2006-07-14 16:17:00 · 4 answers · asked by karrenpelts 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
From the information on Great Pyrenees at AKC.org:
"The Great Pyrenees as a Worker
By nature, the Great Pyrenees is nocturnal. It works well in combination with its shepherd owners and companion herding and guarding dogs with the livestock accompanying this group. It can be trusted with small, young, and helpless animals of any kind, but it has to be watched as a young pup with some supervision and occasional correction required as it usually takes a pup 18 months to become an effective livestock guardian dog. It is one of the most interesting qualities of a Great Pyrenees—the absolute intolerance of all predators (including strange dogs, animals, and people), coupled with extraordinary patience and kindness to stock. The breed works in many settings and under many circumstances. This is a dog that can
live on a farm, usually in the proximity of the farmyard and ranch house. He is part pet and part guard dog. He takes care of the farm or ranch, the family, and the stock that is usually pastured close to the house. We also find Pyrs working on large ranches pastured far from the living quarter. The breed performs admirably in any of these situations.
A livestock guardian dog will be more reliable and effective if it is spayed or neutered. This can be done safely as early as seven or eight weeks of age. Most pups go to new homes between seven and twelve weeks and have spent most of that time with their dam and litter mates. A slight advantage is possible from pups being raised with livestock as the breeders can observe their interaction toward the livestock. Many superb and effective working Pyrenees have never seen any type of livestock before their arrival at the ranch. Older Pyrs with no prior livestock experience have been known to make excellent guardians with training and supervision from their new owner."
2006-07-14 18:18:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The great Pyrenees are more for protecting sheep. You make them think that they are sheep by keeping them with the sheep from the time they are a puppy. You DO NOT treat them like a pet at all.
As far as protecting cattle I suppose it would be the same thing. What are you trying to protect your cattle from? Most things that would kill even a calf would probably not be scared off by a dog. My recommendation is to make sure that you keep cows/heifers that are motherly and willing to protect their calves.
2006-07-15 13:22:03 · answer #2 · answered by ekaty84 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you shouldnt have to train a great pyrenees it should come natural to them.most ffarmers put there great pyrenees puppys out in the field to gaurd sheep,catle.....and many other things i have a greeat pyrenees we got him for our protection from cougers were we live or are going to live ttthere are cougers so hes are protecter and we dont train him yo protect us he just does it wee tell him to get him if some ones aaat the door or something but he would never hu rt us
2006-07-16 11:10:05 · answer #3 · answered by holly+******** 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you dont train them, it is natural for them.......if the pyr is new for you pup or grown you need to have a corral or fence in your cattle area, keep him in that with a cow calf or steer with him, when you turn him out with all of them he will stay with them........thats what they do natural........we have pyrs with our goats
2006-07-14 23:25:02 · answer #4 · answered by goatlady 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋