adopting!

I know you will get some great advice about the Great Pyr on here.  I just wanted to say how wonderful it is to hear you are adopting!  Soon some lucky dog will have hit the lottery!

Great pyrenese are Guardian dogs, the female listed might not tolerate strangers in your house as well as your old dog did. They are bred to attack any wolf,coyote, or unknown dog or person that gets into the fence with their 'herd/family'. However not all GP's have such a high gaurdian instinct and can make great family pets. Some Gp's could care less about protecting a herd of goats.

The ones I have met are pretty calm and tolerant of thier family doing things to them. I have seen videos of GP's allowing young goats to sleep on their backs and jump around ontop of the dog when he lies down. They love being with their family but obedience training...well they are not border collies. lol

This is only from my personal experiece with the breed and crosses of the breed,GP's are farily common in the goat owning community down here. Im sure someone will come along and post more about them. :)

JackieG

I know you will get some great advice about the Great Pyr on here.  I just wanted to say how wonderful it is to hear you are adopting!  Soon some lucky dog will have hit the lottery!

I just wanted to second the above comment!! I don't know much about the breed other than that I think they're beautiful dogs.

Hi everyone!

Well, we went to tthe shelter today, and met both dogs I posted about. Unfortunatley (but not really unfortunatley!) the spanielX (who was an absolute DOLL) was already adopted. We met and walked Miaka, the Great Pyr. She was stunning. Big, beautiful and sweet. But very aloof. Probably one of the quietest dogs I've ever met. The shelter staff told us she was found as a stray, so they don't have much backgroud info on her. I'm sure her life has been a tough one, and it almost seems like she's 'hardened herself' to the world. She is very quiet, and has eyes that seem to be always looking somewhere off in the distance. You can learn alot about a dog by looking into their eyes, and with her it just seemed like she was completely indifferent to the world. It melted our hearts of course to see her so sad, and we liked her alot. But I'm just not sure that she is the perfect match for us, as we are looking for a dog who is a little more upbeat. I keep thinking "well, once she is out of that shelter and in a loving, consitent environment, she'll change!!" But I know from what I've read about GP's they are, in general, rather aloof, independent dogs, and so I could be wrong. So, after lots of thouht, we decided not to put in an application for her. I really hope that she will find a loving, quiet home. Maybe a senior citizen would be a good match. She is ever so gentle, that even though she is HUGE, anyone could handle her!  I'm sure she will make someone a lovely companion. So the search continues. I know my next best friend is out there somewhere!!

 -bernerbear

I am so glad to see you.  I have been wondering how you and your family were doing.   I know you will find the perfect match for your family.  There are so many out there that need a loving, caring family. 

Hi everyone!! Well, I'm very pleased to announce that we are adoptiing a puppy!!! She is a four month old French Spaniel, and she is absolutly gorgeous!! I found her on Petfinder. Right now she is actually in a different province. The rescue orginization that she is with works with a shelter there, and posts dogs up for adoption here in my province - then once they have homes lined up for a bunch of dogs, they drive them all down to our province, and we go and pick her up! (next weekend!). I am sooooo excited!! After doing some research on the French Spaniel, I am convinced they are the best medium-sized dog ever!!(Bernese Mountain Dogs still trump the large breed catagory... IMHO!!). So, we are really looking forward to it. I'm so thankful I came across her, I think she will be a great match. Anyway, I'm sure you'll be hearing from me lots in the puppy training threads, as I brush up on my puppy skills!! Wish us all luck with our new baby!! Here are some photos of her!! (As she is still in a different province, I've never met her.) This is all I've seen of her. But so far I LOVE her!! Okay, sorry, I'll stop gushing. But see for yourself!!!.>>>>

 Thanks for bearing with me!!

-the soon-to-be-proud-mom,

    bernerbear

p.s. thanks shadowgrins, it's good too be back. And thanks again for all your support during Jethro's battle. It was very much appreciated :)

 What a pretty girl!  Congrats!  Does she have a name yet?

bernerbear

Our criteria for a new dog are fairly broad - one that has a loving personality and like to be close to the family, enjoys regular romps free in our woods and fields, and is eager to learn obedience training. We are have opting to steer away from extremely 'hyper breeds' like border collies (I know I'm generalizing a bit...) as we prefer dogs who are a little more calm natured. In terms of size, we prefer medium to large dogs, and I can't say we don't all have a soft spot for big huge cuddly bears!! (Jethro was one of the best cuddlers I've ever know!).

Congratulations on your new spaniel girl- she's adorable! I just wanted to comment on your experience with Miaka. She sounds like a Great Pyrenees with the correct temperament. They're pretty much the opposite of some of the criteria you posted. Great Pyrenees are very independent and are generally not fond of obedience training. They have their own mind and have been bred to live/work independently outdoors with their flock. They have a very strong instinct for roaming to expand their territory. They're also more aloof/dignified than cuddly. So it's good that you didn't expect her to change and I think  you made a great choice with your puppy. :)

Congratulations!! She looks so pretty!! I can't wait for you to post a thread with pics once you get there.

Thanks! We think she's just the cutest!! I'll deffinately be posting a thread full of pics of her once we get her! The name she has now is Kyra. We like it, but we know a few girls named Kyra, so we would like to change her name. We kinda want something french, in honor of her heritage, but it doesn't ahve to be....ANY IDEAS????? We want something pretty and unique. Feel free to post all your brilliant ideas!! Thanks!

-bernerbear

p.s. oooh today I gathered all my old doggy stuff, cleaned everything, and this aft. I'm going shopping!!! WOOO. All little hard going through all of Jethro's old stuff though :(. But I'm sure he's looking down on me with a smile on his face saying "Hey! I remember that!! OOH, that was my FAVORITE TOY!! But up here it's way better, mom, so no worries!! And the new girl can even have my old crate, okay!! Take good care of her!". He was such a loving dog, I'm convinced he'd be happy to know we're adopting this little girl!

congrats! she's a cutie!

what about Madeline - Maddie for short, like that little kids book with the French Girl. =]

What a cute puppy!  How about Aimee-means much loved or another is Aline-means noble.  Can't wait to see more pics.

I second Madeline!! I thing that name is adorable as the pics of your new pup.