Meet Robert: The Orphaned Lamb Who Became Part of the Family
When we first brought home our orphaned lamb, Robert, we had no idea how he would fit into our lives—or if he even could. Robert’s mom had twins and for some reason rejected Robert. We took him in, not knowing that this tiny, fragile creature would soon become an integral part of our family. What we didn’t expect, however, was that Robert would not only thrive under our care but would also form a unique bond with our pack of dogs, eventually becoming one of them in the most surprising way.
From Lamb to Dog Pack Member
In the beginning, Robert was like any other lamb. He was skittish, unsure of his surroundings, and very much in need of constant attention and care. But there was something different about him—something that drew him closer to the dogs. In part, Shamus the Boz was just like the Boz’s in the pasture. Shamus’ nurturing would allow Robert to follow him around and even let him curl up next to him for warmth. Whatever the reason, Robert quickly integrated himself into the household’s dog pack, and they embraced him with open paws.
Sleeping in a Dog Bed
One of the most surprising aspects of Robert’s transition into the family was his bedtime routine. Instead of curling up in the barn or a cozy corner of the yard, Robert insisted on joining the dogs at night. He would trot inside and make his way straight to our bedroom, where he would curl up on a dog bed, wedged between the dogs who accepted him as one of their own.
The Bond That Lasted
As the weeks passed, Robert grew more accustomed to life in the house. He had the temperament of a dog, seeking attention, playing fetch (sort of), and even learning to follow commands. It was hard to think of him as anything other than a member of our family—his “baa” was no different from the sound of a bark, his footsteps blended with the patter of paws, and his nighttime cuddles with the dogs became the sweetest part of our evenings.
Eventually Robert was old enough to not need a bottle anymore and it was time for him to go back to the sheep herd in the pasture. Although we missed having him in the house, every day we do barn chores and tend to the sheep, Robert comes running to say hi. His days in the house as part of the house pack have transferred to his pasture habits. Robert follows the Boz pack around instead of the sheep herd. And his afternoon naps are always taken with his surrogate dog mom Charra. As the years pass we will most likely have more orphaned babies in the house, but Robert will always have a part of our heart!
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