Getting a Pyrenees Pup

[Tiss]

We are going to look at and hopefully get a great pyrenees pup this afternoon. I'm more nervous than I was when I gave birth to my human children.

He is from working stock and has been raised with goats and chickens. I plan for him to live inside our 2 acre fence with the goats and chickens. Any last minute tips I need to know about raising/ training him?

 

[Southern by choice]

Do you know what you are looking at to assess a LGD pup? That would be my first question. Many people are under the impression that because the pup is coming from working stock all the pups are going to be great LGD's. That is not true. The breeder should be showing you the dogs in the field and showing you the strengths of each pup. The breeder should be able to see at 8-9 weeks which pups may not be as suited to LGD work. Pup should have at least 1st worming and at least one puppy shot. Check eyes, and teeth. Proper bite is important.

The better the pup to start with the less training the pup needs as far as a LGD goes.

GOOD LUCK on your puppy find! LGD's are awesome! and pics please!!!

 

[Tiss]

Thanks for the tips. They've had shots and been wormed. The mama dog will be there so I'll be sure to see how she works.

I'm not sure exactly what to be looking for. One site I read said to go for the pup who is laid back and watching. Any tips are appreciated.

 

[Southern by choice]

I prefer to go for the watcher. The watcher WILL WATCH. They are attentive, usually sitting, observing...YOU. The dogs that come up and want a bunch of attention... nah not for me. If you move across the field I am watching the pup that will trail and still watch the stranger in the field, the one who is attentive to all that is happening. The pup that will remain within 10 ft at all times with the master watching what you are doing. If a pup is more interested in playing with the other pups than sitting back, I do not want that pup. Shy pups that are timid are a no go. Of course this is hard to describe over the internet. If the watcher pup comes up checks you out, lets you say hi, then walks away and returns to watch mode ...this is a good dog. Patrollers will be very different, they will stand alert, looking every which way, usually, and often will travel the perimeter and then return. Gauge the pecking order if possible. Pups that spend all their time playing with or trying to dominate the other pups tend to be harder to manage on a small farm/property.

Hope this helps a bit. Do not be surprised if the breeder does not know how to assess a pup, many don't ... that's okay it doesn't mean the dogs are not good!

The Great Pyrenees is a breed that will steal your heart! You will want to take them all home!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tiss]

I've really liked all the GP's I've met. I've only had one dog in my adult life (we adopted a mutt) and it didn't work out so well so I am really nervous about this.

I just have too much invested in these goats to lose any of them! I will keep your tips in mind as I check the pups out. They are about 8 weeks. Will it be okay to move it right into the barn? I can fix up a little bed or doghouse for it in a stall. I want it to learn that the barn is its home and the goats are its family. We are in Georgia so we're not talking arctic temps.

 

[Southern by choice]

A place in the barn is best. What kind of goats do you have?
You will probably want a divider for goats and dog so they can see each other. The pup won't hurt the dog but the goats can hurt an 8 week old pup! If the goats have never been raised with a LGD than you need to get the goats acclimated. Supervised time with goats/pup together so the goats understand it is not a predator. Goats will butt usually at first...this is okay as long as they are not trying to pummel the pup. You want the animals to be able to see each other.

I always wash a pup and dry it thoroughly before bringing it to the farm area. Bio-security reasons.

 

[Tiss]

Good tip. We'll bathe it.

I have 2 lamancha does, a minimancha doe, a Dwarf Nigerian buck on lease here and 2 Alpine does that will be here in a couple weeks when we get their positive pregnancy test. All of the goats have been raised on farms with dogs before. I can put a bit of fencing across a stall door and let the pup live in there until they all get to know each other.

The goats are all disbudded too so at least they won't be able to hurt the little guy too badly butting.

 

[Tiss]

We brought one home and I just made the mistake of going up to the barn to check on him. Now he's crying. Poor little guy.

 

[Southern by choice]

He will be fine.... will you? I'm sure you are already lovin' him! ...and that's it...your not gonna tell us anything else?

Ok, so when will you give us our fix for pics???

BTW- I just saw it ...

 

[Tiss]

No, I'm not going to be okay . Can't stand the thought of him crying all night. I know he'll get over it and I'll only make things worse by going back out there. But it's hard.

I did a supervised introduction between him and the goats. He shows no interest at all in the chickens which is good and the goats are more interested in him than he is in them. Kat, the herd matriarch, managed to give him a head butt a little harder than I would have liked, but he took it in stride. He's in a stall now with a thick hay bed. I'll do another round of supervised introductions in the morning.