Need Help, LGD issues

Whisperwindkat · #1 02/12/11, 06:29 PM

We have had our Pyrenees for 4 months now. She is still young, so we try to take that into consideration with her behavior. We got her because we have issues with the neighbors dog coming over here and killing the chickens. She is really good and watching the chickens and the goats during the day when everybody is out. In the evening everybody gets locked up in the barn and she has the run of the farm. She did a great job the other night running something away from the chicken coop. Don't know what it was since she got there first, but I could here it moving through the woods pretty quickly. So at times she does her job. Here is my issue. When the neighbors dog starts to make its way down my driveway, Dakota no longer runs it off. In fact it is as if she is inviting it to come on in. The dog has been allowed to get closer and closer to the house with Dakota doing nothing about it. Just now I looked out the window and Dakota and the dog were playing in the front yard. What am I going to do? I got Dakota to keep outsiders out, not invite them in to play. She is only 11 months old now so I try to take that into account. I have chased the dog off to show her that I don't want the dog here. It doesn't seem to do any good. If she isn't going to work and keep out stray dogs and such then I don't need her here. But I want to know if I am doing something wrong or if there is something that I should be doing. Any advice would be helpful. I really need a good LGD and I saw her parents working and they were awesome dogs, so I know she came from a good working line. All advice appreciated, Kat

berrley · #2 02/12/11, 08:32 PM

Unfortunately I don't have any answers for you but I hope someone does because I have the exact same problem with my 11 month old Pyr.

Natural Beauty Farm · #3 02/12/11, 08:40 PM

Ummm they are Puppies still. LGD do not mature until 2.5-3. You will have to do their job until then and show them what you want done. That is why I always recommend an older LGD over a puppy for a first LGD

Silver Marten · #4 02/12/11, 11:07 PM

I have read, and have seen from my own dogs and the dogs of neighbors, that great pyrs are not always dog aggressive. They are more likely to make friends with other dogs that they see on a regular basis. Some of the other LGD breeds are more likely to keep "friendly" dogs away. Our great pyr gets along very well with all of our dogs but keeps the coyotes away. Strange dogs she is leery of until they prove themselves trustworthy.

Kazahleenah · #5 02/12/11, 11:12 PM

My pyr was that way until about 2 years old-ish.

Creamers · #6 02/12/11, 11:32 PM

My pyrs are friendly with dogs he sees often - however, if they both livestock, you are apt to see a different behavior.

Cheryl aka JM · #7 02/13/11, 08:38 AM

that exactly what I was thinking. I've never seen my dogs go after a friendly dog~ but the one we had company over with a dog that wanted to chase chickens my dogs kept getting between that dog and my chickens. Very friendly, lots of tail wagging....no where near wherever the free ranging chickens were. That dog was a good dog and didn't insist on trying to get a chicken so I don't know what would have happened then~ but I do think a lot more was being communicated with the dogs positioning than it looked like with those wagging tails. And~ my dogs are going on 3 years old now so that probably makes a difference too.

motdaugrnds · #8 02/13/11, 09:20 AM

Dogs can tell when another animal is after whatever it is protecting. Apache Rose (large mixed breed) would let UPS & electrical meter reader on the place. She would watch them and even let them leave too. ROFL However, once I walked up to meet the UPS man, get my package and walked him back to the front gate just to finish a nice conversation. Apache was friendly and non-aggressive this entire time; however, when this same man was on the "outside" of our gate and reached his arm "inside" to help fasten the lock, Apache growled and lunged at his arm. (This story is told to remind all that some dogs "think" for themselves. As long as they know not to let anything hurt what is considered to be their keep, they are "friendly".) Now, as a puppy, she was less focused on guarding than on playing; and I suspect Pyrenees are the same way.

scholtefamily · #9 02/13/11, 09:31 AM

My great pyr is almost 2. If the neighbor dog comes into our yard she will play with them. She also is overly friendly. She greets everyone who comes in our yard walks right up to them and sits down waiting for them to pet her. It kind of annoys me! I want her to bark and stay back from people. She does however stay up all night protecting the chickens and us from whatever is out there by barking all night long. I keep telling myself she's almost 2.........and soon she'll grow into her job?!?

Cannon_Farms · #10 02/13/11, 09:47 AM

I want a femal pyr so if you chose to get another let me know,. id trade you a proven donkey but i think you need a good dog. She has another year before she will be full on the job. Males tend to be more territorial than the females at a younger age

RedSonja · #11 02/13/11, 12:54 PM

I got a female Pyr pup sort of on impulse back in July (I know, I know, bad idea. Especially since we don't really have fencing to keep her in). I went to buy some Angora rabbbits and the same people had a litter of Pyr pups for sale as well. She also plays with neighbor dogs when they come around which drives me nuts. She goes over and plays with other people's dogs too. *sigh* We gotta get better fencing... And she's only about 9 months old now, I keep telling myself to just hang on for another year and she'll be better.

Cannon_farms I'd trade her to ya towards the cost of your doe if you decide to sell. She's purebred but not papered, and not spayed. Good dog, just young.

Edited to add: Hubby says no trading off the dog. Guess he gets to improve fences if he wants to keep her.

-Sonja

thaiblue12 · #12 02/13/11, 02:38 PM

She is doing her job, you said she chased away something in the night at your coop.
If she is not fixed I would recommend you get her done before she comes into heat. Is the neighbor dog fixed?
Mine play with my house dogs, we had a dumped puppy and they played with him and were very nice to him, the second he showed interest in the chickens, he was squished flat to the ground. Not hurt but warned. He now stays far away from the goats and chickens.
She is young, wants to play and if he showed interest in the chickens her behavior might change and she may correct him.
You may want to get a paintball gun and shoot that dog a few times. It comes home all pink and green the nieghbor's may keep him at home.

Manchamom · #13 02/13/11, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaiblue12

You may want to get a paintball gun and shoot that dog a few times. It comes home all pink and green the nieghbor's may keep him at home.

I use red so that they think their dog is covered in blood at first look. I have talked to the sheriff about doing this and he completely agrees with the idea.

Whisperwindkat · #14 02/13/11, 10:11 PM

Thanks everyone. I figured that a lot of it was just her age and that she just wanted someone to play with. The other two dogs are getting up there in age and just don't have the stamina to wrestle like she does. She is fixed. I doubt the neighbors dog is. They aren't the kind of people that take very good care of their dogs. At least this one is not as aggressive as those of the past have been, but it has come after the chickens and the goats. That is why we got Dakota. I will say though that I have not seen the dog chase either chickens or goats since Dakota is around. So maybe she is doing her job better than I am giving her credit for. The paintball gun is a great idea. Thanks again to everybody.