Questions about White Pyrenees LGD...

thegriffiths · #1 04/11/10, 01:29 PM

We have been given a 5 month old Great White Pyrenees pup. They told us she would be great as a guard for our small goat herd.

I would love to have anyone with experience with this specific breed to give me some advice as to:

- Bonding them to the herd
- Getting them to want to stay with the herd and not follow us back home
- Training ideas that work
- Any quirks of the breed

Thanks in advance. I am going to post this in the Goat area too to get some feedback there.

Bearfootfarm · #2 04/11/10, 01:32 PM

Quote:

I would love to have anyone with experience with this specific breed to give me some advice as to:

- Bonding them to the herd
- Getting them to want to stay with the herd and not follow us back home
- Training ideas that work
- Any quirks of the breed

This covers it all:

http://www.bountifulfarm.com/lgd_seminar.htm

LonelyNorthwind · #3 04/11/10, 10:29 PM

My friend down the road had a great white Pyrenees to watch over her sheep & goats. He was gentle with the kids, easy to train and great with the critters. The biggest problem she had was his hair. So long and thick and constantly matted that she had to shear him along with the sheep every summer. He only lived 'til 7 or 8 but I don't know if that's normal or not and I don't know if the horrible matting was because we're in a wet climate or if it's indicative of that breed. Sure was a mess but a great dog.

Johnny Dolittle · #4 04/11/10, 11:00 PM

The working dog breeders can test to determine which puppies have better guarding instincts. The puppies who don't make the grade are culled and sold for pets. I read the bountiful farm link and it also addressed this.

I have an Ausrtralian Shepherd and a Border collie. Always wanted a Pyrenees. A while back a friend of mine had 1000 sheep, 4 Border Collies and a Pyrenees. They have wonderful dispositions much like Golden Retrievers.

brosil · #5 04/12/10, 07:10 AM

Leave them with the herd and pay as little attention to them as possible. You need them to like you well enough to come to you but they have to think they are goats. They do mat up some and may need shearing from time to time. When they stand in the water trough, it's normal. They aren't known for being long lived.

norcalfarm · #6 04/12/10, 08:21 AM

5 months seems a little old to begin the process but I'm fairly new to LGDs myself. How was the dog raised prior to you being given her?

luv2farm · #7 04/12/10, 11:01 AM

We bought one at 6 weeks old.....read the books, done the training,............

She would NOT stay in a 5 foot high fence (jumped out...constantly)
She chased the sheep all the time
She chewed the ears of one poor 'lil lamb
Etc, etc, etc,

She finally jumped out of the fence, I tried to find her - never did-

Just my experience....

oceantoad · #8 04/12/10, 11:45 AM

I have two Great Pyrs and a 3/4 Anatollian/1/4 Great Pyr.

One Great Pyr is a house dog and is pretty laid back when around the animals, but he always has me around at the same time.

The other Great Pyr is in the field with the goats and chickens, and a llama. This Great Pyr is about 6 years old and stays around the barn area to sleep. When there is a threat or the other dog is barking then she is up and running in that direction. She is great on chasing buzzards and hawks that might be over flying the area. She was bought at an age of about 6 weeks and put in the field with the animals. We had little contact with her and she was great with all the critters. She never even killed a chicken. Now that she is old she has gotten "crotchity" in her old age. No animal had better be around her when it is feeding time and she also has her "personal space" that she does not like invaded. Still protects when needed.

The Anatollian mix stays with the goats. You can look out and see the goats laying down and he will be right there with them. He is very protective and very active. He is my killer of all things that don't belong. He was also bought at an early age and put out with the goats and chickens. I had lots of contact with him on a daily basis and at times would sit in the field with him. He ripped a goats ear at an early age and I have lost count of how many chickens he killed the first two or three years of his life. He is about 5 years old and finally has learned to not see chickens as toys to play with. He is much more laid back when it comes time to feed and does not have aproblem with his personal space being invaded. I have seen baby goats walk all over him.

I took my leads from a guide that the USDA put out on livestock guardian dogs. I went for dogs very young in age. If I remember correcty, at 12 weeks of age the pup had a much smaller chance of bonding with the herd.

At 5 months of age I would say that it would be a crap shoot on the dog bonding. I sure would not want to bet on it. It might want to spend more time being around people and not consider it as being as part of the herd.

Give it a try, but be ready for possibly having a house dog instead of a LSGd.

Wolf mom · #9 04/12/10, 12:56 PM

Imbreeding causes hearing loss. Be aware - Been there. Males can be really ferocious guard dogs and the breed can be stubborn. Yes, they have shorter lives compared to small dogs, but the time I had with my female was very rewarding.

Bearfootfarm · #10 04/12/10, 02:35 PM

Quote:

She would NOT stay in a 5 foot high fence (jumped out...constantly)
She chased the sheep all the time
She chewed the ears of one poor 'lil lamb
Etc, etc, etc,

All very typical Great Pyrenees behaviors

thegriffiths · #11 04/12/10, 03:36 PM

Thanks all for the advice. The article was great info too.

We will just see what happens. She is a beautiful dog. Seems real gentle too.

**Ross** · #12 04/12/10, 08:47 PM

At the risk of spreading tar and feathers further than deserved, after all my reading on HT and some close friends experinces with GP's and others, it'll be a cold day in hotsville before I have a dog defend my sheep!

treesaw · #13 04/12/10, 10:02 PM

I have a Great Pyrenees/Anatolian shepherd mix. I have three other dogs and have owned many dogs over the years...my Pyr is my gentle giant and the best dog I've ever owned! He is young...not even a year old...but is an inside dog mostly, but also loves being outside on the farm. He is extremely bright and knows which animals belong and which do not. He has never ate a chicken and readily accepts our additions to the flocks. Whether he is inside or outside (he often prefers outside during the nights when the weather is good), he lets us know when strange people or strange animals are around. He is my pride and joy and keeps all the farm animals safe. I have heard the Pyr/Anatolian mix is usually a great dog!

lostspring · #14 04/13/10, 07:32 AM

Having had Pyrs for a number of years(15) I will say
Pyrs will set their own area to defend. Fences will mean nothing to them. Sometimes this will be a small area, sometimes not. It helps to have understanding neighbors.
Their first defense for their flock or herd is barking, which they do a lot. When they decide it is time to get serious it happens decididly and fast.
They really need to get started with the herd or flock very early in life. 5 months if not raised with them for me would be to late.
I have never had a problem with them hurting or chasing my stock (goats).
Mine were all purebred from working parents.
I never lost an animal to predators 2 or 4 legged when I had them.
My .02 worth.
Tom