brookcove
Posted : 12/10/2006 1:36:05 PM
I have a half great Pyranees. You have my permission to smack whoever told you they are not affectionate, gently upside the head. Lu is mixed with Maremma, and I have a purebred Maremma male (I raise and train Marremas). Lu is a doll baby and comes and lays her hundred pound self all over me when I get on the ground. Our favorite game is "Who's a flat dog?" I get down, and she gets down-er, and I get more down, and she gets flatter, but she always loses because she can't resist starting to wiggle and lick my face. And she's pretty reserved, too. Tully, the male, is absolutely shameless.
Someone considering making a pet of a Great Pyr would have to remember that they are bringing a dog into their home that is originally bred to protect farm and flock. They are independent thinkers, and do best when they know what is right and proper, and when you have a protocol for signalling what is "OK".
You must walk the neighborhood regularly with these dogs - or they will go take themselves for a walk! They really have a need to go check out what they can hear and smell. Walk them on a leash a couple times a day, not just the perimeter but all through the neighborhood, and they'll be happy as clams. Walk or not, you MUST have very strong, tall fencing - or never let them out off leash. I like to say, build a fence, then throw a bucket of water at it. A Pyr can get through anywhere the water did. [8D]
Be aware that barking is something that is part of their nature - but it's not quite like other so-called "barky" breeds. It's not reactive, it's very calculated. If you leave these dogs outside where they decide you are leaving them in charge, they'll start signalling they are in charge - to the whole neighborhood!!! Ar-rar-rar-rar-rar-rar! Woo-ooo-ooo-ooo! Inside, they should not feel the urge to communicate, as you will be there to give them the cue that barking is not required.
You cannot bully these dogs into compliance. They do not learn by classic "pack" psychology methods. Isolation from the flock is the cue that the behavior was incorrect. And silence is encouragement of the strongest kind, because they are used to working very independently. So you do have to interfere actively when you don't like something you see. [
] Other than that, operant conditioning methods work GREAT on these dogs - they love to think that something is their idea! [
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Don't forget the coat. The spring blowout is nothing to sneeze at and even the correct working coat can matt very easily if neglected. Brushing is needed about once a week for a dog that is active, every couple weeks for a dog that is not exposed to brush or woods, or more than once a week for a show-bred dog with a plusher coat. Then you'll bump that up to constant raking during shedding season, for your sanity - buy stock in Furminator! [
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