Great Bernese mix dog... anyone have these with poultry?

[bigsurfwaves]

So... I got an unregistered Great Pyrenees for cheap and she doesn't look quite like my other Pyr. Totally different personality too - she kills/eats chickens, jumps on us and knocks us down every time we approach, chases and trees cats, even chases my 6 year old son to the point he won't go in the yard to play. She has a fenced 2 acre property with an invisible fence too. I had to put her on a runner... no choice! Spent 3 months doing lots of training with chickens and giving her more attention and now she's 15 months old.. but hasn't changed. Her first time unsupervised near chickens for a few minutes she circled the run at high speed and terrified the birds. I corrected her but within minutes she succeeded in desecrating my best new dark and blue layers despite the coop being closed. She thrashed around with them in her mouth and refused to stop until they were nearly dead. I have not had success training this dog to do ANYTHING. She might sit if I have a T Bone steak in my hand but she might not. No amount of time running loose will wear this dog out. It is not normal for a Pyrenees to act this way! I had a Pyrenees for 12 years who was a gentle and vigilant protector of all small animals and people. I guess the backstory is that this new dog got loose at 5 months old and killed and ate chickens that belonged to our neighbor. I thought I could correct her but her predator drive is way too high. Bummed to re home her but it has to be done.

We have way too much wildlife to have chickens without a dog working the property. I found someone who has raised Great Pyrenees dogs for sheep for over 45 years but they have recently lost their male and only have Great Bernese mixed pups. I'm thinking this sounds like a good idea but not sure. Thoughts?


Thanks all.

 

[LaFleche]

This must be quite a disappointment for you, but there must have been a reason why she was "sold cheap" and at 12 months old. How many previous owner did she have?

I think that you discovered now that the reason was that she is not to be trusted around farm animals or children and appearingly not able or willing to learn and respect boundaries.

Bernese Mountain dogs are wonderful farm dogs that were being kept to protect homesteads and the farm animals, but also for pulling milk carts etc. Sadly, they are prone to a certain heart condition and cancer which makes their life expectancy hardly more than 6-8 years (at least here in Germany that is the case).

What is the other mixed in part?

 

[bigsurfwaves]

This must be quite a disappointment for you, but there must have been a reason why she was "sold cheap" and at 12 months old. How many previous owner did she have?

I think that you discovered now that the reason was that she is not to be trusted around farm animals or children and appearingly not able or willing to learn and respect boundaries.

Bernese Mountain dogs are wonderful farm dogs that were being kept to protect homesteads and the farm animals, but also for pulling milk carts etc. Sadly, they are prone to a certain heart condition and cancer which makes their life expectancy hardly more than 6-8 years (at least here in Germany that is the case).

What is the other mixed in part?

Yeah. I got the Pyr at 8 weeks! She was a pup but yes sold cheap.

The potential new dog is a mix between Bernese Man dog and Great Pyrenees... from good lines of livestock guardians of sheep. Male and 14 weeks old now. There are 3 to choose from.

 

[bigsurfwaves]

This must be quite a disappointment for you, but there must have been a reason why she was "sold cheap" and at 12 months old. How many previous owner did she have?

I think that you discovered now that the reason was that she is not to be trusted around farm animals or children and appearingly not able or willing to learn and respect boundaries.

Bernese Mountain dogs are wonderful farm dogs that were being kept to protect homesteads and the farm animals, but also for pulling milk carts etc. Sadly, they are prone to a certain heart condition and cancer which makes their life expectancy hardly more than 6-8 years (at least here in Germany that is the case).

What is the other mixed in part?

My Pyr is likely to be part Golden Doodle. The place I got her was also breeding those.

 

[ShrekDawg]

My Pyr is likely to be part Golden Doodle. The place I got her was also breeding those.

That might explain the prey drive and increased energy. Although it should’ve also increased obedience hah she’s still young yet though. She might mellow out with age.

 

[LaFleche]

Yeah. I got the Pyr at 8 weeks! She was a pup but yes sold cheap.

The potential new dog is a mix between Bernese Man dog and Great Pyrenees... from good lines of livestock guardians of sheep. Male and 14 weeks old now. There are 3 to choose from.

Is he living with livestock at the breeder's?

 

[LaFleche]

My Pyr is likely to be part Golden Doodle. The place I got her was also breeding those.

While she is still young snd might calm down, I would not consider this a good mix for a livestock guardian.

 

[ShrekDawg]

While she is still young snd might calm down, I would not consider this a good mix for a livestock guardian.

Good point. But she might make a good pet. If they wanted to wait but idk that they do?

 

[Red Mangrove]

My Pyr is likely to be part Golden Doodle. The place I got her was also breeding those.

Anything part -oodle is going to be a ruthless animal killer. I wouldn't attempt it personally

 

[bigsurfwaves]

Is he living with livestock at the breeder's?

yes sheep