Beatrice meeting new critters

Our Sulcata was a rescue, and seven years old when we got him. He was about the diameter of a paper plate. I had a real nice ten by ten foot yard fixed up for him, with cinder block buried down three feet. That was okay for about a year, Then he started burrowing under the cinder block. We finally just let him have free range over the entire backyard. Our landscaping has suffered, but the tortoise is pretty content. Last time we weighed him he was just over fifty pounds. We did have to correct the Rottweiler and Airedale when we first got the tortoise, but they stayed out of his way when he got older. Wilson grew up with the tortoise, and they have a completely different relationship with each other than the other dogs have with him. The two actually like each other, and the tortoise will follow Wilson around, even when Wilson is inside the run. When there is food involved though, the tortoise will hiss, much like a goose. I think it is the unexpected nature of his sounds that keeps the dogs at bay. When my older daughter only weighed about ninety pounds she could scrunch on the tortoise and he would give her rides. She feeds him treats and he will come barreling across the yard when he hears her voice.