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Sirocco by ~swiftwhippet:iconswiftwhippet:

Categories Digital Art > Paintings & Airbrushing > Animals

©2007-2009 ~swiftwhippet
:iconswiftwhippet:

Artist's Comments

'Nother Mushroom Grove character. He's been around for a while though I never uploaded his picture to dA (oops). His name's Sirocco and he's a Maremma Sheepdog, and that's all I'm saying here because I am lazy and you people should be checking out [link] anyway >3

By the by, Mushroom Grove now has a dA club! -> :iconmushroomgrove-fc: go check it out, if you're at all interested!

Life looked bright for the puppy Sirocco. Both his parents were outstanding herd-guardians; his father from a long line of American-bred dogs, and his mother imported straight from Maremma in Italy. The pair's first litter was eagerly anticipated, and all the four puppies proved to be very fine indeed. Keeping one of the pups, Falla, for themselves, the satisfied breeders sold the other puppies to other ranches in the area who were in need of a good guard dog. Sirocco, at the age of three months, was the last to leave.

He settled in well at the new ranch, where they called him Rock. His heritage showed as he took to his job like a puppy to chew-toys, following the two farm collies as they herded the sheep into the pastures. As friendly as he always was with his people, and indeed with the collies themselves, it was clear that the flock came before all else. They soon settled into a system, the collies herding the flock while the Maremma watched out for predators. If a coyote was so much as scented, the big white dog would give a warning growl.

One day, about two years later, Sirocco's life was to change. He was sitting, watching the sheep, when he suddenly scented a coyote from somewhere behind him, as well as pawbeats. The coyote, a wily old fellow, had stayed upwind of the big dog until the last minute and had thus avoided detection. Snarling, Sirocco twisted around to attack it, but misjudged the strike and the creature flew past him. Sirocco barked a desparate warning to the collies, who had heard the fight as it started, and the larger of the two was already preparing himself for defence. There was some snarling and ripping before Sirocco and the female collie came galloping up to help, and the coyote, knowing when he was outnumbered, fled, bleeding from a torn ear.

Sirocco gazed in horror at the scene - one collie injured, the sheep in a panic. Overcome by a murderous rage, he dashed, snarling, after the creature who had come so close to doing damage to his flock. Furiously he followed the old fellow's trail with all speed, trailing him for the rest of that day, but to no avail. The coyote had been too cunning for him, and by the time dusk fell and Sirocco realised his search was fruitless, he was far from home. Lost and worried, he wandered the countryside, trying to find his ranch and his flock, but couldn't find his way back to them either.

After some time of wandering as a stray, Sirocco came upon the Old Farm in Mushroom Grove, drawn there irresistably by the scent of a flock. He made himself useful, and now lives there with the farmer's family, the hired hands and their border collie, Ricochet, who is his partner in tending to the flock.

Comments


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:icondalmatinka:
~Dalmatinka May 3, 2007, 9:00:20 AM
great pic Swift, as allways n_n
I really like the contrast bewteen the earthy bg colors and his fur

btw, thanks for signing my pettition! :glomp:

--
MOVED ACCOUNTS. :iconmirta08:
:iconcapnflynn:
~CapnFlynn May 3, 2007, 9:13:53 AM
He's a handsome one, isn't he? I like the font you used for his name! :D
:iconroxxy896:
~Roxxy896 May 3, 2007, 9:16:22 AM
Awww.... Cute Swift! He is really pretty, keep up the good work. :D

--
Caring is not life, you dont have to care. Its called love, and love is strongest of all emmotions.
:iconzambikala:
~Zambikala May 3, 2007, 11:00:26 AM
awww :heart: maremmas are gorgeous, and this guy is no exception. the color is fantastic, tooo
:icontanichan:
~TaniChan May 3, 2007, 11:25:01 AM
what a beautiful dog *pets* oh yes he is! ^w^

--
Laurie: "YOU CALL YOURSELF A SCHOOL?!"

Fry: "Well, I wouldn't call Myself a school..."
:iconswiftwhippet:
~swiftwhippet May 3, 2007, 11:36:12 AM
:hug:
Maremmas are such awesome dogs! I read a book with one in it and just had to check the breed out more. glad that you like him :3

--
"I have seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that dogs think humans are nuts."
-John Steinbeck

Icon by ~Chocolate-Rhinos. C:
:iconswiftwhippet:
~swiftwhippet May 3, 2007, 11:37:17 AM
Hee, I loved that font too, and it goes with the picture without fancy effects, eee. thank you! :heart:

--
"I have seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that dogs think humans are nuts."
-John Steinbeck

Icon by ~Chocolate-Rhinos. C:
:iconswiftwhippet:
~swiftwhippet May 3, 2007, 11:38:07 AM
Thanks, I liked that too though I didn't intend for it to happen, which makes it more cool :3
Aw, and no problem :3

--
"I have seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that dogs think humans are nuts."
-John Steinbeck

Icon by ~Chocolate-Rhinos. C:
:iconaashleyy:
~aashleyy May 3, 2007, 12:41:45 PM
I've never heard of Maremmas before! He reminds me of a Pyrenees, though. What a pretty boy.

--
our aspirations are wrapped up in books.
our inclinations are hidden in looks.
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