Meet the Pack

Introductions in order of when they came to the farm. That way I can’t be accused of playing favorites.

Cocoa

The first “farm dog” we ever brought home was Cocoa. We got her as a puppy for our kids because our other dogs were already old when we moved to the farm. We think she’s a mountain cur mix. She is seriously the best behaved dog I’ve ever met in my life. She listens better than any dog we’ve ever had. She’s incredibly gentle. She’s mothered multiple semi feral kittens. She absolutely loves children and let’s them wallow her without ever getting annoyed. If the kids are outside, she stays with them wherever they go. If we could clone her, we would. Other names she goes by…Loco, Cokins, Longshanks.

Chudo

The next dog to join our pack was Chudo. She was just a tiny little ball of fluff when she came home. Chudo is half karakachan and half Aussie. I would not recommend this combination for most homes, but it worked for us. Her full name, Chudovishte, is Bulgarian (karakachans are from Bulgaria). It means monster. She looks all Aussie though. She was definitely more difficult to train than the rest. She thinks for herself. Dogs that think for themselves *choose* to do as you ask, so training them requires them wanting to work with you. I would not clone Chudo as much as I love her. The Aussie drive with the karakachan independence was exhausting to train. Other names she goes by…Vishta, Vee, or Monster Girl. 

Rowdy

The third dog to find their way here was Rowdy. Rowdy is part chihuahua, part dachshund, with a bit of Yoda thrown in for the ears. He’s a mess. He has no idea that he’s not very big. He regularly runs down foxes. Rowdy certainly earned the name he came with. He has super high energy and annoys all the girls until they get fed up and snap at him. I brought Rowdy home for my hubby who likes small dogs. He ended up being a Momma’s boy though. Other names he goes by…Weasel, The Weeze, and Weezy Boy.

Shiva

The littlest farm dog was the next dog to join the pack. Shiva (the destroyer) is a Daddy’s Girl 100%. When the hubby brought home a chihuahua, I about died. I thought bringing Rowdy to live on a farm was kinda dumb cuz he was so small. Shiva was even smaller. I had baby rabbits bigger than her! I was convinced she was going to get eaten by a hawk. She certainly doesn’t know she’s small either. I once heard a rabbit scream and she had caught one of my escaped, full size meat mutt rabbits. This thing was twice her size and she had it by the back of the neck just shaking trying to kill it. Other than being freaked out at being bitten, the rabbit was completely unconcerned. Shiva goes by lots of names…Chichi, Chicharrone, Meatball, and Cheeba Girl. 

Apollo

The most recent addition to the pack is Apollo. We don’t know much about him. He’s a shepherd of some sort. We know he’s six years old and lived on a farm until his owner died and the family took him to the pound. He’s a pretty big boy. I don’t think he was well socialized as a pup so we are working on that. He’s very food driven. He absolutely loves people and hates other animals. He’s got a big ol meaty head and giant alligator jaws. Unlike the other dogs he will probably never be given full farm dog privileges, but that’s ok. He currently only goes by Apollo or Hannibal.

And since we love our dogs even after they pass away, these are pack members who are no longer with us. They may be gone, but each pack member helps shape the pack and plays a part in how that pack develops. 

Zeta

Zeta Pi was mine and the hubby’s first dog together ever. We were still just dating, and we didn’t have any kids. We adopted her from the pound while we lived in a fraternity house. She was a shepherd x chow chow cross. We trained her in German, which was hilarious to hear two rednecks yelling angry sounding German words at a puppy. She was great. She was very protective. She did what she was told. She was everything you could ever ask for in a first pack mate. She kept me safe when my hubby was deployed over seas. She went with us everywhere. We even took her with us every weekend to VA while his unit was stationed there. She was good with our kids. She did get a little cranky in her old age, but I can’t say I blame her. She also went by Zeta or Pi. Like a kid, she was only Zeta Pi when she was in trouble. 

Bo

Bo was our second dog together. Bo was a pit bull mix we found while hiking in the woods one day. He was running with a feral pack, and obviously ranked very low in the pack. He was starved and covered in wounds. I tried to call him to me as his pack ran on. Hubby and I were still just dating and still living in the fraternity house. He said the dog couldn’t come home. I stomped my foot and said I wasn’t getting in the Bronco unless the dog was in it with me. I promised to find him a home. Bo came home with us and never left. His name was technically Boner cuz when we fed him the first few days…well a part of his anatomy responded weirdly to the food. But I refused to holler Boner when I’d call him, so Bo it was. Bo was mine. I’m not sure I’ll ever love another dog the way I loved him. He genuinely loved every human, and was convinced every human would love him. I don’t think he ever forgot where he came from and was grateful for the rest of his life. Bo went by Bonanner or Nanner. 

Leroy

Leroy Jenkins was brought to the farm between Cocoa and Chudo. We got him from the shelter because we thought he was one of Cocoa’s litter mates and were hopeful of getting another dog just like her. He was not. Not in the very least. Leroy was probably the worst dog we ever brought home. His name…lord was it fitting. If you head over to FB and search #LifeWithLeroyJenkins you can see all kinds of his annoying antics during the years he was here (also lots of cuss words cuz he brought out the worst in me). That dog pushed me to the limits of sanity. Leroy was a runner so he wasn’t allowed outside without being on a lead. He had started to mellow as he aged and this last summer I had begun letting him out to pee at 4:30. He would run around briefly and be back at the house before most people left for work. The day he died he had refused to come in. I kept trying to convince him to come in, but I finally left him out after arguing with him. He was hit by a car while I was picking the kids up from school. Leroy also went by Jenkins or Stinkins. 

I have no doubt this page will need edited as new members join our pack and older pack members pass on. ❤️