Great Pyreneese

They're big, they're sweet, they SHED!! A LOT!  They drool, they're LARGE (just thought I should emphasize that), they were bred for guarding flocks of sheep, and can be protective, but their personalties towards people is generally very sweet.
 
They're smart (They have to be to protect flocks on their own), but independent (again, because of working and thinking on their own).  Some have a "What's in it for me?" attitude, and yet others I've met have been "I love you, never leave me," and are very biddable.
 
Do you have a breeder picked out at all?  If you don't, I HIGHLY recommend Rivergroves Pyrs

I haven't started looking for a breeder yet (waiting till my living situation is a little more condusive to a puppy), but my boyfriend is really hoping I get one through the family they used before. His is actually part pyre/anatolian (only 1/4 anatolian). I'll definately keep your suggestion in mind, though! What city/state are they in?
I've grown up with great danes, so I'm fairly comfortable with big dogs. I've heard yre's bark a lot and are nocturnal, though?

Yes Pyr's are barkers, esp at night. Most of the LGD's livestock guardian dogs...are. Anatolians, Pyr's, Tibetan Mastiffs, etc. It's part of their job. Not fun in a suburban environment....they will bark indoors as well so it's not just a 'dogs bored outside' thing with them. I hear tell they can be trained not to do so...and of course some lines are quieter than others [] But many Pyr's I come across at shows are de barked.
 
I'm also in Texas...so waving hello!

a friend of mine has one to guard her mini horses
he is an awesum dog, very friendly but very very protective of Syl(my friend) from people he does not know
he isnt a big barker...he will bark when u arrive and then hes quiet
he does whatever Syl asks him to do even tho he goes out in the field to guard and check on the minis
he drools and sheds alot
if i ever needed a big guardian dog it would be a pyrenees or an anatolian shepard
both are awesum dogs so a mix would be sweet

I rescued and rehomed one 2 years ago.  YES they are barkers!  They bark at everything!  The wind, their shadows, butterflies - you name it.  They can be very difficult to train as they are breed to be independant thinkers and to maintain their flock with out direction of the human master.  They are very loyal to their owner.  Same sex pairs should not be kept together... they do not tend to get along very well.  I did not have any problems with her and my 2 female labs.  ONE BIG PROBLEM is they will roam/patrole large areas (upto a 9 mile radius) and are very difficult to contain in fences.  The one I had was 9 months old and able to EASILY jump a 6-foot wooden privacy fence in one single bound.

I have a friend who owns one. Full grown, she will be be very tall. She is taller than my dog and he's 26 inches tall. And she will be about 140 lbs. She sleeps outside, as she prefers, and guards the property, not be design of her owner but by her breed.

Keeping one in a fence is a big issue. If I were placing a Pyr as a pet I'd look for either a big place or a place so small that walks on leashes were mandantory.

Can your fence keep a Pyr in? Build your fence as tight and high as possible. Then get a bucket of water and throw it at teh fence. Anywhere the water got through, the Pyr will too. I believe some lines are less territorial and guardy than the strict working lines, but it's my opnion that that doesn't make a better dog to live with, just a less well-rounded dog. That's just based on my experience with other livestock guardian breeds. They are personable and fun to live with and can be guided to a certain extent BECAUSE of their instinct to bond with the herd. Take that away and you've got an independent dog that has no real motivation to mind you at all.

Regular walks is the way to keep your Pyr from barking at every little thing. They need to know what is going on and what constitutes "normal" in your neighborhood. You can't tell them that - they have to find out for themselves (hence the wandering or ceaseless barking). You'll want to go out as far as a dog can hear and preferably as far as he can smell (about five miles). If you can't do that, reconsider your breed choice.

Clicker training or other operant conditioning is the ideal way to shape good behavior in your livestock guardian dog, but they also need to know who is in charge - they need to know that when you say NO, you mean it. You do that by taking away privileges in response to unacceptable behavior. I'd drive them off my sheep here - in a family situation the dog would be made to stay out of the family area for a few minutes.

Good luck!

Can your fence keep a Pyr in? Build your fence as tight and high as possible. Then get a bucket of water and throw it at teh fence. Anywhere the water got through, the Pyr will too.

That is the funniest, but truest explanation I've heard in a long while!!!  LMAO

One thing to mention about the Pyrs...temperment, temperment, temperment.  Socialize early and often, then when you're too tired...do it again and again.  These are flockguard dogs-independent and suspicious.  That's how they earn their natural living.  Research breeders, meet their dogs, research temperments and research temperments some more.  You definitely do not want a giant breed dog like this to develop dislikes or become intolerant of visitors.

Wow, I really appreciate all the tips! We're hoping to move out in the country in the next year or so, so hopefully that would keep the barking down a little? My boyfriend's family's pyr isn't in a fence at all & seems to stay around pretty well, but I would definately feel more comfortable with a fence (esp. with his choc. lab). My boyfriend (we're hoping to get married in the spring)'s work schedule has him working nights about a week every month, so I really wanted a dog that I could feel safe with & keep me company. I love his family's pyr & he's very partial, but does anyone have any other suggestions? I don't want to rush into anything without exploring all the options. Thanks so much for everyone's input!

When I was going through dog obedience classes with my first IW, there was a great Pyr in the class as well-a large loveable goofy clown, who seemed to genuinely love the world, but as we advanced through the different obedience levels, the animal became too large and hard headed for the wife to handle and her husband had to start coming to class to get the dog to cooperate more fully at home.  They seem to sense very quickly if somebody is not fully in charge or if that person is not capable of backing up their authority and they will take full advantage.  In this case, the trainer continued to work with them and it was a good outcome for dog and family, but I often wonder how many folks run into this testing of authority when the dogs are quite large and can be quite unruly and just throw in the towel.????  They are beautiful and protective and even playful and loving with their family, but boy, what a handful (make that armful) no....both arms full of stubborness that they can become if you aren't constantly socializing and reinforcing the pack hierarchy of the household