getting a pyreneese

[chixie]

Any advice on them... I will post pics when I bring him home

 

[jenjscott]

Just don't expect to throw a puppy in with your chickens and have live chickens. Puppies will be puppies, and GP's are puppies long after they are big dogs. One of the biggest mistakes people make is not realizing how long it takes to train a gaurdian dog before you can just turn them loose with your livestock. Yes, some people get lucky, but for the rest of us, it takes time.

 

[chixie]

thank you...I am not planning on turning them loose with my livestock anytime soon... He is actually for my 16 year old daughter... she doesn't know she is getting it yet.. we told her they sold all of the puppies...

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Here's some good pointers on LGD's

http://www.bountifulfarm.com/lgd_seminar.htm

 

[Rosalind]

Personality-wise they can be very cat-like. In that they ignore you and do the trick on their own terms, when they feel like it, as opposed to when you would like them to do it. Many are not as food-motivated as other dogs. If you try the rougher methods of establishing your alpha-hood to demand obedience, expect to get challenged in a very serious way. Getting them to understand your leadership takes some finesse. What worked for me was simply establishing routines as a puppy and gently enforcing the routine. Since my Pyr was never allowed to do a whole lot outside of his routine, it never occurred to him that being bad was a possibility--he does his commands and routines not because I am The Treat Dispenser or because I am alpha (although I am both), but because this is the habit he grew up with. So establish the tricks and behaviors you want to reward early on, and you'll have far fewer problems training.

Also, Pyrs are smart enough to be housebroken and obedience-trained very young. I'm talking, 4-5 months old, and they will be perfect on housebreaking and obedience. They are smart enough to learn to ignore you by 16 months though.

If you're not really a cat person, then you might not like the personality. Just sayin'. When we went to get a second dog, DH expressly forbade another Pyr because he wanted a "real dog" that would roll over on command in exchange for a disgusting-looking biscuit and humiliate itself for his amusement. Pyrs are more dignified.

 

[Grillo]

Roselind is dead on. Pyrs, even show bred ones, have an LGD heart beating inside them. And most LGD's will be very independent. They just trust their own judgement better than yours, and they are often right too!! Pyrs are the perfect dog for me because while I love a dog, I don't really have the personality or patience to have a house dog. Pyrs thrive outside. The larger the yard, the better. And while they love to hang out with you, they're really not interested following your every movement all of the time. They have their own agenda, and will stick to it!! They will keep your property predator free and will alert you whenever something wrong is happening. They are a walking, barking "something ain't right" alarm. They can be all on their own, with your livestock, for days, and calmly welcome you back, like you had just gone inside the house to grab a coke LOL. I love them, and they earn their meals. They do great with just 20 min or a couple of hours of quality time with you (feed time) Then a few minutes just for them (brush their coats, check ears, teeth, feel them out) A solid hug and that's it. They are happy. Good luck.

 

[dragonchick]

No matter how cute he is and how much you love the little guy, if he is to be a LG, do not invite him into the house. Once they become a house dog they don't do worth a dang as a LG. I adopted one who had been raised as a house dog. I put him in the pen with the goats and he wouldn't stay with them. He kept jumping the fence and was very food aggressive.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

He is actually for my 16 year old daughter.

If you want a "pet" you should really consider another breed.
LGD's dont make good pets, and certainly arent "house dogs"​

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

Quote:
If you want a "pet" you should really consider another breed.
LGD's dont make good pets, and certainly arent "house dogs"

I've been taking my pyr pup out for walks now that the animals are penned up for the winter. Walking this dog is quite an experience. Strong. She will drag me over to a snowbank, dig out a dead mouse and then roll on it. If she finds a beer can, it becomes a chew toy. She wants to go one way, and I want to go another. Every walk is an intrusive archaeological survey.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Walking this dog is quite an experience. Strong.

LOL She's still a little baby.
Wait until a year from now when she's twice that size

I like them when they are this size. It's the only time I'm sure they will do exactly what I want