Great Pyrenees Owners: Initial training question

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

I bought the puppy a toy and a flavored bone. What should I do when the puppy wants to play with me? So far, she is unable to play with any of the ducklings due to being reprimanded by the hens. Saves me the trouble of having to constantly correct her.

 

[tia]

He is darling.... I would have him curled up at the foot of my bed... Probably not enough room with my golden, border collie, and cat though. My best friend growing up had one. They sure are nice dogs...

Tia

 

[mamanaturale]

definitely make sure to work with the puppy around poultry. indi (our gp) never looked twice at our chickens until one escaped and she promptly killed our only rooster. dogs do not generalize, meaning a chicken in the pen does not mean the same thing as a chicken out of the pen. so while she guarded the chickens penned, she had no idea what to do when one got out and it looked a bit like a flying chew toy to her.... so now we have worked with her with the chickens/ducks in and out of the pen she knows the deal.

great pyr are the best breed ever in my mind, but never assume anything! lol.... we learned the hard way.

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

Quote:
I can tell she wants to play. Due to a lack of a response, I have decided to rough-house with her. She likes to play. Better me than the ducks.

 

[De]

I love my great pyrs. I have 2 a male and a female. The male is 3 and the female is 2 she is in heat, but it is to hot here for her to have puppies now so maybe next time.. She was not around chickens went she was a puppy so it was a bit of a time getting her to like them, but now she is ok in the pen with them.. He was 14 weeks when I got him so he was good with them.. Some puppies eat egg so watch for this...I will always have 1 or 2...

 

[erthymom2]

Our GP Emma is 7 months old and a "slobberer" when she catched one of the chickens outside of their encloser. At least once a week one of my chickens will decide they want to see whats on the otherside of their fence and comes out to wander around (6 ft. high fencing no less!)

Emma will catch them, lick and nuzzle them till they are just a pile of drool and matted feathers, then she'll bring them up to the porch door for me.
The poor things get a good warm bath, towel dryed and put in a box to dry off and fluff back out. They sleep forever after one of Emma's "treatments".

Emma has a "soft mouth" meaning she'll hold a bird in her mouth but not bite or crush them. Doesn't matter how big or small they are, she handles them the same. When chicks escape, you can't see them in her mouth cause she's got these droopy lips but you sure can hear them!
She is just the best farm dog and a great member of our family.

 

[jmc]

Isnt this thread in the wrong place?

 

[rainplace]

maybe it is, but i've enjoyed reading it.

 

[mekasmom]

Pyrs don't play a lot like other puppies. They play a bit, but not as much as other puppy breeds. Of course, we have always had multiples, so maybe they just played with each other. But ours never seem to want to play as often as a chihuahua or Aussie would. I don't see how it would hurt for you to roughhouse with her, as long as you remember not to teach her to play too rough. A 125lb jumping on you and biting your arm would not be acceptable like it seems when she is less than forty pounds.

I just had a GP puppy into the vet for his rabies shot and last boosters at just under four months of age. He weighs fifty pounds. He's already big enough to knock somebody down if he jumps on them.

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

This thread seems to have no home. First I posted it in Predators and Pests thinking that it was applicable to predator control. Then a moderator moved it to ducks because she is to guard ducks, and then again to here.

Fifty pounds in four months? That is a big dog.

I hope things go well. Statistcally things should work out, but there is no guarantee. Some interesting LGD statistical information found in this USDA publication. The two commands that I am concentrating on are "No" and "Come". She is really aloof at times though.