Should I accept a dog?

[nickie]

  I think I must have misstated my question. I've owned and trained dogs most all my life. True, mostly Dobermans, but dogs still. I presently have a dog I found on county road here and he does not stay on a chain. He has a few houses he visits but not what you are calling a "roamer". A chain is out. No way is that even an option.

  It does look though that the Pyrenees is not going to work here. I cannot fence my 19 acres. If you could see the lower 6 acres you could see why. Partly springs starting a creek and is the boundary. My main issue is Morgan is only 64 lbs. He would take on a coyote but I just don't think he would win out. A dog over 120 lbs would. Oh well, I was just wonder if that breed would stay home.

  Thanks

I'm glad you won't chain a dog. As a last resort chains can make a situation work,but no one is halt.

 

[oesdog]

I emailed my daughter in law today asked if she my son still had goats. And if so what breed of dogs they were using. I thought they had some type of shepherd. She sent back an email telling me they didn't have goats anymore but did have chickens. They also had 2 Pyrenees guarding the chickens. She also they were good to watch out for coyotes. They had already kill one.

But my point here is she said they didn't need 2. If I wanted one of them I was welcome to come get it. It's trained with chickens already so that would be taken care of. My concern would be fencing. I have 19 acres but no fencing. I read these dogs are bad to roam. I would love to have the dog but not if I can't keep it home without fence. Do I have to have fence?

I would be wairy of that breed. As a child I was visiting friends when their mother let their new dog into the livingroom for me to see. I had a dark navey school uniform on and this thing was a great big white fur ball so knowing my mum would kill me if I came home covered I didn;t want to actually go play with it too much. To my horror it came straight for me and caught hold of my arm. It savaged me right up the full length of my arm tearing my jumper. Next thing I heard it had shredded their new sofa and bit the postman very severely. It had to be distroyed. Sadly it was a Pyraneean mountain dog. It never put me off Dogs as now I have a big white fluff ball of my own but honestly I wouldn;t have one and certainly never around a child. If this dog has killed before a coyote then it could make a real mess of a child so be mindful of that. Especially if you are going to let the dog "free roam". If you want purely a working dog who will just be a farm dog to protect and nothing more then maybe but you have no boundry or way to protect your neighbours or kids from a potential risk. - if it is going to interject with family or other folk sometimes without supervision then I wouldn;t recomend that breed. There are great dogs like a boarder Collie who can protect the flock and are also a very good companion animal. They will attack to protect a heard and have been used against wolves, foxes and badgers. Other options - German Shepherd ,

Oesdog

 

[Ole rooster]

With a Collie you have the hair deal again. Plus I would just a soon trust Morgan to fight a coyote and a Collie.

I have been thinking about a Blue Heeler. But still I don't think large enough. Maybe I'll get Doberman's again.

 

[oesdog]

With a Collie you have the hair deal again. Plus I would just a soon trust Morgan to fight a coyote and a Collie.

I have been thinking about a Blue Heeler. But still I don't think large enough. Maybe I'll get Doberman's again.

Just so you know Collies come in a short hair version!

And it isn;t size that matters!



Blue heeler and collie are very similar and some folk x them.
Here is a Blue heeler/ boarder collie

Oesdog

 

[salunra]

Oesdog,

I am very sorry that you had this experience. But I want to say that this is not typical of Pyrenees. If properly socialized, they are fantastic with children. I have a "house pyr" and since she has no flock to protect she has become a guardian for my boys. They lay on her, hug on her, play with her. Yes, she is a big pup and occasionally she will accidentally knock them over, but she immediately stops, lays down and noses them to make sure they are ok. If we are out, she keeps them in sight at all times. She will be laying quietly at my feet while we are at the park, and then the kids will disappear behind a tree and she will get up to follow them. Also, she is in training to be a therapy dog. She is a favorite of the seniors that we go to visit because she is so calm and mellow.

Sorry to thread jack.... I just hate for anyone to see this post and think that this is a usual case with pyrenees. They are usually a very laid back breed and as long as they are properly socialized they are rarely people aggressive.

I would be wairy of that breed. As a child I was visiting friends when their mother let their new dog into the livingroom for me to see. I had a dark navey school uniform on and this thing was a great big white fur ball so knowing my mum would kill me if I came home covered I didn;t want to actually go play with it too much. To my horror it came straight for me and caught hold of my arm. It savaged me right up the full length of my arm tearing my jumper. Next thing I heard it had shredded their new sofa and bit the postman very severely. It had to be distroyed. Sadly it was a Pyraneean mountain dog. It never put me off Dogs as now I have a big white fluff ball of my own but honestly I wouldn;t have one and certainly never around a child. If this dog has killed before a coyote then it could make a real mess of a child so be mindful of that. Especially if you are going to let the dog "free roam". If you want purely a working dog who will just be a farm dog to protect and nothing more then maybe but you have no boundry or way to protect your neighbours or kids from a potential risk. - if it is going to interject with family or other folk sometimes without supervision then I wouldn;t recomend that breed. There are great dogs like a boarder Collie who can protect the flock and are also a very good companion animal. They will attack to protect a heard and have been used against wolves, foxes and badgers. Other options - German Shepherd ,

Oesdog

 

[watchdogps]

Oesdog,

I am very sorry that you had this experience. But I want to say that this is not typical of Pyrenees. If properly socialized, they are fantastic with children. I have a "house pyr" and since she has no flock to protect she has become a guardian for my boys. They lay on her, hug on her, play with her. Yes, she is a big pup and occasionally she will accidentally knock them over, but she immediately stops, lays down and noses them to make sure they are ok. If we are out, she keeps them in sight at all times. She will be laying quietly at my feet while we are at the park, and then the kids will disappear behind a tree and she will get up to follow them. Also, she is in training to be a therapy dog. She is a favorite of the seniors that we go to visit because she is so calm and mellow.

Sorry to thread jack.... I just hate for anyone to see this post and think that this is a usual case with pyrenees. They are usually a very laid back breed and as long as they are properly socialized they are rarely people aggressive.

Agrred, that isnt the norm for a pyr. Sounds like they had just gotten the dog and a) didnt know the dogs behavior patterns yet and/or b) handt had time for the dog to bond and transfer its loyalty to them, because LGD breeds should take their cues from their people or animals - if the owners werent percieving you as a threat, the dog should not have. But, dogs who havent bonded to their people will make their own decisions.

Re fencing - you could just fence part of the 19 acres, do you really utilize all 19 for the animals who need protection?

BTW, the dogs I suggest to people who call me wanting an ASD but only have a few acres and no fence are: Greater Swiss Mtn Dogs, Bernese Mtn Dog and Leonberger. They have many similar traits but are not as independent or wander-prone as the LGD breeds.

 

[NYboy]

I always read, you need 2 dogs. 1 is fine against a single coyote, but not a pack.

 

[Mountain Man Jim]

A chain is out. No way is that even an option.

I like that position

Jim