I have a GP, name Zen, 186 lbs. (is 1/4 Giant Alaskan Malamute) now 6 yrs old. Got him when he was 7 wks old. When Zen was 1-1/2 yrs old, we began serious training, and he became a fully trained service mobility dog. I am an 80 yr old cancer patient. Zen is my lifeline, walks right by my side at all times, helps me up and down, and if he feels my hand on his back, he becomes rock solid and has never let me fall. The #1most important thing for a GP -- a J O B, and #2, because he is a full-time service dog, this also fills the companion role as they can be needy at times. At home, without his service vest, he runs the yard, 2-1/2 acres fenced, chases rabbits, and knows how to open the back door to let himself in the house, and heads for the biscuit box--GPs are food motivated. When on errands he wears his official vest, struts down the store aisle turning his head side to side; he knows he is important and loves it.
That is amazing! I love hearing these stories about these dogs. Zen sure sounds like one of the special ones! I wish we could train ours to open and close the door when he wants.
Ann, we have a goat farm and are looking to add LGD. When I read your response I knew I needed to reach out. I have a deteriorating spine and nearing place of needing mobility support dog. I’ve never seen GP in service..Did you train yourself? Do you know of resources? I believe I could train. Thank you in advance for your kind response.
My GP had anorexia- a very finicky and reduced appetite. Food never motivated her for anything. She would stop eating completely at the slightest stress. She also made sure the stray dog she rescued ate his fill before she would even START TO EAT. They're all different. I knew companionship is EVERYTHING. Even though I took her everywhere, if she saw a suitcase, she would run straight into the car and stay in the car, refusing to get out, as soon as she knew I was going to go somewhere.
@@frankG335 Stacy, have you tried more raw foods? Liver,eggs, yogurt, beef, homemade bread, (I use Einkorn flour. When it gets a little stale I put a slice in for crunch.. 😊) Also coconut oil, turmeric and pepper and salt with it. It's organic. What I eat. It's not any trouble to make for him....'course I cook mine! I wish I could get Little into my car. Have you checked if yours has anxiety issues. Maybe? Along with the food pickiness sounds like it MIGHT be. They live to guard, you know. Sounds like he's decided it's YOU.! Mine has chosen my husband. We're thinking about a flock of something...OR a puppy for him to befriend. They really want companionship. If they don't get it there, they'll roam for ACRES to find one. Best wishes.
So we have a fence we have a decent backyard I love my dog very much and we're getting chicken soon and since we have a chicken coop so that could be his job
We have a Great Pyrenees rescue, she is about 8 months old, and already at about 85 pounds, and based on the size of her parents and the fact that the growth plates haven't completed their process yet, we expect she'll grown about another 1 to 2 inches in height, and add 20-30 pounds to her full body weight. The "One Thing" we HAD to have for her was an automated Doggie Door, because she is technically an indoor dog, she prefers being out in the backyard, especially when it is cold outside, and it was a constant getting up and down to let her in and out. We had put bells on the back door, which she would ring when she wanted out, and will still use if her automated door doesn't open for her for some reason. We had the largest automated door we could find installed, but she now has to duck to get in and out, and we're afraid she may have to crawl in and out if she reaches the size we now think she is going to get to. HA! Also, I don't know if ALL Pyr's have the same attitude about the yard, but it is unlikely I'll ever have to mow it again, because she has shredded most of it. When we bought this house, we knew it had an inground sprinkler system, but she has magically found two or three sprinkler heads that were not previously visible. Also, she LOVES to play in the mud, so that's a problem with a GIANT WHITE DOG and an automated door. We have to turn that off when it rains... which hopefully it doesn't do that after we've gone to bed. One part of our yard didn't have much luck with grass BEFORE we got her, and since we got her it was pointless to try. I brought in about 6 cubic feed of play sand and spread it where the "mud pit" would form, which worked great for a few days, but she LOVED playing in the sand and spreading it out, so now I'm thinking about adding another 20 Cubic feet to enlarge the area and try to keep the "mud" from reaching the surface. She seems content with playing in the sand, though there are still one or two other spots in the yard we are going to have to do something about. It might be best if we just put concrete over the entire yard, and just give her a sand area to play in. She is more like a billy-goat, than a dog when she is shredding the yard, but she has the sweetest spirit and personality and LOVES to cuddle...BUT... the cuddling only happens after she has finished romping you to death with those HUGE over-sized paws, and you have to watch out because they can do damage to you if you aren't expecting them where she decides to hit you with them. We love her to death, but I can tell you THIS dog is not a dog for everyone. The size and rambunction nature might be too much for most people, and the fur becomes a condiment with every meal, even if you are brushing her two or three times a day. LOL! She is very intelligent, but as you indicated with yours, she pretty much has a mind of her own, and if you aren't doing what she wants to do the way she wants you to do it, she is pretty much going to ignore you. We have found a couple of particular doggie cookies that work pretty well at convincing her to do most things we want when we want it. The biggest problem we have, is that we have a couple of house cats, one of which loves her, but she insists on trying to carry the cat around by her head and we keep having to scold her to stop that. The other cat does NOT like her, and has her bluff in on the Pyrenees, and will literally chase her around the house hissing at her. It is quite funny to watch an 85 pound dog run from a 3 pound cat. Our Pyr's name is Sissi, so I guess it fits her if she is running from a tiny cat. I could probably go on, but it seems highly unlikely anyone will read all this anyway, but suffice to say, we love our Pyr, and hope to have her for many years to come. We may not have a yard, and may be covered in bruises and scars, but they will all be fond reminders of her. LOL!
Your dog sounds like mine! They are in and out in and out, but I have cats so not auto doors for me unfortunately. Luckily I have them trained to sleep through the night with us so they never go out after they come in for the night till morning. I’m so fortunate for that! Lol Enjoy your pup, these truly are great dogs!!
@@nikkiyoumans156 ,, That's not their nature tho. When it starts to get dark, mine go to the door and want out, one bark. At about sunrise they appear at the back door for breakfast.
At least this breed doesn't act as puppy-ish for very long... in no time, she'll be a lazy ball of fluff most of the day- pretty much like a giant cat...
Companionship is 100% the right answer. Ours was a stray and came to us when he was about 4. He started out immediately with terrible separation anxiety because of previous experiences (we found his owners -- they worked all the time). We work from home and also have other dogs for him to pack with. We worked him through the separation anxiety and now he's a happy guy -- and I think having other dogs definitely helps because he acts like a big brother to them (even though they're much older than he is). He's such a sweet boy. I can't imagine ever not having a pyrenees again. I will say ours likes to be in the backyard alone, stalking the perimeter and keeping watch for several hours a day. Our other dogs are just not that into being outside.
I just inherited my father in law's female Great Pyrenees named Jessie, after he became seriously injured & couldn't care for her anymore. She was never allowed in the house, until now. Never even having seen a dog like her before, I've been watching videos, like this one, trying to learn all I can to give her the best life possible on my small budget. Her coat was in terrible shape when she arrived, so I've bathed her & have been trying to brush her out really well, which seems like a never ending task with her thick, double coat that's all matted, but she's been so patient about it. I've already fallen in love with the old girl's personality & sweetness! Thanks for your video!
A bath😂. We did that with our 3 GP once and plan to never do so again. I don't think their skin even got wet! Just brushing regularly (and keeping them out of the mud on hot days) seems to do the trick.
@@desertlocoshomestead Keeping them out of the mud- hah- good luck with that! I have 2 of them. In the winter they are the snow dogs and in the summer they transform into mud puppies. It's snow and frozen for about 8 months where I live in Alaska. They love the snow and spend a lot of time in it. They get snow balls stuck all over them but I just bring them in and let it melt off. In the summer we have about one dry month then we go into the muddy season. They will go lay in the animals muddy trail with grass 2' feet away. This year I didn't even try to clean them much. It's frozen so now I'm cleaning them up. They are messy and matted. Maybe I will make them wear rain coats next year.
@@desertlocoshomestead I like that. Summer terror is being outside and seeing them gleefully running towards you with brown gunk dripping off them. I automatically take a defensive stance with hands out in front to keep them back but it never works. They still wipe themselves all over my legs and I end up touching them. Or the kids let them in the house. It's amazing how much stuff they can hold in their hair until they get inside. During our dry spell this summer I found a horse terd on the dining room floor and realized it had fallen out of the dogs hair. But I love them anyway. They really are great dogs even if they are kinda messy.
just ran across your channel. My dog Coal passed away and I was hart broken. He was a Labrador/Great Dane mix. So I went to a shelter and found this longhair white dog that was really sweet. her name is Angel and she came to live with me. I am alone since my wife died and she is a great companion. I did not know what a Great Pyrenees was. I started looking online about them and as she got older her traits started showing up. She walks the fence line several times a day and goes into alarm if she hears anything. She has some traits people may not like. She barks a lot, likes to dig and she leaves a lot of hair around. I am 77 and she gets me up in the morning and she starts doing Zommies about the house with me chasing her till I am out of breath. Then I fill in her fox holes did I mentioned she is a great digger? I got a small shop vac for the hair because she almost killed my house vac. Then she takes me for a walk to get my exercise. My daughter lives close by so we go over there and play with her two dogs. It is funny watching her watch my computer when your chickens were making noise. Also one night watching a movie there were wolves howling and Angel just went ape. Must be breeding. She spends as much time indoors as outdoors as Coal had a doggie door to go out. Angle hits that perfect at a full run. I love her so much now I would never give her up. Yes the barking does get to me from time to time but that is her breeding warning of things out there. I just live in a regular house with a big yard. She looks just like your dog and now is a 100 pounds. thanks for letting me rant about my girl.
I have one and she is an indoor/outdoor. She has no Seperation anxiety. I walk her 2 miles in the morning and 2 miles at night which makes her tired and keeps her calm all day and all night. The walks also eliminated the night barking. She sleeps really well unless she has something to alert us about.
I adopted our Great Pyrenees in July 2022. She is thought to be about 2 years old. I fell in love with her right away. There was an instant bond. We have three dogs at home and she fits in beautifully as number four. She is the most obedient out of all our pups. She is also the one who barks the least. I absolutely adore our Lily. She has my heart forever. The #1 thing I would say you need with a Great Pyrenees is a good mop and vacuum due to the amount of hair they shed. I brush her every other day, but she still sheds, but she is worth all the work.
Wow she sounds so sweet. Yes a good vacuum is definitely high up on the priority list. We find mini Milo's under all of our furniture daily. It is amazing how fast it accumulates around the house.
I agree with the vacuum but I thought this video was going to say “an extra arm.” The Pyrs need constant belly rubs!!! It would be helpful to have an extra arm!
Thanks for the video. I have owned Great Pyrenees for over 23 years. I specialize in rehabilitating highly abused Great Pyrenees. Having one or more companions has been extremely important. The rehabilitated dog or dogs help me welcome and train each new Great Pyrenees when he arrives. Currently I have 3 male Great Pyrenees: Thunder age 14, Beowulf age 8 and Montana age 8. After a few years of training, we have become a trusting and loving pack. In addition to having a companion, I have found that offering love, gentleness and patience are essential. I also respect the breed's traits, supporting their need to watch over our 2 1/2 acres, smiling at their independent attitudes, vigilant awareness and loud booming barking as they protect their territory from the sounds wild things in the night.
Have you had any issues with them being males? I’ve rescued 2 males, both fixed, one a year old and one about 4 months old. Praying they become best buds!
@@BeyondBlessed-bd6ro So far in my 23 years of experience, we have been able to develop close trusting relationships & become a cohesive pack. I have found that it is important to get to know the personality, traits and special needs of each dog and help them grow in ways that meet these needs. For example, when I adopted Beowulf in 2017, I had 2 dominant dogs. I knew that the next dog I adopted needed to be a follower, not another leader. In 2018, when my dog, Zoe, died, The Indy Great Pyrenees Rescue asked me to take in an especially abused dog which I named Montana. Both Thunder & Montana were dominant males, and both had several special needs based on the past abuse they endured. One of the special needs was they were both highly food aggressive. I offered extra love, care & patience. It took weeks to get to the place where Thunder & Montana could interact at ease with each other, but it took many months (more than a year) to deal with each dog's food aggression. I created feeding zones where Thunder, Montana & Beowulf could eat in peace. First, Montana had to be placed in a back bedroom with the door closed. Next, I fed Thunder in the living room, and I took Beowulf's food upstairs to the A-frame's loft. Beowulf is a slow & picky eater. This stopped a lot of fights. Now, I feed in the same order, but they can be much closer. I can feed Montana in the kitchen and Beowulf & Thunder in the living room at least 8 feet apart. They play and sleep together, sometimes all 3 in a grouping. I trained all 3 to walk together on 15' rope training leads. We have a great time together as a loving trusting pack with me as the leader. With as young as your two male Great Pyrenees are, I bet things will be fine. I wish you well, Rick
Excellent question, I have read on GP rescue websites that same sex GPs tend to not get along and that the females are usually the pack leader. That said, my 2 boys are 4.5 years old and are litter mates and adore one another. They occasionally get in a tussle that's brief usually about one trying to guard the others area to guard, but nothing to bad. I often wonder if they get along so well simply because they are littermates. Someday I will have to replace them as they are working LGDs...
Companionship when you aren't around. Since Guardian my 2 yr old Great Prynees came up missing 2 months ago, Annie, my pitbull/german sheperd preditor dog has been sulking and not herself. She's 12 years old and missing her left eye due to a hornet attack 2 falls ago. Guardian was her wingman when they would go after trespassing coyotes. When she came back 2 hours after they had given pursuit I didn't think much of it but when Guadian wasn't in the yard the next morning with a muskrat offering for Annie I knew something was wrong. To date he still hasn't returned and we've found no signs that he was killed. Late spring goose hunters were at a lake a half section behind our place and I believe they left a door open on their turck and he jumped in for a ride or they just saw a very big friendly dog and decided they needed him worse than we did. I'm currently in the process of adopting another prynees from a neighboring town that was an older kids pet, but for whatever reason the kids no longer have the time to spend with him. Annie & I need him so we're going for it. Thanks so much for these honest to the point videos.
I had to get my GP two year old a Golden Retriever (same age). Best thing I ever did. When I go camping on the side of a mountain enjoying the view of two alpine lakes, my golden is sitting right next to me enjoying the view. My GP is sitting behind my chair watching my back the entire time.
I just rescued a 7 month old GP, who was abandoned and living under a neighbors porch. She's a sweet, beautiful girl. I have 2 toy poodles who are 13 lbs, and I'm worried about their safety because Bella (GP) gets a little rambunctious with them, just wanting to play. I know toy poodles, what they need, how to train, etc.. but nothing about GP's, so your videos are really helping, thank you!
I found two Great Pyr pups in the desert. Someone dumped them and my son and I were fortunate enough to find them and be able to give them a home. I often look at them and think, I’m so glad I kept them together, I couldn’t imagine how sad they would be without one another! Such loves! They aren’t even a year and a half old yet and they are so smart and learn so fast but yes, my boy, stubborn and doesn’t necessarily come every time I call him. He will come when I go to him and get him though! Lol best dogs EVER!! I agree about companionship, these dogs are better in twos!
We've had four of them over the years. Three rescues and a puppy. While they were all raised indoors, every one of them would have stayed outside 24/7 if they could. And none ever got too cold, no matter the temperature.
Companion animal is definitely a good suggestion. We had a Bernese Mountain Dog and a little old Papillon who wasn’t much fun for the BMD once he grew up. We got our GP to be a like-sized buddy for our BMD. Now we are looking for another GP, because our GP likes to be outside more than our BMD does. This might become a problem. I’m going to need a bigger house. 😂
We have two, brother and sister, and I think that definitely helps with their separation from us since they still have each other. They are always together, even when they escape our property. They don't care much for our chickens but naturally they keep the coyotes away so they do keep the chickens safe. We plan to get pigs soon so I'm curious to see how their guardian behavior changes if at all for the pigs. I do agree that it's best for them to have a constant companion, whether it's another dog or livestock they are bonded to.
We regret not getting two when we got our first even though it works with our Wheaton terrier it would be better for a dog that is the same breed and size. Sounds like you have a great duo!
We have 2 Colorado mountain dogs (Great Pyrenees/Anatolian mix) and they liked our Mangalitsa pigs but they were cautious around them. We didn’t keep them together but they would hang out together between the fence line. They are much closer to our goats
I agree with you. My Pyr doesn't like to be far from me unless he is patrolling the perimeter of our modest suburban back yard. He will sit and shake, but forget about fetching or rolling over unless he thinks he's doing it for a belly rub. He tolerates fools (other dogs) but insists on being with his humans. He is the best dog I've ever had, and I hope I'm gone before he is.
We have 2 Pyr’s. They are actually sisters. They are together 99% of the time. One of them needs a little space and actually finds her own corner of our property while her sister romps around. I agree with you that having 2 of them is great! However, I think that the #1 need is the best fence you can afford. Gives total peace of mind, knowing that they love to roam. Thx for your video 😊
I have three Great Pyrenees and love them to bits. Two out of three if you turn your head they are disapyrs. Lol. They are extreme independent thinkers and dogs. Two out the three are barkers at night if there are predators out and so on. They are excellent mouser and are good at catching any rodent that aren’t supposed to be there. They will mark your yard all over to prevent predators from coming on the property. Yet they are gentle giants and wonderful giant lapdogs. My three are rescues. They hear you but don’t always respond due to their nature. They want to be out in the frigid temperatures as that’s their breed. Definitely need a good sweeper, good brush and a heavy duty nail clipper for those dewclaws.
I agree on the companionship recommendation. Our Riley is a high percentage G/P mix. We have a family member's GSD dog that spends time here, a fortnight or month at at time, and our Riley is obviously upset & out of sorts when she goes back home and is visibly glad to see her when she reappears.
I have a Great Pyrenees catahoula mix. He is the best dog ever. He likes to be with me and follows me everywhere. He lives inside but we have a large fenced yard for him. He doesn’t like to go outside alone and always turns around waiting for me to come out with him. He is the most gentle sweet dog I’ve ever had. Everyone that meets him says he has the best demeanor. He doesn’t bark ever. He is a gentle giant and I love him so much! We actually found him because he ended up in my parents backyard (he dug his way in) and once we located his owners they said they couldn’t keep him because he kept jumping their fence 😂.
We have a great pyrenees down the road in our neighborhood he guards the sheep. He also recently moved the baby form and guarded it from the sheep for the mother. They're such lovely wonderful dogs. Everyone in the neighborhood loves Chewbacca ..
Yes, we have a great Pyrenees rescue named Zeus, and our other dog is named Bailey, which is funny in your video and they are awesome together and I do recommend what you said about having companionship🐾🐾
My Pyr needs his own pooch, a side kick. He's a house doggo, I'm the livestock, but he also looks after the neighbor kids. We relocated to a new town and he's been a tad homesick, so I'm hoping a pup will help him. He's good with separation, but he's always had my dad (aka Pop Pop) to hang out with, up until last year. Doesn't listen to a word I say, unless it's treat or ride, and super independent. But, he's an outstanding pooch that I love to death.
Job/Companionship-love/plenty of space. Our girl is a mostly indoors guardian. I am disabled and bedbound. She is my 24/7 nurse. She knows when something bad is getting ready to happen, and alerts my kids. She sniffed out a cancerous area on my MIL’s knee when she was just a tiny puppy. Then, when my leg bones started hurting, she was on them like white on rice. Always sniffing. I got a checkup and kidneys were failing a little worse. Got a kidney biopsy and they found smoldering multiple myeloma. It’s not active disease (yet?), but she keeps such a close eye on me, that I can’t even go to the bathroom alone. ♥️🤣 Best girl EVER!!♥️🥰
Absolutely, ours loves his duck and chicken friends. Even if they are separated by a pet fence.he still loves their companionship and checking them and playing with them through the fence.
Hubby and I have adopted two randomly bred adult dogs and six Great Pyrs. They do need companion buddies and, yes, I agree 💯 with you. Pyrs do need a buddy. Great job on the #1 answer. 😊
Space! My Leaf has me and my 4yr old to look after but he for sure needs a something else. When I’m working from home and my daughter is gone at school, he spends his time outside (not on super hot days). But he is conversational and if you will be on and off the phone all day, and not enough interaction, he finds SOMETHING to chew/destroy. Best dog ever! Chickens coming this spring for him to have a true purpose!
Yes they definitely need a purpose to be happy! Im sure he will love his chickens..ours still gets a little too excited at times and tries to play with them.
I recently adopted a great Pyrenees an Anatolian shepherd cross puppy, not realizing quite what I was getting into. I knew enough about the breed to feel good about it, but I’ve been doing more research since adopting, her and I’ve learned a lot that I didn’t know about this breed. That being said, she is so sweet and loving I couldn’t be more happy with her. She loves my cat and my other dog. She is a great companion to him and they love each other so much! We had lost our older dog, not too long ago and our Shepherd border collie mix was lonely and sad and we knew he needed a friend and then we found her needing at home and it’s been working out beautifully❤ Personally, I think the number one thing you need is patience lol because she does bark a lot. She loves to dig and she loves to chew on stuff in the nearly 2 weeks we’ve had her, she’s dug holes all over the backyard lol and chewed up some of the siding on the house , we have lots of toys for her inside so she’s done pretty well inside with supervision, but she does like the cat scratcher for another toy😂 she is about five months old learning really well already knows sit lay down, crawl spin left and right learning how to heal learning her name definitely knows what good girl is as she gets a treat when she hears it!😅 she’s really smart I did not expect her to be so willing to work! Maybe it’s because she’s a mix and not pure bred ? But she seems extremely food motivated, and my positive training seems to be going well so far! I blocked off the part of the house that she likes to chew on Lol as she loves to be outside I don’t want to restrict her to be only out for potty breaks. I think she needs her outdoor time to be fully happy the first few days I tried to keep her in and just potty her outside and I can really tell the difference when I start leaving her out there for an hour a few times a day to let her have some space to really run and dick and be a dog!❤ I don’t mind the holes, but I don’t want the siding ripped up lol So I’m going to fence that off for now I’ve put a few things in the way .. so far it’s working most of the house is brick but there’s this one stretch that’s siding and that’s where she likes to chew! 😂
It’s the puppy in her, get her the really big extreme chewer bones. My dog was very destructive as a puppy (same mix from down south (72% GP and 18% Anatolian (and some other guardian/other breeds). Now he chews on his peanut butter flavored bones or chewies (dental chews and fish skins). I cannot give him regular dog toys even ones that are meant for tough chewers because he destroys them within minutes.
We live in the Charlottesville VA area. We have a great Pyrenees and Newfoundland mix. We are expecting the traits of the dog to be very similar to the Newfoundland and not a great Pyrenees. Some of her Tresa bit of surprise to us. Things like her barking. She loves to roll in the dirt which we have to brush every time to get the dirt out of her fur before we bring her in. So there were some unexpected work. But she is a great companion. She is now five years old and her companion is our three year old 115 pound male yellow lab. They get along very well. We have a fenced in backyard but take them on walks daily. I appreciate your insight with our great Pyrenees.
A pair of Pyrs. Male and female. We have 4 dogs. We added our male Pyr last December and he was a year when we got him. We have seen a huge positive change with our female since we have had him. She had friends with the other 2 dogs, but now she has a partner. They watch out for each other and they share the load of guarding. Her anxiety has gone away. Not only when we leave but also when she perceives a potential threat. I would recommend a pair of pyrs, and if not at least pair them with another guardian dog. It has been easier for us to have 2 Pyrs. 1, because we already know what to expect from the breed and 2, because we really love this breed. They are unlike any other dog. Having the same breed, they really understand each other and our 2 have bonded really well. But that hasn't taken away how close they are with us, in fact I think our female has gotten closer to us since we have gotten our male.
My wife is trying to talk me into getting another and I’m sure it will work eventually! We just love this breed so much here and I know he would love to have another of his type around that yard for help once we get more animals back here, thanks for watching again!
We added our male when he was just over a year. It was tough because he was already very large and he came from a home where he was the only animal, he had never been around other dogs and his owner didn't train him. Getting him used to another large dog and 2 other small dogs, along with 3 cats was a lot of work. We didn't want to raise another puppy and wanted to give a unwanted dog a second chance at a forever home. Just something to consider if you do decide to get a second Pyr. Our female used to bark a lot until we got our male. She doesn't bark that much anymore, but our male does. Having 2 doesn't double the noise being made, unless we get deer on our property or bobcats, or someone comes to the front door. Our female listens way better than she used to as well. I think it may be because she doesn't have to carry the weight of protector on her own. We wanted another guarding breed to share the load. We got another Pyr so we didn't have to learn another breed. Plus they are just awesome dogs. Even better as a pair, at least in my experience anyway.
Excellent video. You know the breed well. I've rescued a Prynesses who needed a Home at 7 mo. old. He lived until he was 16!. That is very rare for these wonderful dogs. My 3 grand daughters were playing in the fenced back yard one day He always would lay down next to the youngest between them and the fence. Someone peered over the fence and is less than 8 feet he developed enough power to snap a 4x4 post meeting the threat eye to eye. Upon Bozos immediate departure, Junior (my large furry friend) went over and laid down again with a victory woof. I now have another one who watches over the young ladies with great care. He had worked the sheep and was abandoned. They are gentle giants and wonderful. His 😇 slips now and then, but your right. They are very independent thinkers and will come when THEY feel like it when called. Take care, Jack & Big Jake.
We just got a GP / Australian shep mix, She is 12 weeks old. We have about 40 chickens, 5 1/2 acres of mountainous forest. I fenced in about 4 acres of it (with great difficulty, running fence through dense forest up a 30 degree climb was not easy...). So far, our dog is doing great, we have 2 smaller terrier dogs that are about 3 years old. We are training her to protect the chickens and so far, she is doing well at it.
I rescued a Great Pyrenees at age 2 (approximately). She is now 10 and doesn't act a day over puppy age with her little Jack - Chi sister I rescued last year at 7 months. Yes, a friend is needed. 💞 From the first day I brought home my fluffy girl she never played. Now, with her little sister they play all the time!❤️. My fluffy girl taught me these things: 1. Purpose 2. Patience🙏, Love 💗, unconditional love on a GIANT scale💓 3. Nothing is personal - she needs down time just like her momma (me)😋 4.Shop vacuum for all floors. Only thing that helps with hair!❤️ 5. Protection by momma from thunderstorms and fireworks.🤗 6. Treats at the ready 🦴 She's amazing girl and I love her so much! I'm so happy to have found your channel!😁 -Danielle in Michigan
I second this video so much. I leave my boy home all day with three cats and three caged bunnies and he does much better now than when I had the bunnies down in the basement. 🙌
We have 1 Pyrenees - our house has a 0.4 acre back yard, but he loves to dig at the edges of the fence so we can’t leave him out there unattended for too long, so when we’re at work, we have to keep him inside and when we sleep he has to be inside. When we are home he gets all the love and attention, he’s our travel buddy, we take him to pet friendly stores and we walk him around the town square. He loves kids and kids love him. He’s gentle and therapeutic. But…He did seem bored at home and sad when we have to work. So we got a kitten. And slowly introduced them now they are the best of friends. The cat is great. She’s smaller, more independent, cuddly, loving and adores our Pyrenees. They hang out non stop and we’ve noticed he follows her everywhere and she loves the attention so it’s been a perfect match. She is his lil animal he can protect and I noticed how much more he smiles now and looks content!
I see this vid was put out 2 years ago, BUT I am going to comment anyway. I heartily agree on the companionship for Pyrs. My two older dogs (Pyr mixes and look and act like Pyrs) are sisters. They've been inseparable for over 9 years now, and are terrific at working together to keep varmints at bay. I just got 2 more 3/4 Pyr-1/4 Anatolian shepherd puppies (sisters) to be trained by me and my older dogs. I wanted a pair of puppies for that companionship and working together dynamic. Wouldn't have it any other way. And, yes, they do have minds of their own!! Kinda independent like I like to be. :) Sometimes you just have to shrug your shoulders and smile.
I have 2 half Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherd. They are both lovable dogs our youngest, male, is 5 months and he is almost as big as our goats. Our oldest, female, is 11 months and she is big but you can tell the male is going to be way bigger than she is, yet our female barks at everything and he is a bit more reserved…for now.
Tom, I enjoy your videos so much; you have wonderful animals and a beautiful family. I'm late commenting on this, I know, but you are SO spot-on with your Pyrenees tips, too. We have several dogs, one of which is a nearly-adult female Pyr (15 months) and our newest pack member, a female Pyr puppy (6 months). Such incredible dogs, and they love a look after our other pets, too. So funny to see them outside watching over the kitties when the cats go outside for a little play-break. We have a large-ish property, and a huge fenced area; the Pyrs patrol and alert us to the deer, coyotes, and bears that come around. When not patrolling or guarding cats, they're lounging around indoors like the spoiled royalty they see themselves to be. ;) Again, thanks for the great videos, and great information on this amazing dog breed. Best to you and your family!
Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and comment Brynda! Ahh that is so true, they do act as royalty. Ours lounges around all day indoors right in walkways and gets easily irritated when little ones are trying to get through lol Can't disturb the sleeping beauty!
We got a GP to protect our 5 acres of goats, chickens and ducks and geese. He's been with us about 6 mo and has no interest in any birds, but wanted to play with the goats at first. They saw him and ran, because what he's there to protect them from is coyotes and mountain lions, so we keep them separate. He is big on marking all perimeters. Our goats are getting more comfortable around him. I was going to say the most important thing for your GP is a GROOMER! Hank is an easyish keeper, but now we got a second GP who has curly fine coat and mats so easily! I'm still looking for a professional groomer, but I think all the labradoodles in our area keep them booked up! In the meantime I am trying to take care of her on my own. Big job.
We rescued 2 dogs a Pyrenees/Border Collie female 3 months old and an Australian Shepherd male 10 months old June 2020. They were a perfect match for each other, she learned so much from her big brother (whom was sweet and had good manners when we got him, he kept her in line perfectly), they were inseparable! 6 months later the day after Christmas our Aussie died suddenly from a rare lung ailment that can happen with young very athletic dogs and sent our Pyrenees/Border Collie into a tail spin. We did what our farm vet said and we let her be with him over in the barn as opposed to where they lived and played for awhile before we burried him. That is when we realized she was not going to do well being an only dog. The only option was to rescue another pup (from the same place we got her) hoping that it would not take forever and to get her out of the bad place she was in and to feel joy again. She wouldn't eat or play, she was losing weight, it was awful seeing her so sad not really understanding why her big brother was gone. On day 7 my husbands parents drove three states to bring home a 3 month old Anatolian Shepherd mix puppy sister for Darla. At first it was little short introductions, the pup was rough and tumble (the scrappy lil thing was found on the streets of Alabama at 2 months old) with Darla who is very lay back and not sure what to make of the lil furball being all up in her face. We had a snow storm 3 days after her arrival and she loved the white stuff and her new sister, it was the buffer we needed for full on interaction! We only leave the farm a couple hours a week so they are fortunate, but we never know what we are going to come home too. I try tiring them out before we leave but its not foolproof and they are locked in the kitchen when we do leave to minimize destruction like shredding egg cartons etc. Today the girls are doing well 15 months later, Darla turned 2 last Sunday and Maddie will be 2 end of September. The one funny thing that is developing is that if Darla gets into mischief (digging holes or cornering a cat...) Maddie comes and finds us and squeals on her big sister lol. Darla has a bff too, a mini mare, right now the two dogs and our two mini's got the zoomies in our backyard, it's like being at the races lol, come on Spring! We still miss Rico very much, he could never be replaced we only added another family fur member to love ;)
Love it! We would love to rescue a Pyrenees next if we could because of how much we hear how they don’t work out for people. We just love this breed so much and know they are just misunderstood! Thanks for sharing your story with us!
We have a 4 and a half month old great Pyrenees we just got a couple weeks ago. She's so sweet. Also I don't work so I am here 24/7. She's really sweet but she definitely has her independent streak. When I want her to come to the back of the house so I can put up the baby gate I very often have to go and pick her up and carry her haha. She just collapses and lays there when I pick her up, lol. I have another puppy and they love to play but they get a little rough. They get so crazy it sounds like a stampede when they run through the house. It's madness right now haha
My first was a therapy dog. He got so much attention. The only problem was people would keep coming up to us in the hospital asking if he could visit their realtive and being unable to say no it would take hours to leave.
We have 4 other dogs and they are all an incredible pack! Our GP is so happy about our new Bernese Mountain Dog Mix addition and loves our Leonberger most! They can go in and out of the house in all weather. They are our babies for sure!❤❤❤❤
I have a two year old, male half great Pyrenees, half husky dog. We have been trying to get away from apartment living because it's not a way we want to live. So I told him that if we can find a small house with a yard, that he can get a dog of his own.
I ended up getting 2 bermease / Pyrenees not realizing they love companion ship but also they are brother and sister. The boy is a lover and needs mommy all the time but big sis keeps him busy lol. She is the devil lol but also very affectionate and loving as well. Always wants to run away and I am now realizing she needs a job and will be getting a dog house with the animals. She yearns to watch and guard.
Yes, Great Pyrenees need a companion. I'm that for ours right now, while we're waiting for a Scottish Terrier adoption. This is a huge size difference, but Scotties are built like little tanks and have the personality of a much larger dog. We've had both together before and they did very well with one another.
I have 2 Pyrenees which are sisters and they do great together we don’t live on a farm but do have a 2 story house with a backyard for them to play, they love attention and get fed very well with a mixture of dog food and we cook up turkey meat(looks like hamburger) sweet potatoes beef heat, kidney beans and carrots, sometimes we’ll replace the beef heart with chicken gizzards or chicken hearts.
My Snow Ball . Climbs and can jump 6- 7 ft fences. Mine was lost when My Rosealee passed away last August .Doing better lovesprotects the cats . She has 5 other dogs and 3 cats to keep them all occupied In door out door fenced 6 acres
Absolutely, they must have room- LOTS of it(Preferably fenced as they tend to roam)To explore and guard. And I agree, a companion is key. Winston has a Golden Retriever brother who is his constant companion and best friend. They have grown up together from the age of six weeks old. And of course, you need patience and above all else, LOVE
I have a gp and he is a blessing. I would love another but i cant afford a second dog. I had 2, my labrador who helped raise him, but he eventually passed away.
Ours has an aussie doodle as a best friend. They both protect the parameter of the property, take care of the kids and cats too. Both are very observant of the emotions of their family. They even wake each other up if someone is having a bad dream or pick the burs out of each others fur or the kids clothes after comin inside. We have a teenager on the spectrum and they pay extra attention to him and his 6 year old sister, even down to the job of entertaining them. As long as I give her something to protect, let her make her own good choices and spoil her she is the happiest dog you'll ever meet
I actually choose my rescue pyrenees because of their desire and need to work. He's still in basic training but will eventually become my service dog. He already has the basic instincts trainers look for. He wants to work, learn new things, and be with his human all the time. He doesn't have separation anxiety, though. I would say for him the things he needs most is friends. If he had his way he would play with every human and dog he encounters. Hes just a big extrovert excited to meet everyone. Luckily there's a great pyrenees right next door that he had play dates with
Thanks for sharing I agree Just got one and decided to get his sister as well And they have done great They are only 7 weeks old And love each other so much 😊
That is awesome!! How fun! My mom has his litter mate and it was so fun to watch them play as puppies! However Milo mellowed out much faster than his sister, who always wants to play.
You don’t “ own” Pyrenees or Marremas. They own you. They are not like any other breed. They are fiercely stubborn and independent. They want to know where they are when walking. They love to smell and pee on everything but only outside. They are very clean and proud.
I just got a Pyrenees male puppy 3 weeks ago and he's everything you said, he's about 15 weeks old he had no training at all other than being with his siblings and parent dogs he lived in a field, I drove him 150 miles home through the mountains of Kentucky and Southwest Virginia no problems no accidents, he potty trained himself and you can lead him in a leash with one finger, but when he wants to stop to investigate or anything else you wait, and when he wants something he tells you, the only dog that I've ever owned that was as stubborn and has a close temperament is a beagle, I love my dog and call him the Cadillac of dogs because he is
We found that ours thrive when they have work to do, guarding our horse, goats and chickens. They adopted the other animals on their own. Both have clear areas of the yard that are just theirs. We have zero issues with our wandering, they are happy with the yard's size...but we truly believe that they harbor a sense of duty to the animals they are hear to guard (we are included in the animal groups to them).
I love reading everyone’s comments. It seems like they all have more than 1 or 2. I have had 2 years ago. I have to have a dog. When they pass I start looking for the next. Always rescue and am not breed specific. I lost my German Shorthair Pointer at 13. I went to two shelters near my house and I saw a GreatPyrenees mix with Golden Retriever. I fell in love. She was 15 mos. Knew nothing about her because she got there the day before and came from a shelter in Alabama. I knew she was a livestock guardian and I don’t have any livestock. Just 4 indoor cats and a large 6’ high fenced in yard. All the toys I gave her she didn’t play with or chew. She ate them. She had never seen a ball. I went on U tube and watched every video I could find. It was educational and enlightening. Everything they do is because of why they were breed. If you know that it all makes sense. The Per Paw, the barking, the sheeding, the no recall. I still have a problem with that one treats used to work but she caught on. She is easy to train because she is soo food/treat motivated. I noticed the separation anxiety the first time I drove away and left her in my yard. She jumped the fence and my neighbor brought her back. When she was outside too long she dug 3 huge holes. When left inside and not in her crate she looks for things to get into. Since all this I retired and am pretty much home all day. We get along great. Call her My Roommate.
I'm proud to say, I've been blessed with a female Great Pyrenees named Lady and we love each other with all our hearts. In reference to "separation anxiety", I've addressed that concern by first being honorably retired and secondly, having Lady officially registered as an "Emotional Support Animal", permitting her to accompany me where ever I go, 24hrs. of the day.
Agree with all you said. Our GP shares our home with 2 other dog friends. She is 1.5 years old and She is the alpha for sure. She loves them and us and we spend time between our farm and the suburbs and I have found lots of chew toys.. BIG ones.. ropes etc saves our home when they are left alone for small amounts of time. Certainly saves our home!
We have 3 of them…they are amazing! But like someone mentioned they dig under the fence of our 5 acre ranch and like to roam around the neighborhood, so we had to install the wired fence. We also have 7 chickens, 2 mini donkeys, 3 mini cows, 3 goats, 2 tortoises, 2 cats and a corker spaniel Sammy that is an indoor dog … thank for your great video
I was going to ask for a Wheatie video but then you described Bailey as a hunting breed. Wheaties are all around farm dog- herding, guarding, hunting- like a lurcher and killing vermin.
Absolutely agree. Our baby Pyrenees rottweiler mix absolutely needs a companion. She especially loves babies, I think she would make a great foster mom when she is older. She absolutely adores kittens and other puppies and already knows how to be gentle.
I am surprised to see so many comments from 'townspeople' with indoor GPs. Never knew any GPs till we borrowed one from a friend to protect our chickens from the neighborhood cats. Fell in love with her. Kept 2 of her puppies and we now live out on acerage. Ours have been 100%outside and they are funny. They are like furry dead things most of the day, then at night they make their rounds regularly, check on the sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, etc. They only bark at unusual things or coyotes... one of ours has actually helped keep some of our baby rabbits alive all night when a mom has her babies outside the nest box... they can be amazing dogs, in the right situations/households. We absolutely love ours. Oh and fun fact, they are fun to dye with Kool-Aid for holidays (probably not a good idea if they come inside, though). We dye them green for st patricks day; red, white and blue for 4th of July- they look like those rocket popsicles! And they love it because you are giving them attention!
Thank you for explaining this. I live alone with my pup and she has separation anxiety really bad. I have been considering a second dog but wasn’t sure if the issue would be resolved by doing so. The anxiety lessens when I let her out in the backyard. Then I can leave for a bit to take of errands. I’m working on her basic training. She’s 8 months and doing good. But she definitely needs a buddy.
They are strong, loyal, smart and independent thinker. They do well in a pack of like minded dogs. They know their territory, their animals and a routine. Terriers are feisty and active. Our GP still mourns for one of his companion dogs.
Brian, that is awesome! I know some people warn of the sibling bond, but for working dogs I don't think that would be as much of a problem. Do they seem to have the same temperament? Milo's sister (who my mom has) is high strong and a bit more nervous than Milo. Milo is a big lazy bum most of the day, where Luna never stops moving.
My new pup, Anatolian Pyrenees girl loves my golden retriever. They're both indoor outdoor girls and their twin bed is right next to my bed. I'm retired so I'm with them 24/7 except when I need to run into town. I specifically have two dogs so they can play together. I don't play with them but we do lots of cuddles and groom time. Both are food oriented so training is a breeze, which is an ongoing deal for several years
The 1st time i saw a Pyrenees was while i was out shopping & He definitely owned the atmosphere as he moved with magestic grace ahead of his master { a disabled vet } with an unbrakable keen focus that demanded high respect ,I can still recall the angelic rush i experienced as that giant white powerful beast moved so gracefully past me He was in full confidence of who he was & i was in awe at the presence of such an awesome creation. Ever since that day i knew that was the kind of dog i wanted for a service animal & companion. What an awesome gift to mankind ; the Pyrenees 👑
My old roommate has a Great Pyrenees. He was a handful as a puppy. Very stubborn. He would bark a lot until they got another dog. Once he had a companion he was amazing. Doesn’t bark much at all. But that may be because the other one is a hound dog. So he never ever ever shuts up.
He is an intelligent, loyal and independent dog. He has been raised in the stable with the sheep since he was a puppy, and sleeps with them. So he's very good at guarding them in the mountains. Especially at night, he's the only one who can scare off bears or wolves. It needs a wide biotope. Hikers have to make a long detour when the herds are guarded by the Patou (often, there are two of them). Signs warn hikers of the danger of getting too close...here in the Pyrenees, we call him "Patou" it sounds like: patoo . Bravo for the good job you do👍🏻👏👏
We've had Pyrs and other LGDs for almost 30 years. Must concur that companionship is important. In the Rockies ( and anywhere with coyotes, wolves and bear) it is very important to have at least 2 with the sheep and livestock. They work as a team against predators and will develop tactics specific to the situation. Also, a pack of canids will overwhelm a single guardian dog. We did have a rescue Pyr that ran off a grizzly by herself, but that is more than you should expect from a single dog.
The next thing you need, is another Pyr. They work as a team. I hade 2. They seem to just exchange glances and off they would go. Telepathy would be a good word to use. Sometimes they went in different directions and some times they went together, depending on what the threat was. Just watching the communication process between 2 of them is amazing. Some talk about how to train them. I don't do that. They were born with all they need and they Know their purpose. They are not just another dog. My 2 worked at night and rested during the day. They are nocturnal by nature. As they get older, some eyesight may diminish so, leave an outside porchlight on so they can home in on it. It will be a reference point for them as they get older. When my wife and I went outside, one went with me and the other went with my wife. They are also a Nanny Dog. My wife got the most attention tho. The Big Guy, 195lbs, would block her way if he thought she shouldn't go that way. The older one, by 3 years and 150lbs, would stay with me and observe. One of our 6 month old grand daughters was brought over for a visit. My wife carried her outside and sat in a chair. After a while she started to get up and the Big Guy put his huge paw on her leg and sat her back down. Satay here. They have about a 10-12 year life span. It was hard to see them pass on. Thanks You need 2 of them. No question.
I have two dogs, one is a Pyrenees and the other is an Akbash. They still miss us, but they do like having each others company. Our Pyr is definitely an indoor dog, especially if it's raining! 😆 When it snows that's a different story! I can't get her in!!! they need a leader, good fence, most important they need attention/love. If you ask her she would say treats, lots and lots of treats!!!
We have 2 GP, 1 is 11 months old and the other is 9 months old. We have a large yard with 6’ fence. The older just figured how to dig out. We have a GPS on their color. They hate the Amazon delivery guy. Ours definitely love each other. We have a 15 year old min schnauzer. Both dogs will jump in your laps to avoid getting too close to her. I think the second GP was what we needed. We have had the younger pup since she was 6 weeks old and she hate us up til we get the second one.
I put dog biscuits in the mail box. When the mail person pulls up they know he's going to give them a treat. They like him so much that he often gets our and plays with them. The Amazon guy ran, LOL.
Taught Samson to blink to the affirmative. High 5 was easy with the Pyr paw happening, everytime he'd start with the Ptr Paw I would hold my hand ✋ saying hi five and when he made contact, high praise, he loves attention.
I just found a stray GP and took him to the vet. I live in a mountain so he has plenty of room to explore. I’ve had a few people talk about how they wonder off. Is there anything I can do to help this outside of a fence or chain?
May I suggest 2 kittens as companions for a GP? It worked beautifully for my 1 year old rescue. She had a job that was needed by the stray kittens. They all slept together in her bed and that was one year ago.
Our lab is 14... one day... we will have to welcome home another to our family---I'm NOT ready! Considering a pyrenees--- I need to watch previous episodes to learn if this is the breed we want. lots of great information here! thank you!
#1 is love. What my #1 needs to be is patience. Great Pyrenees are stubborn from what I hear so love and patience or what's the point. We just picked up a pair of 9 week old female puppies that are litter mates, one white and one black. My wife says she loves them so we'll see how that goes.
I have a GP, name Zen, 186 lbs. (is 1/4 Giant Alaskan Malamute) now 6 yrs old. Got him when he was 7 wks old. When Zen was 1-1/2 yrs old, we began serious training, and he became a fully trained service mobility dog. I am an 80 yr old cancer patient. Zen is my lifeline, walks right by my side at all times, helps me up and down, and if he feels my hand on his back, he becomes rock solid and has never let me fall. The #1most important thing for a GP -- a J O B, and #2, because he is a full-time service dog, this also fills the companion role as they can be needy at times.
At home, without his service vest, he runs the yard, 2-1/2 acres fenced, chases rabbits, and knows how to open the back door to let himself in the house, and heads for the biscuit box--GPs are food motivated. When on errands he wears his official vest, struts down the store aisle turning his head side to side; he knows he is important and loves it.
Aww! I love that for you! 💞
That is amazing! I love hearing these stories about these dogs. Zen sure sounds like one of the special ones! I wish we could train ours to open and close the door when he wants.
Ann, we have a goat farm and are looking to add LGD. When I read your response I knew I needed to reach out. I have a deteriorating spine and nearing place of needing mobility support dog. I’ve never seen GP in service..Did you train yourself? Do you know of resources? I believe I could train. Thank you in advance for your kind response.
My GP had anorexia- a very finicky and reduced appetite. Food never motivated her for anything.
She would stop eating completely at the slightest stress.
She also made sure the stray dog she rescued ate his fill before she would even START TO EAT.
They're all different.
I knew companionship is EVERYTHING.
Even though I took her everywhere, if she saw a suitcase, she would run straight into the car and stay in the car, refusing to get out, as soon as she knew I was going to go somewhere.
@@frankG335 Stacy, have you tried more raw foods? Liver,eggs, yogurt, beef, homemade bread, (I use Einkorn flour. When it gets a little stale I put a slice in for crunch.. 😊) Also coconut oil, turmeric and pepper and salt with it. It's organic. What I eat. It's not any trouble to make for him....'course I cook mine!
I wish I could get Little into my car. Have you checked if yours has anxiety issues. Maybe? Along with the food pickiness sounds like it MIGHT be. They live to guard, you know. Sounds like he's decided it's YOU.! Mine has chosen my husband. We're thinking about a flock of something...OR a puppy for him to befriend. They really want companionship. If they don't get it there, they'll roam for ACRES to find one. Best wishes.
They need three things - fences, a job to do, and love from their humans.
I think those three would make them very happy dogs Andrey
I very much agree, they need other animals to protect
I totally agree! We have two Pyrenees dogs who love each other so much.
All dohs need that if one cares about thsir dogs!!!
So we have a fence we have a decent backyard I love my dog very much and we're getting chicken soon and since we have a chicken coop so that could be his job
We have a Great Pyrenees rescue, she is about 8 months old, and already at about 85 pounds, and based on the size of her parents and the fact that the growth plates haven't completed their process yet, we expect she'll grown about another 1 to 2 inches in height, and add 20-30 pounds to her full body weight. The "One Thing" we HAD to have for her was an automated Doggie Door, because she is technically an indoor dog, she prefers being out in the backyard, especially when it is cold outside, and it was a constant getting up and down to let her in and out. We had put bells on the back door, which she would ring when she wanted out, and will still use if her automated door doesn't open for her for some reason. We had the largest automated door we could find installed, but she now has to duck to get in and out, and we're afraid she may have to crawl in and out if she reaches the size we now think she is going to get to. HA! Also, I don't know if ALL Pyr's have the same attitude about the yard, but it is unlikely I'll ever have to mow it again, because she has shredded most of it. When we bought this house, we knew it had an inground sprinkler system, but she has magically found two or three sprinkler heads that were not previously visible. Also, she LOVES to play in the mud, so that's a problem with a GIANT WHITE DOG and an automated door. We have to turn that off when it rains... which hopefully it doesn't do that after we've gone to bed. One part of our yard didn't have much luck with grass BEFORE we got her, and since we got her it was pointless to try. I brought in about 6 cubic feed of play sand and spread it where the "mud pit" would form, which worked great for a few days, but she LOVED playing in the sand and spreading it out, so now I'm thinking about adding another 20 Cubic feet to enlarge the area and try to keep the "mud" from reaching the surface. She seems content with playing in the sand, though there are still one or two other spots in the yard we are going to have to do something about. It might be best if we just put concrete over the entire yard, and just give her a sand area to play in. She is more like a billy-goat, than a dog when she is shredding the yard, but she has the sweetest spirit and personality and LOVES to cuddle...BUT... the cuddling only happens after she has finished romping you to death with those HUGE over-sized paws, and you have to watch out because they can do damage to you if you aren't expecting them where she decides to hit you with them. We love her to death, but I can tell you THIS dog is not a dog for everyone. The size and rambunction nature might be too much for most people, and the fur becomes a condiment with every meal, even if you are brushing her two or three times a day. LOL! She is very intelligent, but as you indicated with yours, she pretty much has a mind of her own, and if you aren't doing what she wants to do the way she wants you to do it, she is pretty much going to ignore you. We have found a couple of particular doggie cookies that work pretty well at convincing her to do most things we want when we want it. The biggest problem we have, is that we have a couple of house cats, one of which loves her, but she insists on trying to carry the cat around by her head and we keep having to scold her to stop that. The other cat does NOT like her, and has her bluff in on the Pyrenees, and will literally chase her around the house hissing at her. It is quite funny to watch an 85 pound dog run from a 3 pound cat. Our Pyr's name is Sissi, so I guess it fits her if she is running from a tiny cat.
I could probably go on, but it seems highly unlikely anyone will read all this anyway, but suffice to say, we love our Pyr, and hope to have her for many years to come. We may not have a yard, and may be covered in bruises and scars, but they will all be fond reminders of her. LOL!
Your dog sounds like mine! They are in and out in and out, but I have cats so not auto doors for me unfortunately. Luckily I have them trained to sleep through the night with us so they never go out after they come in for the night till morning. I’m so fortunate for that! Lol Enjoy your pup, these truly are great dogs!!
@@nikkiyoumans156 ,, That's not their nature tho. When it starts to get dark, mine go to the door and want out, one bark. At about sunrise they appear at the back door for breakfast.
At least this breed doesn't act as puppy-ish for very long... in no time, she'll be a lazy ball of fluff most of the day- pretty much like a giant cat...
See the MartaWomack comment and replies above. We discuss mud, mud, mud- mountains of glorious mud
Companionship is 100% the right answer. Ours was a stray and came to us when he was about 4. He started out immediately with terrible separation anxiety because of previous experiences (we found his owners -- they worked all the time). We work from home and also have other dogs for him to pack with. We worked him through the separation anxiety and now he's a happy guy -- and I think having other dogs definitely helps because he acts like a big brother to them (even though they're much older than he is). He's such a sweet boy. I can't imagine ever not having a pyrenees again. I will say ours likes to be in the backyard alone, stalking the perimeter and keeping watch for several hours a day. Our other dogs are just not that into being outside.
I just inherited my father in law's female Great Pyrenees named Jessie, after he became seriously injured & couldn't care for her anymore. She was never allowed in the house, until now. Never even having seen a dog like her before, I've been watching videos, like this one, trying to learn all I can to give her the best life possible on my small budget. Her coat was in terrible shape when she arrived, so I've bathed her & have been trying to brush her out really well, which seems like a never ending task with her thick, double coat that's all matted, but she's been so patient about it. I've already fallen in love with the old girl's personality & sweetness! Thanks for your video!
A bath😂. We did that with our 3 GP once and plan to never do so again. I don't think their skin even got wet! Just brushing regularly (and keeping them out of the mud on hot days) seems to do the trick.
@@desertlocoshomestead Keeping them out of the mud- hah- good luck with that! I have 2 of them. In the winter they are the snow dogs and in the summer they transform into mud puppies. It's snow and frozen for about 8 months where I live in Alaska. They love the snow and spend a lot of time in it. They get snow balls stuck all over them but I just bring them in and let it melt off. In the summer we have about one dry month then we go into the muddy season. They will go lay in the animals muddy trail with grass 2' feet away. This year I didn't even try to clean them much. It's frozen so now I'm cleaning them up. They are messy and matted. Maybe I will make them wear rain coats next year.
@1coketogo554 yeah, ours like the mud too. We jokingly call them chocolate dipped marshmallows in the summertime
@@desertlocoshomestead I like that. Summer terror is being outside and seeing them gleefully running towards you with brown gunk dripping off them. I automatically take a defensive stance with hands out in front to keep them back but it never works. They still wipe themselves all over my legs and I end up touching them. Or the kids let them in the house. It's amazing how much stuff they can hold in their hair until they get inside. During our dry spell this summer I found a horse terd on the dining room floor and realized it had fallen out of the dogs hair. But I love them anyway. They really are great dogs even if they are kinda messy.
@1coketogo554 🤣
So true!
just ran across your channel. My dog Coal passed away and I was hart broken. He was a Labrador/Great Dane mix. So I went to a shelter and found this longhair white dog that was really sweet. her name is Angel and she came to live with me. I am alone since my wife died and she is a great companion. I did not know what a Great Pyrenees was. I started looking online about them and as she got older her traits started showing up. She walks the fence line several times a day and goes into alarm if she hears anything. She has some traits people may not like. She barks a lot, likes to dig and she leaves a lot of hair around. I am 77 and she gets me up in the morning and she starts doing Zommies about the house with me chasing her till I am out of breath. Then I fill in her fox holes did I mentioned she is a great digger? I got a small shop vac for the hair because she almost killed my house vac. Then she takes me for a walk to get my exercise. My daughter lives close by so we go over there and play with her two dogs. It is funny watching her watch my computer when your chickens were making noise. Also one night watching a movie there were wolves howling and Angel just went ape. Must be breeding. She spends as much time indoors as outdoors as Coal had a doggie door to go out. Angle hits that perfect at a full run. I love her so much now I would never give her up. Yes the barking does get to me from time to time but that is her breeding warning of things out there. I just live in a regular house with a big yard. She looks just like your dog and now is a 100 pounds. thanks for letting me rant about my girl.
So glad you have her! My best friend has a GP and he weighs 140 pounds!
Angel is so pretty I’m waiting on my 9 week old Chad to be looking so handsome
I have one and she is an indoor/outdoor. She has no Seperation anxiety. I walk her 2 miles in the morning and 2 miles at night which makes her tired and keeps her calm all day and all night. The walks also eliminated the night barking. She sleeps really well unless she has something to alert us about.
That nighttime walk is the key to getting sleep if you own these dogs!
I adopted our Great Pyrenees in July 2022. She is thought to be about 2 years old. I fell in love with her right away. There was an instant bond. We have three dogs at home and she fits in beautifully as number four. She is the most obedient out of all our pups. She is also the one who barks the least. I absolutely adore our Lily. She has my heart forever. The #1 thing I would say you need with a Great Pyrenees is a good mop and vacuum due to the amount of hair they shed. I brush her every other day, but she still sheds, but she is worth all the work.
Wow she sounds so sweet. Yes a good vacuum is definitely high up on the priority list. We find mini Milo's under all of our furniture daily. It is amazing how fast it accumulates around the house.
@@AcresOfAdventure yes, it is crazy how fast it accumulates. Ha...ha...Milo looks and sounds like a sweetheart too.
I agree with the vacuum but I thought this video was going to say “an extra arm.” The Pyrs need constant belly rubs!!! It would be helpful to have an extra arm!
@@SarahPerine yes, that too! lol
I need a puppy to train with my LGDs, will train two and keep one for 6 months
Thanks for the video. I have owned Great Pyrenees for over 23 years. I specialize in rehabilitating highly abused Great Pyrenees. Having one or more companions has been extremely important. The rehabilitated dog or dogs help me welcome and train each new Great Pyrenees when he arrives. Currently I have 3 male Great Pyrenees: Thunder age 14, Beowulf age 8 and Montana age 8. After a few years of training, we have become a trusting and loving pack. In addition to having a companion, I have found that offering love, gentleness and patience are essential. I also respect the breed's traits, supporting their need to watch over our 2 1/2 acres, smiling at their independent attitudes, vigilant awareness and loud booming barking as they protect their territory from the sounds wild things in the night.
Have you had any issues with them being males? I’ve rescued 2 males, both fixed, one a year old and one about 4 months old. Praying they become best buds!
@@BeyondBlessed-bd6ro So far in my 23 years of experience, we have been able to develop close trusting relationships & become a cohesive pack. I have found that it is important to get to know the personality, traits and special needs of each dog and help them grow in ways that meet these needs. For example, when I adopted Beowulf in 2017, I had 2 dominant dogs. I knew that the next dog I adopted needed to be a follower, not another leader. In 2018, when my dog, Zoe, died, The Indy Great Pyrenees Rescue asked me to take in an especially abused dog which I named Montana. Both Thunder & Montana were dominant males, and both had several special needs based on the past abuse they endured. One of the special needs was they were both highly food aggressive. I offered extra love, care & patience. It took weeks to get to the place where Thunder & Montana could interact at ease with each other, but it took many months (more than a year) to deal with each dog's food aggression. I created feeding zones where Thunder, Montana & Beowulf could eat in peace. First, Montana had to be placed in a back bedroom with the door closed. Next, I fed Thunder in the living room, and I took Beowulf's food upstairs to the A-frame's loft. Beowulf is a slow & picky eater. This stopped a lot of fights. Now, I feed in the same order, but they can be much closer. I can feed Montana in the kitchen and Beowulf & Thunder in the living room at least 8 feet apart. They play and sleep together, sometimes all 3 in a grouping. I trained all 3 to walk together on 15' rope training leads. We have a great time together as a loving trusting pack with me as the leader. With as young as your two male Great Pyrenees are, I bet things will be fine. I wish you well, Rick
Excellent question, I have read on GP rescue websites that same sex GPs tend to not get along and that the females are usually the pack leader. That said, my 2 boys are 4.5 years old and are litter mates and adore one another. They occasionally get in a tussle that's brief usually about one trying to guard the others area to guard, but nothing to bad. I often wonder if they get along so well simply because they are littermates. Someday I will have to replace them as they are working LGDs...
Companionship when you aren't around. Since Guardian my 2 yr old Great Prynees came up missing 2 months ago, Annie, my pitbull/german sheperd preditor dog has been sulking and not herself. She's 12 years old and missing her left eye due to a hornet attack 2 falls ago. Guardian was her wingman when they would go after trespassing coyotes. When she came back 2 hours after they had given pursuit I didn't think much of it but when Guadian wasn't in the yard the next morning with a muskrat offering for Annie I knew something was wrong. To date he still hasn't returned and we've found no signs that he was killed. Late spring goose hunters were at a lake a half section behind our place and I believe they left a door open on their turck and he jumped in for a ride or they just saw a very big friendly dog and decided they needed him worse than we did. I'm currently in the process of adopting another prynees from a neighboring town that was an older kids pet, but for whatever reason the kids no longer have the time to spend with him. Annie & I need him so we're going for it. Thanks so much for these honest to the point videos.
I had to get my GP two year old a Golden Retriever (same age). Best thing I ever did. When I go camping on the side of a mountain enjoying the view of two alpine lakes, my golden is sitting right next to me enjoying the view. My GP is sitting behind my chair watching my back the entire time.
I just rescued a 7 month old GP, who was abandoned and living under a neighbors porch. She's a sweet, beautiful girl. I have 2 toy poodles who are 13 lbs, and I'm worried about their safety because Bella (GP) gets a little rambunctious with them, just wanting to play. I know toy poodles, what they need, how to train, etc.. but nothing about GP's, so your videos are really helping, thank you!
1) a job to do
2) a lot of love and affection
I found two Great Pyr pups in the desert. Someone dumped them and my son and I were fortunate enough to find them and be able to give them a home. I often look at them and think, I’m so glad I kept them together, I couldn’t imagine how sad they would be without one another! Such loves! They aren’t even a year and a half old yet and they are so smart and learn so fast but yes, my boy, stubborn and doesn’t necessarily come every time I call him. He will come when I go to him and get him though! Lol best dogs EVER!! I agree about companionship, these dogs are better in twos!
We've had four of them over the years. Three rescues and a puppy. While they were all raised indoors, every one of them would have stayed outside 24/7 if they could. And none ever got too cold, no matter the temperature.
I just found your videos because we just rescued a Gp. You r absolutely right about this breed. Thanks for sharing this
Companion animal is definitely a good suggestion. We had a Bernese Mountain Dog and a little old Papillon who wasn’t much fun for the BMD once he grew up. We got our GP to be a like-sized buddy for our BMD. Now we are looking for another GP, because our GP likes to be outside more than our BMD does. This might become a problem. I’m going to need a bigger house. 😂
Jennifer my wife is always talking about getting more GP and I said the same thing….we’re going to need a bigger house!
We have two, brother and sister, and I think that definitely helps with their separation from us since they still have each other. They are always together, even when they escape our property. They don't care much for our chickens but naturally they keep the coyotes away so they do keep the chickens safe. We plan to get pigs soon so I'm curious to see how their guardian behavior changes if at all for the pigs. I do agree that it's best for them to have a constant companion, whether it's another dog or livestock they are bonded to.
We regret not getting two when we got our first even though it works with our Wheaton terrier it would be better for a dog that is the same breed and size. Sounds like you have a great duo!
We have 2 Colorado mountain dogs (Great Pyrenees/Anatolian mix) and they liked our Mangalitsa pigs but they were cautious around them. We didn’t keep them together but they would hang out together between the fence line. They are much closer to our goats
I agree with you. My Pyr doesn't like to be far from me unless he is patrolling the perimeter of our modest suburban back yard. He will sit and shake, but forget about fetching or rolling over unless he thinks he's doing it for a belly rub. He tolerates fools (other dogs) but insists on being with his humans. He is the best dog I've ever had, and I hope I'm gone before he is.
We have 2 Pyr’s. They are actually sisters. They are together 99% of the time. One of them needs a little space and actually finds her own corner of our property while her sister romps around. I agree with you that having 2 of them is great! However, I think that the #1 need is the best fence you can afford. Gives total peace of mind, knowing that they love to roam. Thx for your video 😊
Yes, good fences are key, to keep in the dog AND what they are guarding!
I have three Great Pyrenees and love them to bits. Two out of three if you turn your head they are disapyrs. Lol. They are extreme independent thinkers and dogs. Two out the three are barkers at night if there are predators out and so on. They are excellent mouser and are good at catching any rodent that aren’t supposed to be there. They will mark your yard all over to prevent predators from coming on the property. Yet they are gentle giants and wonderful giant lapdogs. My three are rescues. They hear you but don’t always respond due to their nature. They want to be out in the frigid temperatures as that’s their breed. Definitely need a good sweeper, good brush and a heavy duty nail clipper for those dewclaws.
I agree on the companionship recommendation. Our Riley is a high percentage G/P mix. We have a family member's GSD dog that spends time here, a fortnight or month at at time, and our Riley is obviously upset & out of sorts when she goes back home and is visibly glad to see her when she reappears.
I have a Great Pyrenees catahoula mix. He is the best dog ever. He likes to be with me and follows me everywhere. He lives inside but we have a large fenced yard for him. He doesn’t like to go outside alone and always turns around waiting for me to come out with him. He is the most gentle sweet dog I’ve ever had. Everyone that meets him says he has the best demeanor. He doesn’t bark ever. He is a gentle giant and I love him so much! We actually found him because he ended up in my parents backyard (he dug his way in) and once we located his owners they said they couldn’t keep him because he kept jumping their fence 😂.
We have a great pyrenees down the road in our neighborhood he guards the sheep. He also recently moved the baby form and guarded it from the sheep for the mother. They're such lovely wonderful dogs. Everyone in the neighborhood loves Chewbacca
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Yes, we have a great Pyrenees rescue named Zeus, and our other dog is named Bailey, which is funny in your video and they are awesome together and I do recommend what you said about having companionship🐾🐾
My Pyr needs his own pooch, a side kick. He's a house doggo, I'm the livestock, but he also looks after the neighbor kids. We relocated to a new town and he's been a tad homesick, so I'm hoping a pup will help him. He's good with separation, but he's always had my dad (aka Pop Pop) to hang out with, up until last year. Doesn't listen to a word I say, unless it's treat or ride, and super independent. But, he's an outstanding pooch that I love to death.
Job/Companionship-love/plenty of space. Our girl is a mostly indoors guardian. I am disabled and bedbound. She is my 24/7 nurse. She knows when something bad is getting ready to happen, and alerts my kids. She sniffed out a cancerous area on my MIL’s knee when she was just a tiny puppy. Then, when my leg bones started hurting, she was on them like white on rice. Always sniffing. I got a checkup and kidneys were failing a little worse. Got a kidney biopsy and they found smoldering multiple myeloma. It’s not active disease (yet?), but she keeps such a close eye on me, that I can’t even go to the bathroom alone. ♥️🤣 Best girl EVER!!♥️🥰
Absolutely, ours loves his duck and chicken friends. Even if they are separated by a pet fence.he still loves their companionship and checking them and playing with them through the fence.
They love having a buddy!
Hubby and I have adopted two randomly bred adult dogs and six Great Pyrs. They do need companion buddies and, yes, I agree 💯 with you. Pyrs do need a buddy. Great job on the #1 answer. 😊
We have a Great Pyrenees crossed with the Kangal breed. She's a lot to deal with but one of the most loving and silly dogs we've ever owned.
I want to see a picture of this amazing dog!!!
Mine is mixed with Anatolian shepherd and he is the biggest goofball. He loves cats
Very smart dogs and great guard dogs
Space! My Leaf has me and my 4yr old to look after but he for sure needs a something else. When I’m working from home and my daughter is gone at school, he spends his time outside (not on super hot days). But he is conversational and if you will be on and off the phone all day, and not enough interaction, he finds SOMETHING to chew/destroy. Best dog ever! Chickens coming this spring for him to have a true purpose!
Yes they definitely need a purpose to be happy! Im sure he will love his chickens..ours still gets a little too excited at times and tries to play with them.
I recently adopted a great Pyrenees an Anatolian shepherd cross puppy, not realizing quite what I was getting into. I knew enough about the breed to feel good about it, but I’ve been doing more research since adopting, her and I’ve learned a lot that I didn’t know about this breed.
That being said, she is so sweet and loving I couldn’t be more happy with her. She loves my cat and my other dog. She is a great companion to him and they love each other so much!
We had lost our older dog, not too long ago and our Shepherd border collie mix was lonely and sad and we knew he needed a friend and then we found her needing at home and it’s been working out beautifully❤
Personally, I think the number one thing you need is patience lol because she does bark a lot. She loves to dig and she loves to chew on stuff in the nearly 2 weeks we’ve had her, she’s dug holes all over the backyard lol
and chewed up some of the siding on the house , we have lots of toys for her inside so she’s done pretty well inside with supervision, but she does like the cat scratcher for another toy😂
she is about five months old learning really well already knows sit lay down, crawl spin left and right learning how to heal learning her name definitely knows what good girl is as she gets a treat when she hears it!😅 she’s really smart I did not expect her to be so willing to work!
Maybe it’s because she’s a mix and not pure bred ?
But she seems extremely food motivated, and my positive training seems to be going well so far!
I blocked off the part of the house that she likes to chew on Lol
as she loves to be outside I don’t want to restrict her to be only out for potty breaks. I think she needs her outdoor time to be fully happy the first few days I tried to keep her in and just potty her outside and I can really tell the difference when I start leaving her out there for an hour a few times a day to let her have some space to really run and dick and be a dog!❤
I don’t mind the holes, but I don’t want the siding ripped up lol
So I’m going to fence that off for now I’ve put a few things in the way .. so far it’s working most of the house is brick but there’s this one stretch that’s siding and that’s where she likes to chew! 😂
She needs a job...something at the same time every day. I think my GP are both a little autistic, really.
It’s the puppy in her, get her the really big extreme chewer bones. My dog was very destructive as a puppy (same mix from down south (72% GP and 18% Anatolian (and some other guardian/other breeds). Now he chews on his peanut butter flavored bones or chewies (dental chews and fish skins). I cannot give him regular dog toys even ones that are meant for tough chewers because he destroys them within minutes.
Mine too is very loving with the cats and a very gentle goofball (not graceful at all).
We live in the Charlottesville VA area. We have a great Pyrenees and Newfoundland mix. We are expecting the traits of the dog to be very similar to the Newfoundland and not a great Pyrenees. Some of her Tresa bit of surprise to us. Things like her barking. She loves to roll in the dirt which we have to brush every time to get the dirt out of her fur before we bring her in. So there were some unexpected work. But she is a great companion. She is now five years old and her companion is our three year old 115 pound male yellow lab. They get along very well. We have a fenced in backyard but take them on walks daily. I appreciate your insight with our great Pyrenees.
A pair of Pyrs. Male and female. We have 4 dogs. We added our male Pyr last December and he was a year when we got him. We have seen a huge positive change with our female since we have had him. She had friends with the other 2 dogs, but now she has a partner. They watch out for each other and they share the load of guarding. Her anxiety has gone away. Not only when we leave but also when she perceives a potential threat. I would recommend a pair of pyrs, and if not at least pair them with another guardian dog. It has been easier for us to have 2 Pyrs. 1, because we already know what to expect from the breed and 2, because we really love this breed. They are unlike any other dog. Having the same breed, they really understand each other and our 2 have bonded really well. But that hasn't taken away how close they are with us, in fact I think our female has gotten closer to us since we have gotten our male.
My wife is trying to talk me into getting another and I’m sure it will work eventually! We just love this breed so much here and I know he would love to have another of his type around that yard for help once we get more animals back here, thanks for watching again!
We added our male when he was just over a year. It was tough because he was already very large and he came from a home where he was the only animal, he had never been around other dogs and his owner didn't train him. Getting him used to another large dog and 2 other small dogs, along with 3 cats was a lot of work. We didn't want to raise another puppy and wanted to give a unwanted dog a second chance at a forever home. Just something to consider if you do decide to get a second Pyr. Our female used to bark a lot until we got our male. She doesn't bark that much anymore, but our male does. Having 2 doesn't double the noise being made, unless we get deer on our property or bobcats, or someone comes to the front door. Our female listens way better than she used to as well. I think it may be because she doesn't have to carry the weight of protector on her own. We wanted another guarding breed to share the load. We got another Pyr so we didn't have to learn another breed. Plus they are just awesome dogs. Even better as a pair, at least in my experience anyway.
Excellent video. You know the breed well. I've rescued a Prynesses who needed a Home at 7 mo. old. He lived until he was 16!. That is very rare for these wonderful dogs. My 3 grand daughters were playing in the fenced back yard one day
He always would lay down next to the youngest between them and the fence. Someone peered over the fence and is less than 8 feet he developed enough power to snap a 4x4 post meeting the threat eye to eye. Upon Bozos immediate departure, Junior (my large furry friend) went over and laid down again with a victory woof.
I now have another one who watches over the young ladies with great care. He had worked the sheep and was abandoned. They are gentle giants and wonderful. His 😇 slips now and then, but your right. They are very independent thinkers and will come when THEY feel like it when called. Take care, Jack & Big Jake.
Wow. Thank you for rescuing them and giving them so much love.
We just got a GP / Australian shep mix, She is 12 weeks old. We have about 40 chickens, 5 1/2 acres of mountainous forest. I fenced in about 4 acres of it (with great difficulty, running fence through dense forest up a 30 degree climb was not easy...).
So far, our dog is doing great, we have 2 smaller terrier dogs that are about 3 years old. We are training her to protect the chickens and so far, she is doing well at it.
Great they are very much needed
I rescued a Great Pyrenees at age 2 (approximately). She is now 10 and doesn't act a day over puppy age with her little Jack - Chi sister I rescued last year at 7 months. Yes, a friend is needed. 💞
From the first day I brought home my fluffy girl she never played. Now, with her little sister they play all the time!❤️.
My fluffy girl taught me these things:
1. Purpose
2. Patience🙏, Love 💗, unconditional love on a GIANT scale💓
3. Nothing is personal - she needs down time just like her momma (me)😋
4.Shop vacuum for all floors. Only thing that helps with hair!❤️
5. Protection by momma from thunderstorms and fireworks.🤗
6. Treats at the ready 🦴
She's amazing girl and I love her so much!
I'm so happy to have found your channel!😁
-Danielle in Michigan
Agree with all of those things! And glad to see another person from Michigan! Hope you enjoy more videos, thanks Danielle!
I second this video so much. I leave my boy home all day with three cats and three caged bunnies and he does much better now than when I had the bunnies down in the basement. 🙌
We have 1 Pyrenees - our house has a 0.4 acre back yard, but he loves to dig at the edges of the fence so we can’t leave him out there unattended for too long, so when we’re at work, we have to keep him inside and when we sleep he has to be inside. When we are home he gets all the love and attention, he’s our travel buddy, we take him to pet friendly stores and we walk him around the town square. He loves kids and kids love him. He’s gentle and therapeutic. But…He did seem bored at home and sad when we have to work. So we got a kitten. And slowly introduced them now they are the best of friends. The cat is great. She’s smaller, more independent, cuddly, loving and adores our Pyrenees. They hang out non stop and we’ve noticed he follows her everywhere and she loves the attention so it’s been a perfect match. She is his lil animal he can protect and I noticed how much more he smiles now and looks content!
I see this vid was put out 2 years ago, BUT I am going to comment anyway. I heartily agree on the companionship for Pyrs. My two older dogs (Pyr mixes and look and act like Pyrs) are sisters. They've been inseparable for over 9 years now, and are terrific at working together to keep varmints at bay. I just got 2 more 3/4 Pyr-1/4 Anatolian shepherd puppies (sisters) to be trained by me and my older dogs. I wanted a pair of puppies for that companionship and working together dynamic. Wouldn't have it any other way. And, yes, they do have minds of their own!! Kinda independent like I like to be. :) Sometimes you just have to shrug your shoulders and smile.
I have 2 half Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherd. They are both lovable dogs our youngest, male, is 5 months and he is almost as big as our goats. Our oldest, female, is 11 months and she is big but you can tell the male is going to be way bigger than she is, yet our female barks at everything and he is a bit more reserved…for now.
Tom, I enjoy your videos so much; you have wonderful animals and a beautiful family. I'm late commenting on this, I know, but you are SO spot-on with your Pyrenees tips, too. We have several dogs, one of which is a nearly-adult female Pyr (15 months) and our newest pack member, a female Pyr puppy (6 months). Such incredible dogs, and they love a look after our other pets, too. So funny to see them outside watching over the kitties when the cats go outside for a little play-break. We have a large-ish property, and a huge fenced area; the Pyrs patrol and alert us to the deer, coyotes, and bears that come around. When not patrolling or guarding cats, they're lounging around indoors like the spoiled royalty they see themselves to be. ;) Again, thanks for the great videos, and great information on this amazing dog breed. Best to you and your family!
Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and comment Brynda! Ahh that is so true, they do act as royalty. Ours lounges around all day indoors right in walkways and gets easily irritated when little ones are trying to get through lol Can't disturb the sleeping beauty!
Hugs. They are all about hugs.
Yes our Milo is also!
We got a GP to protect our 5 acres of goats, chickens and ducks and geese. He's been with us about 6 mo and has no interest in any birds, but wanted to play with the goats at first. They saw him and ran, because what he's there to protect them from is coyotes and mountain lions, so we keep them separate. He is big on marking all perimeters. Our goats are getting more comfortable around him. I was going to say the most important thing for your GP is a GROOMER! Hank is an easyish keeper, but now we got a second GP who has curly fine coat and mats so easily! I'm still looking for a professional groomer, but I think all the labradoodles in our area keep them booked up! In the meantime I am trying to take care of her on my own. Big job.
We rescued 2 dogs a Pyrenees/Border Collie female 3 months old and an Australian Shepherd male 10 months old June 2020. They were a perfect match for each other, she learned so much from her big brother (whom was sweet and had good manners when we got him, he kept her in line perfectly), they were inseparable! 6 months later the day after Christmas our Aussie died suddenly from a rare lung ailment that can happen with young very athletic dogs and sent our Pyrenees/Border Collie into a tail spin. We did what our farm vet said and we let her be with him over in the barn as opposed to where they lived and played for awhile before we burried him. That is when we realized she was not going to do well being an only dog. The only option was to rescue another pup (from the same place we got her) hoping that it would not take forever and to get her out of the bad place she was in and to feel joy again. She wouldn't eat or play, she was losing weight, it was awful seeing her so sad not really understanding why her big brother was gone.
On day 7 my husbands parents drove three states to bring home a 3 month old Anatolian Shepherd mix puppy sister for Darla. At first it was little short introductions, the pup was rough and tumble (the scrappy lil thing was found on the streets of Alabama at 2 months old) with Darla who is very lay back and not sure what to make of the lil furball being all up in her face. We had a snow storm 3 days after her arrival and she loved the white stuff and her new sister, it was the buffer we needed for full on interaction! We only leave the farm a couple hours a week so they are fortunate, but we never know what we are going to come home too. I try tiring them out before we leave but its not foolproof and they are locked in the kitchen when we do leave to minimize destruction like shredding egg cartons etc. Today the girls are doing well 15 months later, Darla turned 2 last Sunday and Maddie will be 2 end of September. The one funny thing that is developing is that if Darla gets into mischief (digging holes or cornering a cat...) Maddie comes and finds us and squeals on her big sister lol. Darla has a bff too, a mini mare, right now the two dogs and our two mini's got the zoomies in our backyard, it's like being at the races lol, come on Spring! We still miss Rico very much, he could never be replaced we only added another family fur member to love ;)
Love it! We would love to rescue a Pyrenees next if we could because of how much we hear how they don’t work out for people. We just love this breed so much and know they are just misunderstood! Thanks for sharing your story with us!
We have a 4 and a half month old great Pyrenees we just got a couple weeks ago. She's so sweet. Also I don't work so I am here 24/7. She's really sweet but she definitely has her independent streak. When I want her to come to the back of the house so I can put up the baby gate I very often have to go and pick her up and carry her haha. She just collapses and lays there when I pick her up, lol. I have another puppy and they love to play but they get a little rough. They get so crazy it sounds like a stampede when they run through the house. It's madness right now haha
I’m with my guy pretty much 24/7. His temperament is so amazing that we’re training him to be a therapy dog.
My first was a therapy dog. He got so much attention. The only problem was people would keep coming up to us in the hospital asking if he could visit their realtive and being unable to say no it would take hours to leave.
We have 4 other dogs and they are all an incredible pack! Our GP is so happy about our new Bernese Mountain Dog Mix addition and loves our Leonberger most! They can go in and out of the house in all weather. They are our babies for sure!❤❤❤❤
I have a two year old, male half great Pyrenees, half husky dog. We have been trying to get away from apartment living because it's not a way we want to live. So I told him that if we can find a small house with a yard, that he can get a dog of his own.
I ended up getting 2 bermease / Pyrenees not realizing they love companion ship but also they are brother and sister. The boy is a lover and needs mommy all the time but big sis keeps him busy lol. She is the devil lol but also very affectionate and loving as well. Always wants to run away and I am now realizing she needs a job and will be getting a dog house with the animals. She yearns to watch and guard.
Yes, Great Pyrenees need a companion. I'm that for ours right now, while we're waiting for a Scottish Terrier adoption. This is a huge size difference, but Scotties are built like little tanks and have the personality of a much larger dog. We've had both together before and they did very well with one another.
You are so kind
I have 2 Pyrenees which are sisters and they do great together we don’t live on a farm but do have a 2 story house with a backyard for them to play, they love attention and get fed very well with a mixture of dog food and we cook up turkey meat(looks like hamburger) sweet potatoes beef heat, kidney beans and carrots, sometimes we’ll replace the beef heart with chicken gizzards or chicken hearts.
I have an 8 month old female GP. Best dog everrrr. We are in SW Michigan and she is a house dog.
Well hello from west Michigan as well! And they are just great dogs!
My Snow Ball . Climbs and can jump 6- 7 ft fences. Mine was lost when My Rosealee passed away last August
.Doing better lovesprotects the cats
. She has 5 other dogs and 3 cats to keep them all occupied In door out door fenced 6 acres
So true mine would howl after i lift 3ven when my son was home
Absolutely, they must have room- LOTS of it(Preferably fenced as they tend to roam)To explore and guard. And I agree, a companion is key. Winston has a Golden Retriever brother who is his constant companion and best friend. They have grown up together from the age of six weeks old. And of course, you need patience and above all else, LOVE
This make a lot of sense. My girl hates to be outside so I am thinking of getting a couple of young goats for her to watch over.
I think she would LOVE that
That’s what there for and they need it to
I have a gp and he is a blessing. I would love another but i cant afford a second dog. I had 2, my labrador who helped raise him, but he eventually passed away.
Ours has an aussie doodle as a best friend. They both protect the parameter of the property, take care of the kids and cats too. Both are very observant of the emotions of their family. They even wake each other up if someone is having a bad dream or pick the burs out of each others fur or the kids clothes after comin inside. We have a teenager on the spectrum and they pay extra attention to him and his 6 year old sister, even down to the job of entertaining them. As long as I give her something to protect, let her make her own good choices and spoil her she is the happiest dog you'll ever meet
I actually choose my rescue pyrenees because of their desire and need to work. He's still in basic training but will eventually become my service dog. He already has the basic instincts trainers look for. He wants to work, learn new things, and be with his human all the time. He doesn't have separation anxiety, though. I would say for him the things he needs most is friends. If he had his way he would play with every human and dog he encounters. Hes just a big extrovert excited to meet everyone. Luckily there's a great pyrenees right next door that he had play dates with
Thanks for sharing
I agree Just got one and decided to get his sister as well And they have done great They are only 7 weeks old And love each other so much 😊
That is awesome!! How fun! My mom has his litter mate and it was so fun to watch them play as puppies! However Milo mellowed out much faster than his sister, who always wants to play.
You don’t “ own” Pyrenees or Marremas. They own you. They are not like any other breed. They are fiercely stubborn and independent. They want to know where they are when walking. They love to smell and pee on everything but only outside. They are very clean and proud.
I just got a Pyrenees male puppy 3 weeks ago and he's everything you said, he's about 15 weeks old he had no training at all other than being with his siblings and parent dogs he lived in a field, I drove him 150 miles home through the mountains of Kentucky and Southwest Virginia no problems no accidents, he potty trained himself and you can lead him in a leash with one finger, but when he wants to stop to investigate or anything else you wait, and when he wants something he tells you, the only dog that I've ever owned that was as stubborn and has a close temperament is a beagle, I love my dog and call him the Cadillac of dogs because he is
Soooo true! My girl Lottie is a Pyrenees-Marrema Mix and you hit the nail right on the head with your description!
We found that ours thrive when they have work to do, guarding our horse, goats and chickens. They adopted the other animals on their own. Both have clear areas of the yard that are just theirs. We have zero issues with our wandering, they are happy with the yard's size...but we truly believe that they harbor a sense of duty to the animals they are hear to guard (we are included in the animal groups to them).
Vacuum and patience
and not wanting your house to be perfect neat wise . LOVE YOUR CONTENT.
We have two Pyrenees mixes. They love each other and yes they are very protective!
I think having two dogs is the way to go!
I love reading everyone’s comments. It seems like they all have more than 1 or 2. I have had 2 years ago. I have to have a dog. When they pass I start looking for the next. Always rescue and am not breed specific. I lost my German Shorthair Pointer at 13. I went to two shelters near my house and I saw a GreatPyrenees mix with Golden Retriever. I fell in love. She was 15 mos. Knew nothing about her because she got there the day before and came from a shelter in Alabama. I knew she was a livestock guardian and I don’t have any livestock. Just 4 indoor cats and a large 6’ high fenced in yard. All the toys I gave her she didn’t play with or chew. She ate them. She had never seen a ball. I went on U tube and watched every video I could find. It was educational and enlightening. Everything they do is because of why they were breed. If you know that it all makes sense. The Per Paw, the barking, the sheeding, the no recall. I still have a problem with that one treats used to work but she caught on. She is easy to train because she is soo food/treat motivated. I noticed the separation anxiety the first time I drove away and left her in my yard. She jumped the fence and my neighbor brought her back. When she was outside too long she dug 3 huge holes. When left inside and not in her crate she looks for things to get into. Since all this I retired and am pretty much home all day. We get along great. Call her My Roommate.
I'm proud to say, I've been blessed with a female Great Pyrenees named Lady and we love each other with all our hearts. In reference to "separation anxiety", I've addressed that concern by first being honorably retired and secondly, having Lady officially registered as an "Emotional Support Animal", permitting her to accompany me where ever I go, 24hrs. of the day.
Agree with all you said. Our GP shares our home with 2 other dog friends. She is 1.5 years old and She is the alpha for sure. She loves them and us and we spend time between our farm and the suburbs and I have found lots of chew toys.. BIG ones.. ropes etc saves our home when they are left alone for small amounts of time. Certainly saves our home!
They can be some hard work but they pay that back for sure! We love our big guy so much!
Socializing them is a must I adopted one at 2 years old and he is very aggressive
Yes it is! We have been trying to take Milo more places whenever we can to help with that! Thanks for watching!
We got our Great P. a chihuahua! They love each other so much. Its the Best thing that happened for him.
We have 3 of them…they are amazing! But like someone mentioned they dig under the fence of our 5 acre ranch and like to roam around the neighborhood, so we had to install the wired fence. We also have 7 chickens, 2 mini donkeys, 3 mini cows, 3 goats, 2 tortoises, 2 cats and a corker spaniel Sammy that is an indoor dog … thank for your great video
I was going to ask for a Wheatie video but then you described Bailey as a hunting breed. Wheaties are all around farm dog- herding, guarding, hunting- like a lurcher and killing vermin.
Absolutely agree. Our baby Pyrenees rottweiler mix absolutely needs a companion. She especially loves babies, I think she would make a great foster mom when she is older. She absolutely adores kittens and other puppies and already knows how to be gentle.
So sweet!! I have seen a ton of video with Pyrs and baby animals!!
I am surprised to see so many comments from 'townspeople' with indoor GPs. Never knew any GPs till we borrowed one from a friend to protect our chickens from the neighborhood cats. Fell in love with her. Kept 2 of her puppies and we now live out on acerage. Ours have been 100%outside and they are funny. They are like furry dead things most of the day, then at night they make their rounds regularly, check on the sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, etc. They only bark at unusual things or coyotes... one of ours has actually helped keep some of our baby rabbits alive all night when a mom has her babies outside the nest box... they can be amazing dogs, in the right situations/households. We absolutely love ours. Oh and fun fact, they are fun to dye with Kool-Aid for holidays (probably not a good idea if they come inside, though). We dye them green for st patricks day; red, white and blue for 4th of July- they look like those rocket popsicles! And they love it because you are giving them attention!
Thanks for the info. Our GP Do-Gee is 5 months old now with a year and a half old Labrador brother. No chickens yet but soon...
He will love the chickens, it may take time because these dogs love to play but you will live watching them together!
1. Space to roam(fenced in)
2. A king size bed to sleep with my humans. She doesn't not like sleeping alone.
Deborah those are great answers!
Thank you for explaining this. I live alone with my pup and she has separation anxiety really bad. I have been considering a second dog but wasn’t sure if the issue would be resolved by doing so. The anxiety lessens when I let her out in the backyard. Then I can leave for a bit to take of errands. I’m working on her basic training. She’s 8 months and doing good. But she definitely needs a buddy.
I agree. Companionship and someone to protect.
They are strong, loyal, smart and independent thinker. They do well in a pack of like minded dogs. They know their territory, their animals and a routine. Terriers are feisty and active. Our GP still mourns for one of his companion dogs.
I have a brother and sister combo.... Honestly they work great together and they also love my kids.
Brian, that is awesome! I know some people warn of the sibling bond, but for working dogs I don't think that would be as much of a problem.
Do they seem to have the same temperament? Milo's sister (who my mom has) is high strong and a bit more nervous than Milo. Milo is a big lazy bum most of the day, where Luna never stops moving.
My new pup, Anatolian Pyrenees girl loves my golden retriever. They're both indoor outdoor girls and their twin bed is right next to my bed. I'm retired so I'm with them 24/7 except when I need to run into town. I specifically have two dogs so they can play together. I don't play with them but we do lots of cuddles and groom time. Both are food oriented so training is a breeze, which is an ongoing deal for several years
My great pyranese has her "sister" a belgium malignois and they are the same exact age. I couldnt imagine separating them.
great they have each other for companions! Thanks for watching!
The 1st time i saw a Pyrenees was while i was out shopping & He definitely owned the atmosphere as he moved with magestic grace ahead of his master { a disabled vet } with an unbrakable keen focus that demanded high respect ,I can still recall the angelic rush i experienced as that giant white powerful beast moved so gracefully past me He was in full confidence of who he was & i was in awe at the presence of such an awesome creation. Ever since that day i knew that was the kind of dog i wanted for a service animal & companion. What an awesome gift to mankind ; the Pyrenees 👑
My old roommate has a Great Pyrenees. He was a handful as a puppy. Very stubborn. He would bark a lot until they got another dog. Once he had a companion he was amazing. Doesn’t bark much at all. But that may be because the other one is a hound dog. So he never ever ever shuts up.
He is an intelligent, loyal and independent dog. He has been raised in the stable with the sheep since he was a puppy, and sleeps with them. So he's very good at guarding them in the mountains. Especially at night, he's the only one who can scare off bears or wolves. It needs a wide biotope. Hikers have to make a long detour when the herds are guarded by the Patou (often, there are two of them). Signs warn hikers of the danger of getting too close...here in the Pyrenees, we call him "Patou" it sounds like: patoo . Bravo for the good job you do👍🏻👏👏
We've had Pyrs and other LGDs for almost 30 years. Must concur that companionship is important. In the Rockies ( and anywhere with coyotes, wolves and bear) it is very important to have at least 2 with the sheep and livestock. They work as a team against predators and will develop tactics specific to the situation. Also, a pack of canids will overwhelm a single guardian dog. We did have a rescue Pyr that ran off a grizzly by herself, but that is more than you should expect from a single dog.
The next thing you need, is another Pyr. They work as a team. I hade 2. They seem to just exchange glances and off they would go. Telepathy would be a good word to use. Sometimes they went in different directions and some times they went together, depending on what the threat was. Just watching the communication process between 2 of them is amazing. Some talk about how to train them. I don't do that. They were born with all they need and they Know their purpose. They are not just another dog. My 2 worked at night and rested during the day. They are nocturnal by nature. As they get older, some eyesight may diminish so, leave an outside porchlight on so they can home in on it. It will be a reference point for them as they get older. When my wife and I went outside, one went with me and the other went with my wife. They are also a Nanny Dog. My wife got the most attention tho. The Big Guy, 195lbs, would block her way if he thought she shouldn't go that way. The older one, by 3 years and 150lbs, would stay with me and observe. One of our 6 month old grand daughters was brought over for a visit. My wife carried her outside and sat in a chair. After a while she started to get up and the Big Guy put his huge paw on her leg and sat her back down. Satay here. They have about a 10-12 year life span. It was hard to see them pass on. Thanks You need 2 of them. No question.
# 1. = good fencing, have had 7 pyrs since 2002, also do Pyr rescue.
I have two dogs, one is a Pyrenees and the other is an Akbash. They still miss us, but they do like having each others company. Our Pyr is definitely an indoor dog, especially if it's raining! 😆 When it snows that's a different story! I can't get her in!!! they need a leader, good fence, most important they need attention/love. If you ask her she would say treats, lots and lots of treats!!!
Treats are a dog owners best friend sometimes!
We have 2 GP, 1 is 11 months old and the other is 9 months old. We have a large yard with 6’ fence. The older just figured how to dig out. We have a GPS on their color. They hate the Amazon delivery guy. Ours definitely love each other. We have a 15 year old min schnauzer. Both dogs will jump in your laps to avoid getting too close to her. I think the second GP was what we needed. We have had the younger pup since she was 6 weeks old and she hate us up til we get the second one.
I put dog biscuits in the mail box. When the mail person pulls up they know he's going to give them a treat. They like him so much that he often gets our and plays with them. The Amazon guy ran, LOL.
Nice, you switched from apartment life to a homestead. You're living my dream.
Oh no…we have 3 cats…but maybe I need a puppy! This explains why she was so stressed when we have to leave her.
Taught Samson to blink to the affirmative.
High 5 was easy with the Pyr paw happening, everytime he'd start with the Ptr Paw I would hold my hand ✋ saying hi five and when he made contact, high praise, he loves attention.
That is awesome! Our Pyrenees loves attention too...on his terms.
I just found a stray GP and took him to the vet. I live in a mountain so he has plenty of room to explore. I’ve had a few people talk about how they wonder off. Is there anything I can do to help this outside of a fence or chain?
I've had 3 Great Pyrs and I love them they are a beautiful breed.
May I suggest 2 kittens as companions for a GP? It worked beautifully for my 1 year old rescue. She had a job that was needed by the stray kittens. They all slept together in her bed and that was one year ago.
My cousin has a Great Pyrenees on her farm. He is very protective of the farm. So he spends most of his time outside protecting the farm stead.
Our lab is 14... one day... we will have to welcome home another to our family---I'm NOT ready! Considering a pyrenees--- I need to watch previous episodes to learn if this is the breed we want. lots of great information here! thank you!
They have there struggles but they are such great dogs, you would love them!!!
@@AcresOfAdventure My parents have one... he's a bit goofy but still does the job well.
#1 is love. What my #1 needs to be is patience. Great Pyrenees are stubborn from what I hear so love and patience or what's the point. We just picked up a pair of 9 week old female puppies that are litter mates, one white and one black. My wife says she loves them so we'll see how that goes.
You will love them. Be patient, they will give back to you more the. You will every know