This happened 7 miles west of my farm!

I know where there are some 600lb brown ones though

Ok - please note - I have a Pyr who has:

effectively rid my 32 acres along with the 400 acres adjacent to me of coyotes, wild dogs, and urban dogs. He did the job without any training from me and without any help from me. We don't hear any coyotes on our side of the road anymore - but do hear them yipping across the road on the 300 acres that is inhabited by people. That's fine with me, they can live over there. Amos is not discerning about what he chases down and kills as long as it is: dog type. I have found that he will not tolerate another dog on the property and when I got my rat terror, Lucy, she had to stay in the house and be very slowly introduced to Amos over a period of time. Now they are buddies and sleep together in the hay shed when he isn't out and about. But any other dog that comes on the property is run off or killed. Doesn't make for good neighbor relations so I had to personally go from door to door and tell the City folks who moved out here that they needed to keep their dogs on their property. One didn't and now is a true believer as she thought her standard chows were a match for Amos and would turn them loose at night. Two dead chows later, she rethought her actions and now keeps them penned. The chows were chasing my horses, but of course, "her puppies wouldn't do that"...oh well, live and learn the hard way sometimes.

I do not know how he would act when confronted by a cougar, bobcat or any other species of cat. He might or might not run it off. I think he would attack if a wild cat was bothering the horses as he sees them as "his responsibility". But I cannot tell you with all certainty that he would or would survive the fight if he did. I just don't know as we don't have them in my area.

I would think to take on a cat, you would need a pair of dogs. amos does his job so well because he outweighs everything around here. He's bigger, stouter, and more determined so now I see dogs that circle my place but won't come on it.
Amos is getting a helper this spring, but not another Pyr as the heat is too much for him - and me. I have to keep him clipped in the summer or he just pants himself silly. I am thinking of getting an Anatolian Shepherd or another short haired breed.

You would need to teach your Pyr(s) to stay on your property as they love to roam and Amos has claimed the 400 acres behind me as his property too. He never crosses the street or goes anywhere else, but will patrol the edges of the adjoining property lines. He barks loudly and alot, especially when he was younger. Now he's more settled and only barks when there is something to bark at.

If you had a LGD or two, at least you would be notified that something was on the property and have a chance of running it off before it got to your stock. Most wild animals, unless starving, or used to the taste of domestic stock, won't mess too much with it. Feral dogs on the other hand are far more dangerous as they aren't really scared of people or other dogs. Be prepared also for a Pyr to not live as long as other breeds, they tend to only live to 10 or 12 years and Amos is now 9.5 and has severe arthritis for which I have to give him medicine for in the wintertime. But he's also loving towards everything here on the farm, children are tolerated well, and he is trained to come, sit, heel, and stay. He also was groomed from eight weeks onward so he is used to that as well.

That's about all I can tell you about Pyrs, just make sure you get a working stock dog instead of a show dog. Amos came from a 4 generation working background and was born in a barn full of sheep and goats, his mom and dad worked and all his half brothers and sisters did. He came by his training naturally and hasn't been sick or anything other than the arthritis problems he now has.

Take care,
Sidepasser

__________________
Be yourself - no one can tell you that you're doing it wrong!

Don't get me wrong, I love my Pyr, but I'm not so sure everyone should just go out and grab one to solve all their perceived problems. I'm going to play devil's advocate and point out some problems that need to be considered. Our first Pyr came from "working stock." At two years of age he also developed a doggy mental illness and started attacking family members without provocation. This is NOT uncommon in our area (and probably other areas too) due to overbreeding to meet the increasing demand. There are at least 2 breeders in our state that have been breeding problem dogs and at least one more that I am aware of that has the potential. That one just doesn't have dogs old enough to tell yet. Please check with your local Pyr rescue group or breeder group to see if they are aware of any problem breeders in your area. Both our Pyrs are/were 150 lbs. That's a lot of dog if it turns on you or your kids. If this Pyr you plan to get doesn't walk your kids to and from school, the value of the protection seems to me to have been lost. They do tend to roam so you'll need good fencing. They also need brushing frequently though it isn't bad if you keep up with it. Most Pyrs bark a LOT and while I don't mind the lower pitch of most Pyrs, there are some Pyrs with VERY LOUD barks that are quite annoying. If the dog is outside at night doing its job, it doesn't sit well with nearby neighbors. One Pyr may be able to handle a mountain lion but two would certainly stand a better chance. That's twice the food, poop, brushing, vetting and what not. I saw a mountain lion cross the road in front of me about a year ago. They are around here too but rare. I still let my kids play outside even when they aren't near the Pyr