No drama in the barn today.  All five lambs are eating as they evolved to (though the oldest one is trying to poach from ewes other than her mother), the ram isn’t head-butting anyone, and the two pregnant ewes held on to their offspring for another day.

Bravo, though, is always good for some drama.  Maremmas are known for being aloof to humans their know, unfriendly to ones they don’t, and fiercely protective of their flock, but Bravo seems committed to re-writing this script.  He sometimes hangs out with the sheep, but I can only photograph this behavior from a distance; as soon as he sees me, he abandons the sheep and comes running over.

And if I need the border collies to do anything with the sheep, I have to take Bravo out of circulation or he’ll run in and out of the flock, creating a level of chaos that neither Cass nor Chloe can overcome.

He also has a funny sense of possessiveness about things I bring to the sheep.  The other day I when I brought water out to the flock, Bravo watched them drink for a moment and then decided he needed to take control of the water basin, though he didn’t take a drink himself.

I’m not sure how much of this sort of thing he does when I’m not around, so I haven’t figured out if it’s a show for my benefit.  I’m sure there’s a special section of the DSM reserved for people who spy on their guardian dogs, but I’m seriously thinking of getting a trail camera…  Bravo also insists on taking (symbolic) possession of any hay I bring out to the flock.

While this is all penny-ante stuff probably aimed at getting a rise from me, he’s also under suspicion of less benign behavior.  A couple sheep have turned up with torn ears, and I found one of the fainting Romneys out cold in the field with Bravo nearby.  No permanent harm has been done, and I haven’t caught him in the act of anything more serious than running at the sheep to scatter them, but my faith in my guardian is teetering.