The Big Ole Dog Fight

Linda and David have four Border Collies-- Belle, Buddy, Scout and Slick. They also have two German Shepherds, Tex and Indy. Three of the Border Collies are housed in a huge pen with a doggie door which goes into David's shop. Tex, Indy, and one of the Border Collies, Belle, are pretty much house dogs. On nice days or when they go places, Tex and Indy are put in the pen with the Border Collies. Up to this point, they've gotten along (or perhaps they just tolerated each other).

Indy and Tex are rather young. They got Tex last year, and I think it was the year before when they got Indy.

Last week when Indy and Tex were out with the Border Collies, Linda heard a lot of noise that she said "didn't sound quite right." She went out to investigate only to find Indy and Tex viciously fighting with Buddy. The dog next door had come up to their fence. It got all the dogs riled up and when they couldn't get to that dog, Indy and Tex turned on Buddy. In the past, Buddy has been known to antagonize and challenge Indy and Tex at times, especially when they're outside of the pen.

Here are the bad boys.
Indy (l), Tex (r)

At first, Linda couldn't get in the pen. David had it wired so she had to go through the shop. David had just gotten in the shower and there was no time to go get him. When she finally got the fight broken up, she was furious. Buddy was laying on the ground, and Tex and Indy were scrambling to get away from the Wrath of Linda. She told me that she was acting like a maniac because she was so mad at them!

When she finished with Tex and Indy, she got a blanket, wrapped Buddy in it, and they took him into the house. She said blood was everywhere and they tried to clean him up. Bite marks were all over him--huge gashes! They called the vet and took him in.

The vet spent three hours in surgery. He told them that Buddy needed to spend the night, and he wasn't even sure he'd make it. The news was good the next day though. Buddy was doing fine and they were able to bring him home.

Here's Buddy.

He has these latex
tubes all over the place.
The halo is so he can't get to them.

Poor thing!

Needless to say, Tex and Indy will never be put into the Border Collies' pen again. In fact, the vet told them that it would definitely happen again. David is planning to build a separate pen for Tex and Indy. In the meantime, it'll be the backyard for them. As for Belle being in the house with Tex and Indy--she's old, they grew up with her, and she doesn't challenge them like Buddy did.

Linda tells me Buddy is back to acting normal and he gets all the latex drains removed on Tuesday.

Smilin' for Buddy,
D~~~~