arty - We are in Iowa near the South Dakota border. The cats have been moving in from the west for about six years now. They were gone from Iowa for over 100 years, but now since the human population in the country is only about 1/4 of back then they are coming back.
bigbcustom - Thanks, we considered Great Pyrenes but the grooming aspect of a dog going through brushy areas was a concern. The ranchers to our west use them quite a bit. They put the puppies out with the livestock, supply food, but have very little human contact with the pyrenes so the dogs bond with the livestock instead of the people. These dogs are very matted though. Our newfies give us all the brushing exercise we need.
etp77 - Yes the livespan is a concern. For quite a while now wolfhound breeders have been selecting for longer livespans. It is said that if they are kept well exercised a ten year lifespan can be common. I had a Wolfhound/Dane cross when I was a kid that lived to 14.
bufford - Yep, they seem to be on the increase everywhere. A friend has shot two, one of which he claimed was about 300 pounds. I didn't think they exceeded 250 pounds, but they are feeding on these Iowa deer that commonly dress out at 225-250 pounds. A neighbor found a very large 12 point buck with its spine eaten out that was stashed way up in the crotch of a tree. Either a very strong cat or a pterodactyl that lost its grip.
Everyone - Thanks for your kind words and stories of your special friends. I couldn't count how many dogs I have buried in my lifetime, but each one hurts. Funny, I find it easier to deal with the loss when digging the hole to bury a friend (digging a hole for a 160# dog in the winter when the ground is frozen four feet down really lets you work off some grief). The joy of the companionship of a good dog outweighs the grief when he is gone.
Thanks,
Lloyd
