Pros & Cons of Great Pyrenees for an LGD

[Bear Foot Farm]

One of the questions I have is can this breed be taught to stay on the property

No, they need to be fenced in.

I wouldn't recommend a Pyr just for chickens​

 

[Trish44]

As far as the dog seeing people or cars passing, you can't see the road from our house, it's up & over the hill aways. So, if I understand you correctly the invisible fence could work in that situation?

 

[LotsaChicken]

Trish, I have known people who keep pyrs in invisible fencing and it seems to work for them, but most owners would advise you not to keep a pyr in invisible fencing. It doesn't seem to be as effective as it is with other dogs. Check out the forums at www.greatpyr.com..there is a couple of people there who keep theirs' using underground fenceing. You could learn about their trial and errors and might could find something that works for you.

As for not having a pyr just for chickens. I think that's hogwash. Granted I have more than just chickens, but a Pyr is worth having even if it's just for yourself!! They're great dogs and are very protective of everything they consider their's. As I type I can hear my two running my back fence "Woof Woofing" , which is at my chicken pens. I went out earlier to see if there was real threat, since they've been at it a couple of hours. I can hear coon dogs a mile, or two, back, on the river. My guys are letting them know they aught not get much closer. I can see much value in having them to protect just chickens, or whatever, livestock it is that you have, including smaller dogs...or even cats

 

[Trish44]

Lotsachicken, thanks so much for your comments & the link. I looked some at the site & will have to spend some more time reading there, but it looks like a good resource. From what I'm reading even just for a pet the Great Pyrenees seem like wonderful dogs. There are challenges with any breed of dog & I think it matters a lot how they are raised & cared for. I will keep researching, but am still hopeful that this breed will work for me. I do appreciate all the feedback & comments from everyone.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Speaking of dogs in general, it's a rare situation and dog that you can teach to stay on a property without supervision. There are dogs who will naturally do this, without training -- those dogs are usually older dogs with low drives or breeds that tend to be "guardy" like German Shepherds, Rotties, Dobies, ect.

It's just not realistic to train a dog to stay on property and expect compliance without direct supervision. Face it, without you directing your dog every few minutes eventually your dog will find something interesting enough to break a command. It is a self-rewarding behavior too, and most of the time, we as owners are far less interesting than that unknown dog they spot, a deer, rabbit, garbage thrown out of a car, cat, bird, or unfamiliar scent. LOL

 

[carolinagirl58]

In all my life, I have had only ONE dog that would stay on my porch and that's my pit bull, Bailey. She is 99.9% guaranteed to never leave the yard. It's that .01% of the time that concerns me though so even though she is very reliable, the front gate is shut when we leave and she is in the house at night. That .01% chance that she might leave the yard is enough for me. I'd hate for my dog to get shot because I didn't shut the gate.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

As for not having a pyr just for chickens. I think that's hogwash. Granted I have more than just chickens, but a Pyr is worth having even if it's just for yourself!! They're great dogs and are very protective of everything they consider their's. As I type I can hear my two running my back fence "Woof Woofing" , which is at my chicken pens

Your Pyr isn't really "protecting" the chickens if they are penned
The fences are

Having one "just for yourself" seems pointless when there are many other breeds that make good "pets", whereas Pyrs are a highly specialized breed

No respectable breeder of WORKING Pyrs would sell one to someone without livestock and enough pasture to give the dogs room to run​

 

[chickenzoo]

My Pyrenees Guard my chickens, exotic fowl and all my farm animals. My geese, swans and emu will even eat out of the food bowl with them. I've better luck with male GP's and birds then the females for some reason, although my one female puppy is doing a great job, and most problems before were with peafowl and more wild type ducks. Not all GP's or LGD for that matter are good with fowl, so unless you want to do a lot of training, finding an experienced dog is ideal. Fencing for any dog is a must... but especially a GP. GP's are great with children and anyone I let onto the property.... they are also fair guardians of the house. They do a lot of barking, a lot of digging holes but are a loyal dog and good overall companion. They spend a lot of time either sleeping with or interacting with the animals. I often find my GP's shoulder deep in a hole they dug, surrounded by dust bathing chickens in there with them... LOL

 

[Beekissed]

My GP mix did very well with invisible fencing....the wireless kind. The inground fencing is too unreliable and too low shock to prevent these dogs from breaking training and going off the property. They love to wander and range. The problem with wireless is the lack of a big range....mine will cover over an acre, which is just where it needed to cover and my dog was quite content to guard my chickens within that range.

GPs don't need "room to run" like other types of dogs....heck, mine spent most of the time lying around and snoozing. As do most of the GPs I see in the fields around here....nighttime is their time. They will be more active in the cool of the night and when predators are roaming...and my acre seemed to be all the run room my gal needed.

She was very vigilant to protect any and all livestock within her range....cows, sheep, chickens, cats. Yes, even the cats. It doesn't really matter what they were intended for, it only matters if they are content and proficient doing what you need them to do.

Mine was and she was excellent at it.

 

[Baymule]

There is another discussion about GP's going on right now................

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=590945&p=1