need great pyr advice

[Bubba]

It is not unusual for them to play/attack chickens as a puppy. Actually most people have to find out the hard way to see if they will become a chicken chaser (potential killer) as with any dog it depends on their personality. Some dogs will outgrow their obsession with killing birds when they mature but you have to be aggressive(Not aggressive towards the animal, I mean training aggressively) yourself in addressing the problem. Great Pyrs are protectors at heart but each dog has his own personality and temperment. For the most part they were bred to guard larger animals (Sheep, goats, etc) not fowl. Remember he is still a puppy, wants to play and is still learning.


Unlikelyfarmers as others have said you need to break him of that bad habit NOW! A dog that guards his food is a potential lawsuit just waiting to happen. What if a child walks by when hes eating, he will attack (Children are smaller so unless they know the child (even then) they are assumed by an aggressive dog to not be dominate over them). Dogs are mostly pack animals, that means a chain of command like the military. If you aren't above them on the chain you do not get respect. No respect means they have no qualms about ripping you apart if you do something to set them off. They should view ANY HUMAN as being above them on the chain unless the dog knows that person means you, your animals or family harm. A well trained dog will know when and if he should attack. If you have ill will towards another person and your dog acts upon it you should not scold or discipline him for it either. If another person makes you uncomfortable ask them to step away from you, your dog will pick up on it and any sudden moves they make towards you may lead to an attack.
Anyone I mean ANYONE should be able to walk up to him at any time put their hand in his food and take it away without him so much as growling. If he whines thats a different story but he should make no aggressive movements or sounds. It is for your safety, peace of mind as well as his (If he bites someone he will most likely be put down.)

Bubba

PS What color is your dog? The solid white kind or striped or....

 

[countrygirl4513]

This is an excerpt from an online site I thought I'd share with you. If I get a chance I will post a pic of my DH and his girls. We consider our girls as Farm Dogs, since they work and also are our pets.



The Dog as Worker
The Great Pyrenees is a territorial guard by nature, which means that he works to keep his territory free from predatory danger. Because of this, there may be times when the shepherd does not see the dog for long periods of time. He knows that the job is being done because the losses decrease. If the dog is working effectively, the stockman may never see a predator, and the flock will never be disturbed.

A good working dog has been selected for hostility toward all possible predators. This is why Great Pyrenees, although bred to work on bears and wolves, are equally effective on wild and feral dogs which are an increasing problem to stockman. By nature, the Great Pyrenees is nocturnal. It has no tolerance for other dogs except the herding dogs that it works with, and very small dogs. It can be trusted with small, young and helpless animals of any kind, but it has to be watched as a young pup with some supervision as it usually takes a pup 18 months to become a livestock guardian dog. It is one of the most interesting qualities of a Great Pyrenees-the absolute intolerance of all predators, coupled with extraordinary patience and kindness to stock.

There are basically two ways in which Pyrenees are utilized as protectors of stock. The first is what we call an all-purpose "Ranch or Farm Dog." This is a dog that lives on a farm, usually in the proximity of the farmyard and ranch house. He is part pet, part guard dog. He takes care of the ranch, the family, and the stock that is usually pastured close to the house. The other Pyrenees is what we call a "Livestock Guardian Dog." The Livestock Guardian dog is not a pet, and he is not allowed access to the farmyard or to the house. His sole duty is to protect the stock, in some cases on large isolated pastures or ranges. Both types are a working part of the stock operation and function as such. Pyrenees have been known to increase their territory and may also protect stock belonging to adjoining neighbors pastures. The breed performs admirably in either of these situations.

Because of the differences in the ranch/farm and working livestock guardian environment, if the stockman is looking for a working livestock guardian, the fact that a farm raised pup is born to parents who are "Ranch" or "Farm-Dogs" does not necessarily confirm its ability to perform successfully in open range, semi-isolated conditions. Most pups go to new homes between 7 and 12 weeks and have spent most of that time with their dam and littermates. A slight advantage is given to pups being raised with livestock as the breeders can observe their interaction. Many superb and effective working Pyrenees have never seen a sheep before their arrival at the ranch. What is most important is whether or not the parents and/or relatives have produced animals that have worked successfully in your situation.

 

[ozark hen]

I, too, would like access to the links on training G.Pyrs. I picked out a two week old male today. He is a mix but you can see he will be huge. They don't know what the female bred with but he has a black mask and white paws and is overall tan colored. I plan on keeping his cage inside the coop at night so he will become use to the chickens w/o them pecking him but keeping him with me during the daytime. The owners are going to get him to me as early as possible since being raised with the livestock(per se) that he will eventually guard seems to be the ideal.
Please post a pic of your beauty when you can.

 

[Kristina]

Those of you that are interested I'll get those links to you as soon as possible!

 

[countrygirl4513]

This is Least'n our G. Pyrennes. She is about 7 yrs old now. Great dog! Sweet dispositon, good livestock dog.

 

[ozark hen]

A few years back we had a gorgeous Great Pyr. She did not attack livestock but did go after coyotes. They instinctively protect weaker animals. The puppy I picked out a week ago was turned over to me yesterday at only 3 wks of age. Mother dog stopped feeding them. He sleeps in a cage inside the coop with the chickens now. But since he is so young I do not keep him in there with them without being in a cage. As soon as his eyesight develops and he is on his feet better..maybe another 2-3 weeks then he will be kept with the poultry during the daytime. They also instinctively protect an animal or person who is handicapped. You just have to give them a job and make sure they don't "expand" their territory or they will protect the whole countryside. Mine is a mixture but he has the extra toes on his back paws.

 

[countrygirl4513]

ozark hen, the extra toes are called dew-claws. Just thought I'd tell ya! Which by the way for anyone who doesn't know, they must be trimmed regular. Otherwise the do-claw grows and curls back into the dogs pad. This can be very painful. Keep an eye on them. Also, hip displasia runs in G.Pyrennes. Our girl is @7, she has times of walking slow or awkward. Keep this in mind when you choose a Pyrennes. Vet bills can be very expensive. I also recommend that you neuter your dog, unless you plan on breeding them.

 

[mdbucks]

dont the dewclaws usually get removed?? I know they did with our ST Bernairds. The vet did that on first puppy visit.

 

[countrygirl4513]

We didn't remove ours since the reason for doing so is if the claw doesn't form properly. Usually there is no problem. We just keep our girls trimmed. If you're gonna remove them its best to do it when they are pups, since it's more like a fingernail at that point and the bone hasn't formed fully yet. If the dog is to be a show dog, I know that they require the double dew claws to be intact. I don't think they know why they actually have the claws in the first place, could have been for defense back in the old old days. But regular checks on them to make sure they are not growing back into the pad is crucial.

 

[ozark hen]

yes, sorry, that is what I meant, the double dew claws.