Great Pyrenees

[pjsgroom]

A great Pyreneese came into the clinic where I work. The guy that brought him said to euth. him because he had wandered into there yard and was pestering there dogs I talked the vet I work for to try and find his real owner. After about 2 wks with no luck sucker me brought him home I had him neutered and all his shots. He had a tumor on the top of his head that we took off. He was in horrible shape lots of mats so I groomed him and put him on Eukanuba lg breed puppy food to get weight on him. Now I can't let him off his cable or takes off. We have a 70 acre farm that I thought he could be loose but he won't stay home. right now I have his cable tied in the barn. He has about a 40 by 60 area. Is it bad to keep him there? I was always taught if you have a pet they should be part of the family. I have brought him in the house but he don't like that and gets to hot. Any suggestions on this breed.

[TheyCallMeMom]

mine is a wanderer.. has to be fenced or tethered.. My pyr's preferred spot is on the couch.. but she doesnt mind being tethered outside.. we walk her and she likes it on occasion.. she more likes horse play rather than running around. We got ours as a 6mos old rescue and she is excellent with our kids.. She will be the first of many pyr's for our family

[furrondie]

Great Pyrs are a livestock guardian breed. Like my Kuvasz and they love to roam their terrirtory. It sounds like you put quite a bit of money into this guy. I would suggest fenceless wire containment system. I had one over 15 years ago for two of my dogs, one a springer mix and one a hybrid (collie/wolf).
On my hybrid, I did have to shave a small area for the prongs to touch his skin through his thick coat. That was only for the training period as he was shocked a couple of times and never went over that line after that. They worked great and he would not cross the line even if a moose wandered near it.
Back then they were around 200.00 for a system. You do not even have to bury the wire, we just laid it on top around our acre. We did dig a little trench, about an inch deep where it went over our driveway and covered the wire in that. That way it was not broken when we snowplowed the driveway.
You can buy extra wire to make an area as big as 5 or ten acres if you want. This allows the dog to roam the area, yet not go off the property. It takes a small training period and you can adjust the warning area to the size you need. I know people say they are not humane but they really are a good tool.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or how it works, etc.
A big hug to you for taking in this dog and giving him a chance.

[pjsgroom]

I love this guy

Great Pyrs are a livestock guardian breed. Like my Kuvasz and they love to roam their terrirtory. It sounds like you put quite a bit of money into this guy. I...Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or how it works, etc.
A big hug to you for taking in this dog and giving him a chance.

The vet thinks he is only about a year old. He does have a lot of puppy in him. He likes to jump and play when I'm out in the barn with him and the horses. When I bring him he is scared to death. He cowers like I'm going to beat him. I have tried to socialize him by taking him to work with me and to a few of our local shelter events for pets. He is so scared until I get him back to the barn. We live in a cold climate so I fixed a real nice box in the barn with straw. He destroyed it and scattered straw all over & sleeps on the cold barn floor. I'm hoping when warm weather gets here I can be out with him more he won't be so scared in the house. I have a German Shepherd and a beagle already in the house whats one more big dog. How is the proper way to groom them. I just neaten him and give him a sanitary

[furrondie]

I don't know the specifics an the Pyre breed, but I believe it would be close to the Kuvasz.
These dogs were raised to guard the farmers livestock. They were bred to be independant and not live in the house. They tended to be left with the livestock and fended for themselves. The farmer of course provided food but that was it. They bed down among their charges so no warm house or straw for them.
Here is a link with some informtion on the Pyre: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/greatpyrenees.htm

And this is from another site:
<<The great, white, mountain dogs have been guarding sheep in the Pyrenees and serving in the French Royal court for hundreds of years. They have been very carefully selected to not only herd sheep, but also to protect them from any danger. They can even take on bears if necessary.
Great Pyrenees dogs are also bred to fend off human attackers, so they make very good and loyal guard dogs. In slightly less rural situations, they will usually be aloof with people who visit the house and let them.
The Pyr, as they are affectionately known, are massive dogs, with males weighing up to and over 160 pounds. Their fur is white or light colored and can be a few inches thick. They shed and so much that a veritable flurry of downy undercoat can moult in the summer.
As such, the Great Pyrenees are not typically house dogs. Aside from their exercise requirements, which are great, they often prefer to be out of doors, running around and on the alert.
Because they're so large it will take two years for these dogs to reach maturity.
Special measures need to be taken to ensure they don't escape and range about.>>

Hope this helps.

[bednbones]

What Do YOu Call A Great Pyr Off Leash .... Gone!

Google Dogtra in Torrance, CA. They make the best remote and containment systems. Our GP constantly took off to the golf course (that use to be a quarry) and we had endless fees from the animal control. So I got a remote collar for him. This only works if you walk the property line and whenever they cross, you zap. Otherwise you will need to lay the wire down. But they are so smart a few zaps and they stay put on the property.

Mine also will come to the house but when he is done, he is done and starts barking and we have to take him back to the barn. He is good except when he has food and the other dogs are around. We have to feed in a kennel or there could be bloodshed. Otherwise they are awesome family dogs. They will take on mt. lions, pack of coyotes etc ... they are fearless.

Grooming is as you stated above, remember the double dew claws - they tend to grow back into the skin if you don't keep them short. They will matt up if you don't keep them brushed. I just thin a bit and don't have any problems.

Livestock Guardian Dog List <[email protected]>

This is the best site to read up on your new breed. There are several there that will offer all kinds of advice. Whenever I have problems w/my LGD, I utilize this source. They are wonderful.

Enjoy your big new love.

[stewiedog]

My inlaws have 2 pyrs that they use for gaurding their sheep, and goats. They were raised with them as puppies, and think they are one of the flock/herd. The breed was made to be outside. My inlaws do take them to be groomed, and vetted other than that they are outside and used for what the breed was intended for.
I would try and find him a job on your "farm"/"ranch". He probably is just totally confused, and out of place being inside. If you want to make him an inside dog remember you are most likely taking him out of his element, he has probablly been outside his whole life.
I used to foster exracing Greyhounds, if you can make pets out of them I believe you can make almost any dog accept being a pet (granted they are not overly aggressive) It takes ALOT of work, and COMMITMENT. A few outings to work, and adoption events wont be enough. Keep with it, and remember it wont happen over night. Also remember what your dog was bred for and his insticts he is probablly happy as can be to be outside, just find him something to do.

[sheilabgroomer]

GP's have become popular in my area in the past few years since coyotes were introduced and became such a problem w/livestock. They have also become a popular breed (unfortunately) to find wandering or in shelters or sadly, on the side of the road.

Sounds like your fella needs a job and a fence to keep him happy. I wouldnt' worry to much about the warm bedding since he made his opinion known on that subject.....lol....they have a coat that is designed to endure harsh weather conditions. Keeping him well groomed will help the coat do it's job. Just make sure that he does have some type of shelter (dog house, shed, or barn door left open) that he can use if he wants too.

I wouldn't force him to become a house dog since it seems like he feels very uncomfortable indoors. Maybe when the weather permits you can leave a door open and casually coax him in w/treats, toys or playful behavior. If the door is left open so he can easily leave if he feels uncomfortable he might not feel "boxed in" and will slowly start enjoying being inside.

It was terriffic of you to take him in and give him a home. Just keep doing what you are doing w/socializing him and continue working w/his other issues. I bet once he matures a lilttle and looses his fears he will become a wonderful pet.....provided you can keep him contained in your yard....lol

[MydogMissy]

I'm sure he'll be fine in the barn. If that's where he's happy and you provide straw and whatever, then don't feel guilty if he doesn't like the house. Not all dogs like living indoors, especially if they didn't grow up that way. Keep him matt free, fed, and sheltered and he'll be just fine.

[D'tails]

There is a farm near me that has a few. They live in the pastures with the goats and seem quite content to lounge around watching over them. Someone who used to show them once told me they are fairly 'hard' dogs and do not make good housepets.

[DeannaK]

Pyrs

I have been showing and breeding pyrs for over 15 years. They are a lovely breed, but as most breeds they do have some characteristics that aren't for everyone.

First and foremost, they are wanderers - EVERYWHERE is their territory. Preferrably they should be in a fenced in area- whether a kennel or a livestock yard, at least 6' tall. I would never "okay" a tether or tie out situation, for ANY dog. Too many instances of strangulation.

The timidness is another part of the breed. Some can be socialized and it creates the confidence needed to overcome it - however, others never seem to get over the shyness and just feel more comfortable in certain "spaces". The fact that your guy is a year old, does give hope. Take him places, PetSmart, Petco, etc... bring him in the house - reward him with very irresistable treats - steak, chicken, peanut butter, cheese.... The only thing that makes you wonder, is you don't know how he was treated for the first year of his life - so most of all be PATIENT.... He's still a baby.

Please feel free to message me, if you have any other questions - I'd be more than happy to help.

Best Wishes to you and your new addition!

DeannaK

[hello]

my pry

I signed on just to chat with you. My pyr is now 6 years, I rescued him when he was actually one and 100lbs however the rescue site said he was two. He was just beautiful, I got him home and within one day I was in tears, he was horrible, he would take pillows, throw rugs and antyhing that was not nailed down outside to chew and in fact when I went outside as soon as I hit the grass he thought I was a giant raggy ann doll, I still have tee shirts with the rear ripped out compliments of bear. When I went to get him micro chipped I discovered he was actually one and not two, big big difference. The resuce said he had already been returned twic. Away we went to training, and I do not believe in putting him on lease in the yard, so he would sit in the yard so nicely and the second I my attentions would be else where he would quietly sneek away and would not travel on the sidewalk but would travel along the houses so I could not see him, this behavior pattern continued for about a two - three years, I found him in a Fed Ex truck once he wanted to go for a ride, at the elementry school down the street chatting with the maitience man, in a neighbors house which he entered through the garage to enjoy a snack. If I did not take him for a walk he would walk himself. One day while I was searching for him a man down the street said he was traveling like he was on a mission. Well needless to say he his much smarter than me. Now we jsut celebrated his 6th birthday he weighs in at 140 lbs, gib bones :-), I walk him mostly every day and he doese not seem to have the desire to escape any longer.