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A salt and pepper Miniature Schnauzer and a brown and white calf looking through a wire fence at chickens in a yard. 35 / 36

Two Spectators Lined Up at the Fence to Watch the Chickens

AI imageminiature schnauzercalfchickens

Something fascinating is happening on the other side of the wire fence, and two spectators have pressed close to watch. A salt-and-pepper Miniature Schnauzer with bushy eyebrows and a mustache is peering through the mesh with a thoughtful face, and a brown-and-white calf stands beside him with her ears out and her gaze fixed on the same spot. In the yard beyond, a black hen, a brown hen and a pale one scratch in the dirt.

Miniature Schnauzers are alert, sturdy little dogs who were originally bred to keep farms free of rodents, so they are used to keeping an eye on the barnyard. They are smart and usually friendly, though they can be barky when excited. Their wiry coat needs regular grooming, including trimming of the beard and eyebrows.

If you have both dogs and chickens, a good fence is important. Many dogs have a strong chase instinct, and even a friendly dog can injure a hen in play. Introduce them slowly and keep the dog on a leash at first, and make sure chickens have a safe place to retreat. Talk to your vet or a local expert about keeping all animals safe together.

For now, the show is on the other side of the fence. Clover seems to be taking notes, and the Schnauzer is following every flap.

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