Question. Does any of my friends here have a Great Pyrenees's?

[Corgigal]

I'm considering the breed but have a bunch of questions. I just throwing this out here to see if I can get info before I talk to a breeder.

[hlthe2b]

1. Lovely big giants with generally wonderful temperaments... but

notorious for bad hips and thus early onset of debilitating arthritis and a shortened lifespan.

Love the big guys, but the breeding has not been great, as with many big and giant breed dogs.

[Corgigal]

3. Agreed

but I can't consider any other way to keep my corgi, chi mixes safe.

We had a coyote come right up to our porch last night. Cats missing in the neighborhood and DNR estimates 200'coyotes within a 5 mile radius. I live on a acre and it would break my husbands heart to see a coyote take away a friend. Sure, they aren't ever unwatched but coyotes are nothing but smart. Have one on the camera from last week too, yard is fenced.

I'm just thinking. It's a huge dog, lots of work but highest estimated degree of safety.

[TexasProgresive]

9. Lived with Pyrs for 40 years

If you need them to guard the best training is to get a puppy 5-7 weeks so it will bond with their charges. A warning some have triple coats and require grooming.

[Sedona]

2. Tune in to Stephanie Miller

Monday thru Friday's 9am to 12pm on freespech.org. She has two who are regulars on her show.

She adopted Max and Fred from http://gentlegiantsrescue.com/

[Corgigal]

4. Beautiful

Thank you. Reasons why I'm considering above, if ya curious.

[applegrove]

5. Love them. I'm so jealous of people who have an acre of land to let a big

working dog roam. It was a dream to have a hobby farm and big working dogs. Now I'm too old. That will never happen. But I did have a customer with a GP 30 years ago. Every time she came to the market the public would constantly stop her to ask about her dog. I Don't know if it was a pleasure or an annoyance for her. But be ready for some attention.

[Corgigal]

8. Well I'm 59

and retired close to the smokey mountains because of its beauty.

I'm happy to finally get to this point of my life, but learning about this life along the way.

[applegrove]

10. Smokey Mountains were the first giant mountains i'd ever seen. Beautiful.

I'll never forget the feeling.

[RandomAccess]

6. Years ago I researched them for possibly getting one

What was emphasized back then was that they're herders by nature and need a lot of room to roam (and preferrably things / people to herd).

Recently there was an amazing story of a Great Pyr who stayed behind in those horrible CA fires with the herd of goats the owners didn't have time to take. When they returned some DAYS later, they expected all to be lost. But no, the Great Pyr was a little worse for wear but he and his charges were all fine.

[TexasProgresive]

12. They ARE NOT herders Pyrs are livestock protection dogs

Shepherds, collies and heelers are herders. Our Pyrs are part of the herd. Wherever the goats go there they are.

[RandomAccess]

14. Well that's good to know

Oh, I'm just now remembering -- when we lived in the country half a decade ago one of our rural neighbors bought a couple to go with their new, small Llama herd.

[TexasProgresive]

17. Theres a lesser Pyranees that French sheep herds

Use to move the flocks.

[stopwastingmymoney]

23. His name is Odin

And he picked up a couple of baby deer along the way. Isn’t that incredible?

[RandomAccess]

25. Yes, a fabulous story

[Iwasthere]

7. Best breed ever.

We have had one for 8 or 9 years. Gentle giant. Our sweet loving Keiko. His is stubborn though, and will live shorter life, small dogs live longer. Great if you have any other animals, protects our chickens, cats etc... working pet

[procon]

11. Yes, Pyrs have been part of my family since the 70s.

First as working livestock guardians to protect the ranch from predation from coyotes and loose dogs, then as our cherished companions and couchmates. We raised a couple of litters along the way, trained good working dogs to protect home and herd, and as we age I hope to have a Pyrs in our lives forever.

You're right to ask about them before you commit, they are unique dogs and won't be a good match for everyone, but if you make that critical bond, you'll never own another breed. If I can help, let me know.

[Corgigal]

13. I'm gonna PM , if you have time

got some questions.

[Demoiselle]

15. I've had several...

I live in the Northwest corner of Philadelphia (yes, in the city) and have had Pyrs for years. I've always had a fenced in yard for them….and I do my best to take them on nice leisurely wanders whenever I can. Since their original work was to protect sheep from wolves, care needs to be taken in introducing them to other dogs. Wilbur (my latest) is a Pyr rescue who quite happily shares dog responsibilities with a very sweet lady black Lab mix. I've had two siblings, male and female. Then a mother and daughter. …So five in all. I also had a Kuvasz (the Hungarian version) who was terribly smart, but not as easy around other dogs. Pyrs are essentially rather lazy, which suits me just fine.
They're a lot of dog, of course, and I love them. They can be strongly protective…which is both an asset and, at times, a disadvantage. I'm sure a breeder will be very helpful. The more training you can give them, the better.

[Corgigal]

16. Thanks

I was just wondering if my half an acre, fenced back yard would be too small.

Also thinking a female puppy, to raise with my goofy dogs. My one chihuahua loves to bark, alone by the fence at night. I'm thinking, omg I have no way of getting her if a coyote says hi.
We are only allowing them to go individually at night why we wait for them on the patio. I don't need a small dog bark telling the local wildlife. Hey over here, eat me.

I'll put up the coyote film from last night. Right on our walkway, via up our driveway.

[Corgigal]

18. Videos of my coyote on tape

Two in the pass week. One about 5 feet from our front door, taken around 8 pm.

The one with the patio furniture, taken around 230 am, inside our fenced yard.

[Kali]

28. first vid is NOT a coyote

second one might be, hard to tell

[Texasgal]

19. Beautiful dogs!

Seem to have a lot of hip and bone issues. I know you've most likely heard this but I hope you rescue instead of purchase. There are a lot of GP rescues.

[Corgigal]

20. Cant

I already have 3 dogs that are small. Can't risk that going bad. However, I do own a pound pup that was rescued from a swamp in South Carolina. I'm am considering this big decision to protect my 3 small dogs who love to bark. Which I'm trying to break cause those pitches are telling the coyotes to eat me.

[Texasgal]

21. I'm sorry

what I was saying or trying to anyway is that there are many GP rescues out there! These are big dogs and need room that some people don't know how to care for. I would start by googling a GP rescue in your area. I think you'd be surprised!

[irisblue]

22. Maybe build an enclosed dog run for the nite time outies?

One with a cover on the top so a coyote could not get in.

[Corgigal]

24. Thanks

Thought of that, but I don't leave them out at night. Just go do what you need and done. Besides, I love them having space. I really don't want to pen them up. Back yard is fenced, but one was still in the backyard. I guess they can climb.

So far ive only seen the wildlife at night, but hunger makes you do what you need. So I'm allowing them to run with supervision during the day, they run the fence with the neighbors boxer, Jack, it's adorable. A corgi trying to keep up with a boxer.

Seems silly, I know. I'm just trying to keep everyone safe. Including the coyotes.

[Sedona]

26. For what it's worth.....

I lived for ten years in Sedona AZ and had a three foot high chain link fence and coyotes never came in .

And we had a huge number of coyotes year round.

[Corgigal]

27. Yeah I thought that too

Our backyard fence keeps our dogs contained, but our backyard video proves it. Yep, I was confused. DNR said 200 coyotes within 5 miles.

Also our little neighborhood Facebook thingy, lady two streets down claims a dog attack tonight. Heard screams and it was awful.

Haven't lived here a year, I'm still learning about the mountains. However, thank you for your thoughts. I put video on this thread on the 2 we found. I can't imagine how many we didn't.
I'll make my charges as safe as possible.