Your perspective is noted, and it is a legitimate difference in viewing of a dog’s function. Do you maintain an emotional relationship with your working dogs, or are they simply another functional piece of livestock to you?
I am not being a wise guy, because I understand your point of view...I am simply curious. I have never been able to maintain a working relationship with a dog (having never been in the position of needing a working dog)
I mean, I can understand people who put dobermans and rottweilers out as guards, and if they are killed, it is probably no big deal to those people since they don’t spend any time socializing in any way with the animal. But as a rancher, would your working dog follow you around, jump in the bed of your truck, or run out to the entranceway to your property to greet you, and would that register on you, or is it just an animal like a pig or steer?
I agree it is different, and I don’t have a problem with an animal living in the elements (which most dogs happily seem to do as long as they aren’t a little yap dog that needs a sweater)
I see your point of view...I’m just curious.
Yes, they generally ride in the bed of the truck or if the weather is cruddy, then you put a piece of canvas down so they can get in the cab to fight off the cold.
When they start getting old, you leave them at home if you know the day is going to be a long hot one. You know, one of those ones that starts before sunrise and doesn’t end until the job is done. There is no reason to let an animal work itself to death just because it will.