the dogs

 I use dogs for livestock protection and to do some vermin control - mostly rats, but also things like raccoons and possums and other things that like to eat chickens.  My oldest dog, Monster, takes his job very seriously.  He digs with his mouth and isn't afraid to get completely into a hole when he goes for something. 

His son Red is a little more relaxed.  They'll usually tag-team; red will watch while monster digs, and usually will flush the critter, and then red will catch and dispatch.  We haven't had much of a coyote problem for a couple of years now; most of that I attribute to the dogs.  Not that the dogs have caught the coyotes, but the coyotes tend to steer clear of a pack of airedales. 

That isn't to say that it's been trouble free.  When red was younger I had some issues.