Badger The Calendar Farm Hero

Well, I had a little fun this week - I entered, and won, (3rd) a /Great Pyrenees/photo/calendar contest! 

I'm not so sure it was as much about the photographs as it was the stories of the dogs, so I'm lucky to have struck a chord with some very generous folks who voted Badger into 3rd place with their donations to the TGPR. But if I do say so myself, it's not a bad shot of our resident farm hero, proudly standing guard over his Gulf Coast sheep flock. OK, so there's only 4 of them, but hey, it's his flock. Plus, of course, there's Smoke, our aging Icelandic, and our ever changing flocks of chickens, shop cats, horses and, me - none pictured. 

It was all for a very admirable cause. The Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue organization uses an annual calendar contest as a way to raise money that pays for typical vet bills like spaying and neutering, as well as the quickly escalating medical bills that can come with many of these sweet fluff balls who come in sick, injured and sometimes, close to death. Every dog can't be saved, but by golly, they're going to save the ones they can! 

Many of the dogs that come in end up as cushy, spoiled couch dogs - which is just fine. Sadly, many of the dogs rescued out of shelters or found abandoned and roaming, are guardian dog failures. Not every dog bred and born to be a livestock guardian, has the right temperament to do so. Some chase their charges - which can lead to injury or worse, especially if the charges are fowl. It takes a very special temperament for a dog - who's instinct is to give chase to feathery, flighty things that squawk when you squeeze them  - to overpower that instinct and remain calm.  

But just because a dog wants to do what comes naturally to it, doesn't mean it shouldn't be loved. We've still got some old-fashioned minded folks out there who don't give those dogs a chance to become an excellent family dog. Which is a shame, because as the hundreds - maybe thousands - of rescue families would tell you - they can make excellent family dogs! They are usually low energy, laid back and sweet. Their bark may sound formidable, but they're what is often called, a gentle giant with their family. 

They adapt to new family members well, often get along just fine with feline siblings and do not require the same kind of high energy exercise that many more high-strung breeds often do.  They don't eat as much as you might think - they are a LOT of fluff, and even though they are a large breed, you don't want them to become too heavy or joints and bones could become an issue. Badger eats about 4 cups of dry kibble a day. And sometimes, he skips a meal! Usually, that's because he's found a new hiding spot for eggs.... ahem. 

Badger, as you know if you've followed the farm over the years, came here several months after I had to put down Bear, my first LGD. Bear, and his former partner, Molly, both came through the TGPR family. One of their volunteers did excellent matching 2 dogs to my needs for protection on the farm. Susie, being a homesteader herself, knew the temperament I needed and while we had one dog on visitation that didn't work out, as soon as Bear lumbered out of the back seat of her car, I knew he was going to be great - and he was. (Well, till he hit the tyrannosaurus x phase - AKA the terrible twos till 3 or that light flips on, phase.)

Molly, already 3, had been fostered on a working farm, too, the former FFA dog to a youngster, she had been trained to sheep and exposed to chickens, also. They made a great team and had some wonderful adventures together. Bear retired to the house, eventually, after Molly passed on.

Badger's story allowed him to skip the whole foster home period. I happened to see his momma's plea to rehome him due to his sire being a big ol' bully to her sweet natured year old pup. Truly, it is not unusual for there to be family squabbles in litters, and often the pups are sent off to avoid fighting. 

Badger hit the jackpot with his relocation because he eats in his own stall, so there is no one here to steal his food or push him around. He eased into his new role as top dog LGD very well and lords over the 3 acres he has access to like he was born here. He despises it when I limit his kingdom on farm share pick up days - or when a repair crew is coming. But there's not a squirrel, rabbit, skunk or raccoon of whom he doesn't have their number, and he has become buddies with the shop cats, (well, more or less), and he keeps the younger sheep from stealing Smoke's kibbles. The horses are pretty much forbidden territory - Off Limits! He was kicked as a youngster back at his first home, by a mini-horse he likely mistook for a playmate. The horses here are much bigger and while curious, he usually keeps his distance and is not allowed in the horse barn. I don't need that vet bill!  

 

He is also very photogenic. I love taking his picture - when he sits still for one. Usually I get his back end or a side shot as he's moving into or away from the lens. But I mean, just look at that face! How can I resist?  He's not a big licker, thankfully, so I'm not setting myself up for a face cleaning every time I stoop down to get a shot, but he does like to come be near me, so close ups are not common. He gets too close, too fast! 

But, I thought I had a few good shots to choose from and enter 1 and, well, we picked a winner! I used the one our FB fans chose and he took 3rd place - and that won him a month featured in the calendar! We picked June, since that's his birthday month. I'll find out later if he gets it. (The 1st place winner gets to choose first, etc.) But his gotcha day is in October, so we used that as our back up month if June isn't available. Either way, Badger will be smiling at ya from his page on the Texas Great Pyrenees 2026 Calendar! 

Thank you to all of his fans, fans of the farm, friends and family who donated and gave votes to Badger. He never would have won on my farmer's only salary, that's for sure. All of the proceeds from his entry fee, to every vote, go towards the rescue group. 

And I hope I was able to raise some new awareness for them, along the way. They're an entirely volunteer group, no 6 digit CEO, and there's no bricks and mortar home office. Everyone volunteers time, space and love. Fosters often drive hours to rescue and vet these dogs, before taking them into their homes, while they await the all clear and a furever home of their own. I felt great about beating the drum of this fine group of folks - and I hope you'll check them out if you're ever in the market for a new fluff ball friend, an LGD (they do have some that are fostered and vetted for this), as well as a place to support. A bona fide 501C3, your donations are tax deductible, and you can feel good about your money going to a good cause.

Marie 

Eat Your Food - Naturally!