Beautiful Pyrenees, most i see are mixed represented as full blooded, i have both and i love them and they are the best farm dog for my place,My losses are 0 for the last 2 yearsI would recommend one. I also live in an area with coyote, fox, bobcat and we even have a bear around. However, my biggest losses every year were to other peoples dogs that roam around. I live in a semi rural area that is populated but also has wildlife. So after three years of losing half my flock every year I decided to get a LGD. After research I chose a Pyrennes because they are the least aggressive of the LGDs. Since I have neighbors and people occasionally walk and bike ride around here, I didn't want an overly aggressive dog. I also wanted one that got along with my cats.
She has done a great job. I have had her five years and can only recall losing two chickens to predators since having her. I got her at 12 weeks old and kept her near the chicken pen but leashed for the first two weeks. Every day I would take her in the pens with me but on a short leash. Her being a puppy, she wanted to play. However, at 12 weeks she was already 35 pounds and all leg and paws and could seriously injure the birds even at play. Anyway, that's how I introduced her to the chicks. I corrected any behaviour, even her playfulness, that I didn't like. By the time the young chickens were ready to be turned out, she was quite use to them and never bothered them. For a while I used to wonder whether she was guarding the chickens or me and the chickens just benefited from her presence. That question was answered after I lost my first chicken to a neighbors dog. My dog was still not full grown when this incident happened. She had been doing well with possum and such, but she was never tested with other dogs. Well, after that incident and a firm dressing down from me with the dead chicken between us, she must have got the message. A few days later the dog returned and she chased him all over the yard. Now every time she sees him, she is on his tail. Another dog came by one day and went for the chickens and she chased him down the road. Pyrenees like to bark on occasion to announce their presence, so I think that keeps the other predators like coyote and such away. I guess I am lucky because my dog doesn't roam like so many other people have said theirs do. I don't know if its because I spayed her or because when I got her I kept her leashed for two weeks and walked her around our property area twice a day. Our property isn't fenced but she stays put and usually doesn't go any farther than the field across the road or the woods behind the house. One note on these dogs, their coat requires attention especially before summer sets in. They have an awful lot of hair and a very thick undercoat. You have to use a shedding rake several times a week for weeks before hot weather sets in or you need to shave them or something. They get hot. Winter is no problem for them. Despite their size, they don't eat alot once full grown. They just don't move around and expend alot of energy so you don't want to overfeed them. They are very gentle and mine loves the grandkids and my kitties. Nothing looks so amusing as watching that big ole dog trying to play with the old tom cat and watching the tom cat box her face.
There are other breeds that I'm sure would work just as well and maybe have less hair. All LGD need firm hands in training. Consistancy is likely key. I would start with a puppy unless you know the animal has already worked with whatever livestock you have. Even then, I would guess it would still need time to be imprinted with it's new surroundings and livestock. That might be the drawback with grown dogs. They may just up and leave. Then again the drawback with puppies, Pyrenees anyway, they don't guard really good until they are about a year and a half or two years old. That's what I heard and it was about 18 months before mine was sure of herself. Anyway, it is a joy to be able to turn the chickens loose every day to freerange and not come home to half the flock laying slaughtered in my yard!
Here's my girl!
I have an anatolian/pyrenees cross also, he is great with the animals here but did think they were food when i first got him, i started feeding him 3 times a day and it stopped.
I totally understand the loss of a older fur baby
