GPRNC Adopted - Cowboy

Cowboy, now called Solo, is now a goat guardian in the hills of Napa County

Only a couple weeks into his new job, Solo has figured out that his place is with the goats and other dog. At Christmas, Anita writes: We are grateful to have Solo as a permanent addition to our animal family. He is doing just fine with the dogs and goats and has mostly (99.9% which is just fine) accepted the role of a full-time goat guardian. It is painful to me to think of him or any dog being rejected by an owner and not feeling secure and loved. Solo has his permanent home with us. He is very smart and good-natured and we are glad he is here. Thank you for calling me about Solo and thanks to your organization for the help you give to these dogs.
	January 10, 2005. Just a few minutes ago, all the dogs started barking. They and the goats were up higher on the hill behind the house than this picture shows. They came down the hill pretty quickly and that good dog, Solo, with the big dog bark half out of his mouth in the picture, was at the front of the pack, taking care of business. The dysplastic one (Trés) is on the left in the picture, the alpha (Ónce) is in the back. Surprisingly, since Solo has come here, Trés is like a new dog. She stays with the group as best she can and seems to be doing lots better which makes us so happy. Look at that boy's face. Ya gotta love it!
March 13, 2005 One morning Solo spent quite a bit of time up at the house, barking. Anita decided finally to investigate - fortunately, bringing her camera.	What they found was 1200 pounds of Angus Bull - technically not a predator, unless you count his danger to grapevines.
Being outweighed didn't bother Solo - he tells the bull he doesn't belong there.	Backed up by Oncè, Trèce and Nan, Solo convinces the bull to move on.
September 15, 2005 We were at the Napa County shelter and someone was talking about the pygmy goats they had in the back. Their mother had been killed by a mountain lion. One look and I was HOOKED. They are 4 1/2 mos. old, had been at the shelter for a month. We brought them home yesterday. This morning when went down to feed everyone, Solo started acting like he could not stay away from them (Jim named them Nip and Tuck). He was too interested--wanted to get too close. .... I put him on a leash and made him lie down quietly in the shed with them and me. He did not want to do that. He wanted to get close to them. ... Right before lunch I put all the goats and dogs back in the pen and went up to the house, Solo was on his own and seemed not to be bothering the little guys.	At about 2 I went down to the shed and decided to let everyone out for a bit. Nip and Tuck had seemed to stay with the big goats and I wanted to see what they would do. We all started walking down the dirt road. The dogs were with me because I had treats for them and the goats started up the hill. Nip and Tuck were last. All of a sudden, Solo started running after the goats. I was afraid he was chasing Nip and Tuck. I ran down the road and up the hill and saw him and Nip and Tuck up by the house. By the time I got up there, they had disappeared. The big goats and Trés and Oncé were up on the hill by the water tanks and Solo and Nip and Tuck were nowhere to be seen. So I started looking... I went down to the shed, and up on the hill behind the goat pen were Solo, Nip, and Tuck, lying there together. I could not believe my eyes. He had not been chasing them. He had been trying to keep up with them, to guard them. He and the goats came down the hill to me and went into the pen. I locked them in and Nip and Tuck went in the small shed (Solo's shed where he eats) and he laid down outside the shed at the entrance to it. At dinner tonight, he ate in his usual spot inside the shed and Nip and Tuck laid in the straw at the back of the shed while he ate. The they left the shed to lie down on the hill with the other goats and he watched them go up the hill and then stayed down by the shed. I am just speechless. His relationship with the big goats is not warm and fuzzy. He is scared of them--who knows what has gone on with them. He loves Oncé and Trés and that is why he stays with the group. He does not chase or growl or harm the big goats, but I don't think he cares for them like the other two dogs. But now, overnight, he seems to have a purpose and these little guys are it.

Cowboy, now called Solo, is now a goat guardian in the hills of Napa County

Solo lies on the hillside watching the goats

Solo and Once' with goats
Only a couple weeks into his new job, Solo has figured out that his place is with the goats and other dog.

At Christmas, Anita writes: We are grateful to have Solo as a permanent addition to our animal family. He is doing just fine with the dogs and goats and has mostly (99.9% which is just fine) accepted the role of a full-time goat guardian. It is painful to me to think of him or any dog being rejected by an owner and not feeling secure and loved. Solo has his permanent home with us. He is very smart and good-natured and we are glad he is here.

Thank you for calling me about Solo and thanks to your organization for the help you give to these dogs.

January 10, 2005.
Just a few minutes ago, all the dogs started barking. They and the goats were up higher on the hill behind the house than this picture shows. They came down the hill pretty quickly and that good dog, Solo, with the big dog bark half out of his mouth in the picture, was at the front of the pack, taking care of business. The dysplastic one (Trés) is on the left in the picture, the alpha (Ónce) is in the back. Surprisingly, since Solo has come here, Trés is like a new dog. She stays with the group as best she can and seems to be doing lots better which makes us so happy.
Look at that boy's face. Ya gotta love it!

March 13, 2005

One morning Solo spent quite a bit of time up at the house, barking. Anita decided finally to investigate - fortunately, bringing her camera.

What they found was 1200 pounds of Angus Bull - technically not a predator, unless you count his danger to grapevines.

Being outweighed didn't bother Solo - he tells the bull he doesn't belong there.

Backed up by Oncè, Trèce and Nan, Solo convinces the bull to move on.

September 15, 2005

We were at the Napa County shelter and someone was talking about the pygmy goats they had in the back. Their mother had been killed by a mountain lion. One look and I was HOOKED. They are 4 1/2 mos. old, had been at the shelter for a month.

We brought them home yesterday. This morning when went down to feed everyone, Solo started acting like he could not stay away from them (Jim named them Nip and Tuck). He was too interested--wanted to get too close. .... I put him on a leash and made him lie down quietly in the shed with them and me. He did not want to do that. He wanted to get close to them. ... Right before lunch I put all the goats and dogs back in the pen and went up to the house, Solo was on his own and seemed not to be bothering the little guys.

At about 2 I went down to the shed and decided to let everyone out for a bit. Nip and Tuck had seemed to stay with the big goats and I wanted to see what they would do. We all started walking down the dirt road. The dogs were with me because I had treats for them and the goats started up the hill. Nip and Tuck were last. All of a sudden, Solo started running after the goats. I was afraid he was chasing Nip and Tuck. I ran down the road and up the hill and saw him and Nip and Tuck up by the house. By the time I got up there, they had disappeared. The big goats and Trés and Oncé were up on the hill by the water tanks and Solo and Nip and Tuck were nowhere to be seen. So I started looking... I went down to the shed, and up on the hill behind the goat pen were Solo, Nip, and Tuck, lying there together. I could not believe my eyes. He had not been chasing them. He had been trying to keep up with them, to guard them. He and the goats came down the hill to me and went into the pen. I locked them in and Nip and Tuck went in the small shed (Solo's shed where he eats) and he laid down outside the shed at the entrance to it. At dinner tonight, he ate in his usual spot inside the shed and Nip and Tuck laid in the straw at the back of the shed while he ate. The they left the shed to lie down on the hill with the other goats and he watched them go up the hill and then stayed down by the shed.

I am just speechless. His relationship with the big goats is not warm and fuzzy. He is scared of them--who knows what has gone on with them. He loves Oncé and Trés and that is why he stays with the group. He does not chase or growl or harm the big goats, but I don't think he cares for them like the other two dogs. But now, overnight, he seems to have a purpose and these little guys are it.

**June 2006 - the Bull Returns**
The neighbor's bull returned in June and this time did not go away so calmly...	..but Solo insisted, and the bull retreated, leaving our vineyards once again intact.

**January 2007**
The two pigmy goats had been placed in a new home in the Spring of 2006, but it didn't work out. Anita continues Solo's story. In December we received an email from the family who had taken the Pygmy goats last spring. The goats were too aggressive toward their children and they were afraid they would be hurt, would we take them back. So they came back on Dec. 19. Solo was right there at their side as if they had never left or broken his heart. Nip and Tuck took off like two bats out of hell when they were let out of the crate. They were very frightened and did not want to stay with the big goats or get near any humans. Solo stayed out with those two goats in the woods by themselves for a week before they finally decided to come back to stay with the other goats and and be able to get food at the barn. Solo came back to the barn for breakfast and dinner and I would follow him into the woods to see if the goats were still alive. I couldn't get close as you can tell from the pictures and they were hard to see in the woods and ran from me but there they would be every day and Solo would find a spot near them and we would not see him again until the next meal. The other two dogs did not show any great interest in the little guys when they were first here or now but Solo owns his little goats once again. He is more relaxed in dealing with them and so far, for the month they have been back, things are good for Solo. You have to look hard to see the goats in Pictures 4 & 5 but they are there and so is their loyal defender. The last two pictures are just beautiful pictures of our Solo boy. I know I have written this to you before but I will again. Solo could never set foot in a show ring but the breed standard description of temperament is our Solo boy--attentive, fearless, loyal--and the part that isn't written, forgiving. But I guess that is how it is with all rescue dogs. They forgive the past and are happy to be in a new home where they are loved and give back that love to their human and animal charges. I get mushy about Solo. We adore him. He is such a magnificent animal. Anita
Note the goats up the hill and Solo lying guard below	Can't see the goats here, but Solo knows where they are and is nearby.
Solo surveys his domain.

January 2007

The two pigmy goats had been placed in a new home in the Spring of 2006, but it didn't work out. Anita continues Solo's story.

In December we received an email from the family who had taken the Pygmy goats last spring. The goats were too aggressive toward their children and they were afraid they would be hurt, would we take them back. So they came back on Dec. 19. Solo was right there at their side as if they had never left or broken his heart.
Nip and Tuck took off like two bats out of hell when they were let out of the crate. They were very frightened and did not want to stay with the big goats or get near any humans. Solo stayed out with those two goats in the woods by themselves for a week before they finally decided to come back to stay with the other goats and and be able to get food at the barn. Solo came back to the barn for breakfast and dinner and I would follow him into the woods to see if the goats were still alive.
I couldn't get close as you can tell from the pictures and they were hard to see in the woods and ran from me but there they would be every day and Solo would find a spot near them and we would not see him again until the next meal. The other two dogs did not show any great interest in the little guys when they were first here or now but Solo owns his little goats once again. He is more relaxed in dealing with them and so far, for the month they have been back, things are good for Solo. You have to look hard to see the goats in Pictures 4 & 5 but they are there and so is their loyal defender.
The last two pictures are just beautiful pictures of our Solo boy. I know I have written this to you before but I will again. Solo could never set foot in a show ring but the breed standard description of temperament is our Solo boy--attentive, fearless, loyal--and the part that isn't written, forgiving. But I guess that is how it is with all rescue dogs. They forgive the past and are happy to be in a new home where they are loved and give back that love to their human and animal charges. I get mushy about Solo. We adore him. He is such a magnificent animal. Anita

Note the goats up the hill and Solo lying guard below

Can't see the goats here, but Solo knows where they are and is nearby.

Solo surveys his domain.

Cowboy - now Solo

March 13, 2005