I know horse racing isn't for everyone but as a horse family it was a bucket list item we've been saving to do for many years. We finally got to go this weekend. With the first female trainer to win the derby, I thought this picture was appropriate as my 28 year old daughter placed a bet alone without anyone to help her.