Got my Great Pyrenees today!

[Dr.Dale]

Are you having any ticks issue?

Not really. We have lots of ticks in the area, but between the tick medicine and our chickens they are pretty well controlled.

 

[animals1981]

Remember the breed is good safe with kids great for a few coyotes foxes etc.. but if you need something really serious like you are in a area with stray pit bulls, larger predators, a more serious guard dog works wonders, like at my farm we had to get CO dogs and filas to guard our horses and lamas after a dog killed one. We tried the GP but they get afraid more easy and are a lot softer. The act the scare is usually enough. If wolves cougars pumas are the issue along with dogs filas and CO are amazing. They dont kill the predators or fight them but the size and extreme aggression deters them.

 

[Dr.Dale]

we had to get CO dogs

What are CO dogs?

 

[bruceha2000]

Not good seeing a 150lbs Dog acting like he is a Chihuahua

You have a 150 pound Maremma? That is beyond huge, the high end for males is generally about 100 pounds. Maybe he is a Maremma x GP, heavy on the GP genes.

@Dr.Dale, I hope all continues to go well with your pups. My understanding is that their chicken chasing usually begins around 8 or 9 months, not so much as young puppies so start watching for that. It might be that since they have always been around chickens they may not chase but forewarned is forearmed.

Looks like you have put a fair amount of time and effort into learning and preparing. Good fencing is step one, it keeps the dog(s) in and predators out.

 

[Dr.Dale]

My understanding is that their chicken chasing usually begins around 8 or 9 months, not so much as young puppies so start watching for that.

Yes, reports vary but on the exact age, but I do expect an adolescent phase with misbehavior, but at this point they have shown that they have the right underlying personality. So I am confident that such misbehavior will be a temporary setback that we can work through.

 

[aart]

So I am confident that such misbehavior will be a temporary setback that we can work through.

It will be, shouldn't be too painful if you have been doing some effective obedience training.

 

[bruceha2000]

So I am confident that such misbehavior will be a temporary setback that we can work through.

That is the right attitude

 

[Dr.Dale]

It will be, shouldn't be too painful if you have been doing some effective obedience training.

Yes, although I am not confident on the effectiveness of my training skills. More like I am confident in these specific animals

 

[bruceha2000]

Yes, although I am not confident on the effectiveness of my training skills.

You and the dogs will learn together. The mistake you can make is to assume that you know best and the dogs need to do what you want them to when you want them to or else.

Yes they need to learn that the chickens are not squeaky toys and from all I've read don't be surprised if you lose a few chickens while you train the dogs to leave them alone if they do go into their "stupid teen antics".

But you need to understand what the dog is trying to tell you when they don't obey an order which they consider a suggestion (not related to chasing chickens!). If they don't come when you call but keep looking outward or head off they aren't being obstinate, there is probably something they know about that you don't.

I have 2 gelded alpacas. One day they were staring at the edge of the woods 300' away alerting. I had no idea what they saw, I've seen them alert on turkeys and deer in the field. I saw nothing in the field, nothing in the woods. I went in the house and got the binoculars. Only then could I see the cat skirting the edge of the field. It wasn't a threat to the boys but they don't know that. Point being they could see what I could not, the same is true of one's LGD. Trust the dog. When the object of their concern (which you may never see or hear) is gone they will happily come to get ear scrubs. Praise them for being diligent in their work, don't scold them for not running over when you called.

 

[drumstick diva]

That is like intelligent disobedience. I remember reading that about guide dogs for the blind. If the owner says"forward," and the dog refuses or pulls him aside, he is using his brain smarts to keep his master away from harm, that he can't see.

You have to trust the dog at some point.