In 2003 when suburbia was creeping ever closer to our home in the Blue Mountains we decided to move to the country.

We discovered 100 acres in the perfect location of the Capertee Valley – the second largest Canyon in the world. It met all of our requirements – no close neighbours, had several dams and watercourses, a large machinery shed, stables, chook shed and a little old house.

Moving our Neapolitan Mastiffs was rather easy as each has a 6' x 8' cedar cubby as a kennel and 15' x 15' Goldstein portable night pens. So it was simply a matter of putting the houses on car trailers and placing them in their new location. A new water tank and some plumbing for their water (automatic refilling stock drinkers) were installed along with extra 30' x 30' day runs.

Our house took somewhat longer to prepare as it was badly neglected and had not been lived in for a year or so.

During its vacancy a Wombat had taken up residence around the house. He had quite a burrow system in place. Unfortunately one such burrow extended under the kitchen water tanks which are set on brick piers. Other burrows were under the house near the foundations.

Having a great deal of love and respect for our native wildlife we were concerned at how to “evacuate” the culprit. Wombats usually have a series of “homes” and rotate between 2 or3 burrow systems, so we were not worried about him having somewhere to go.

I came up with the brilliant idea of placing solar lights right next to his burrow entrances and all around his access areas to the house. It actually worked – within 2 days he was gone from the house yard and had moved back to his second burrow near the dam. I was very proud of this success as wombats are very difficult to move once they have established a territory – actually thought I had found a wonderful new humane way to get a wombat to move house.

Some 8 months later when we finally have the house renovations almost complete and the 2 acre house yard fenced suitably to contain Neapolitan Mastiffs the Wombat returned.

This began the daily battle as initially he was only coming into the garden to feed and leaving again. Unfortunately he would burrow under the fence in a different location each time. As his holes were almost big enough to allow a Neapolitan Mastiff through with a little extra work, each morning has seen us filling holes, laying wire and placing lights at his points of entry and departure.

Naturally he has now got used to the solar lights and household sounds and is not deterred.

Recently he has taken a further step and is attempting to set up his burrow system under the house again. Having spent many months with much hard labour and a few dollars on the renovations we were not looking forward to having part of the house collapse.

So why are we worrying with 9 Neapolitan Mastiffs?

The dogs are always in their secure 6' pens at night so we know they are safe and dry and warm. However there is a verandah at the house and a stable in the garden with a tack room which can be used as an extra kennel.

What better breed could one have to protect the house from a marauding wombat? We know they are very protective of their home and family, so the logical thing was to bring a Neapolitan into the house yard overnight.

Firstly we tried Bambi (Aust Ch Bellamico Baldoria) our oldest female. She was very happy to be close to us but could not understand why she wasn't inside the house. We carefully explained her duties – that she was to protect the house and lot allow strangers including wombats to trespass.

The first day she was in the house yard I left for a few hours and all was intact on my return. A little later I had a call from a neighbour who had dropped by. Bambi had greeted him at the gate and escorted him to the door, then sat waiting for him to let her in to the house. When he realised we weren't home and went to leave she was most distressed and seemed to be indicating he really should open the house door and let her in. Some watch dog!

The next morning at 5.30am on looking outside there was just enough light to see the Wombat grazing happily next to a recently planted Cherry tree. Putting shoes on we rushed outside to see what Bambi was doing. She was sitting guard about 20' from the wombat and as we approached the two Siamese kittens ran right up to the Wombat in greeting. Thinking if we chased the Wombat, Bambi might assist off we went. The Wombat ran for the fence and Bambi sat looking at us disdainfully, obviously thinking we had gone mad.

Needless to say we “sacked” her from the position of house guardian.

Now thinking we need heavier “artillery” the next step was to try Taz (Aust Ch Lay Backs Figlio Taz) and Strega (Aust Ch Maggiormente Strega) as together they make a formidable team.

As Strega often sleeps inside the house when Klaus is away she was somewhat unimpressed at her night duties outside. Being a girl who likes comfort she decided to sleep on the armchair on the verandah leaving Taz on patrol duty. When we went to bed she was comfortably asleep snoring on the armchair and Taz was marching the boundary. This was sounding very hopeful and seemed very likely it may actually work with the dogs either refusing entry to the Wombat or chasing him from the territory.

We got little sleep as Strega's chair was against our bedroom wall. As it got later and colder Taz kept trying to join her and we would be awoken to her louder snoring and the sound of Taz pushing and pulling in an attempt to dislodge her. We settled for interrupted sleep and left them to it, thinking when they heard or saw the Wombat they would do their job.

On getting up in the morning we found them both sleeping in the sun, Strega still on the chair minus the cushion which Taz had pulled to the floor and made into a bed. The Wombat had 2 new holes in the fence and was once again under the house.

We have tried various dogs with similar results, in fact they all appear to “escort” the wombat in and out.

So what is wrong with our Neapolitan Mastiffs?

Nothing! They are simply doing their job. They are looking after their home and family which now includes a resident Wombat.

So as we excavate and put a solid barrier at the fences and brick in all around the house we possibly should be thankful we live in Australia and not in a country that has Elephants!!!