12 Week Old Great Pyrenees Puppy

[s_wiss13]

Hi,

 

I am having so much fun reading through many of the posts and learning a lot. Thank you for taking the time to answer with such detail. I wanted to say hi and introduce my dogs. I love dogs and have had such a great experience with most every dog that I have encountered. I'm looking forward to working and growing with Harmonie Moonstone, the new Pyr., age 3 months. Several years ago I rescued a Senior Pyr age 12 and he was able to live out his life 14+ roaming the fenced in yard and alternately sleeping on the deck and the couch as he pleased though the dog door.

 

Harmonie has joined the family, Poppie 12, Portuguese Water Dog, Tigger and Taffie, 11, Shih tzu/Schnauzer's, Maxx, 3, Wheaten Terrier mix. It's been quite awhile since I have worked with.a young puppy, and never a Pyr. I will make my way through the training working on basic obedience. So far she is very laid back - I realize that may be the honeymoon stage but I'm enjoying it while it lasts. So far she does not seem very food motivated but I haven't tried much of a variety yet.

 

Do you have any specific early training advice for a Pyr based on their unique breed traits?

 

She's been home for 24 hours and she's had no issues with potty training yet. She figured out the dog door almost immediately and goes outside on her own (with me right behind her - through the regular door - to praise her).

 

I haven't made it very far in my reading yet, but I have noticed that she wants to chew on plenty of things. I have toys and she is content and I'll get more soon. If I see her go for something that she isn't suppose to, like the table leg, do I say anything? For now I have just been swapping a toy. Do I stay quiet, swap the toy, and then praise? I'm just trying to figure out how to stop the behavior I don't want as well as encourage her to do what I do.

 

Once again, thank you for all of the information that I am reading. Looking forward to working with you and everyone on the forum.

 

Thanks,

 

Susan

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hello Susan,

Welcome to the forums,

 

Harmonie Moonstone is adorable and I love her name!

I have worked with some Prys (and Maremma sheepdogs when training in Italy) in the past and can tell you that they do have some traits that are quite unique.

In order to better understand why they behave the ways they do, it helps to look at their fascinating histories.

 

As you may already know, Pyr were selectively bred to protect flocks of sheep from predators and strangers in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain. From livestock guardians owned by peasants, Pyr were later utilized by the French nobility to guard their estates. Their bulky presence and instinctive guarding instincts made them excel in this task; indeed, according to the Great Pyrenees rescue of Chicago, "Great Pyrenees are a guard dog by instinct, not by training! "

 

With a history of being selectively bred to guard flocks of sheep and goats and working on their own with little to no human guidance in the middle of isolated mountain valleys, it's natural for this breed to have an independent streak, which can add a few challenges to training. Yet, this doesn't mean they are difficult or impossible to train. They just need to know what's in for them. By starting early and making the training enjoyable and fun, you are at an advantage. Here are some tips that come to mind:

 

-Bulky as they are, Pry must learn not to jump on people and this is bet taught from an early age. You can find a guide on jumping here: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/behavior-training/jumping/ and here https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/case-studies/02-maggie-assessing-jumping-behavior-desensitization/

 

-Consider that Pry are rather lethargic dogs, and as such, execute commands very sloooowly. Be patient. (This may be more likely seen later on once the puppy matures)

 

-Use lots of praise and invest in high-value treats. Try experimenting with several treats and look for what seems to work best in keeping your Pyr motivated.

 

-Motivation, motivation and motivation is what you need to help your Pyr succeed. Don't be shy in giving loads of praise and using high-value treats.

 

-Keep sessions short and sweet. And always end them on a positive note.

 

-Don't bore your Pry with tediously long training sessions and repetitive commands (cues). Ask for different cues and add treat variety into the mix so to keep him on his toes

 

-Generally, the down and come cues are often the most difficult cues for this dog to grasp, but most learn these after some practice.

 

-Generally, the sit-stay and down-stay instead are the easiest commands to train as these dogs are naturally calm.

 

-This is a breed who should always be on leash due to its tendency for wandering. A Pry that doesn't come when called is not being spiteful or stubborn; rather, from his perspective he has more important stuff to do.

 

-Train your Pry to sit nicely in front of the door before you open it. These dogs have a tendency to push through doors and rush out if not trained otherwise. You can start this once your pup is a little older and has mastered a solid sit/stay: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/college/open-sesame/

 

-Socialization is a must so the Pry can learn how to behave around strangers. Without careful socialization, the Pry may become suspicious of everyone. During this time, it's very important to get the puppy accustomed to many different people so as she grows she won't feel the need for making her own decisions about who is friend and foe. Without careful early socialization, a Pyr may become suspicious of everyone. Ongoing socialization though should still be implemented throughout the dog's life. Your puppy is at the peak stage pf socialization: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/socializing-your-puppy/

 

-Barking in these dogs is instinctive and natural; they were selectively bred to bark to send predators and intruders away from the livestock. A well-socialized Pyr will be less likely to unnecessarily bark towards stimuli that he recognizes don't pose a threat. As she gets older, and more serious in her guardian duties, she may benefit from this game if you don't want her to excessively bark at every trigger: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/university/look-at-that/

 

-Many Pyr are active at night because that's when most predators tend to be around. Nocturnal hypervigilance towards noises may turn into relentless barking. Bringing a Pyr indoors at night is a good option as inside noises are buffered.

 

-As with other working dogs, Pyrenees need exercise and mental stimulation to keep their bodies in shape and minds stimulated. Fail to do so, and they'll find their own forms of entertainment and they won't be pretty. "An idle brain is the devil's workshop" goes the saying and this applies to bored dogs. If left to their own devices, you'll likely see chewing, digging and barking. Daily walks, interactive toys, foraging opportunities, training sessions, play sessions and durable chews will help keep the mind occupied.

 

-Same-sex aggression is not uncommon in this breed and some Prys will also attack animals who try to trespass their perceived territory. This is something that may pop up once maturing.

 

-Consider that Pry may be prone to escaping their yards. A secure fence and supervision is a good idea.

 

Below are pics of a Pry I once had over for board and training, she was a bit slow initially in executing obedience exercises and sometimes she would take off and go by the door because she felt she had "more important things to do" rather than training. She also had very little motivation in coming when called. With the right treats and time, she started getting better and better. It was surely interesting working on a strong recall with her and another hound mix (another breed known for being a challenge to come when called), but after several trials I finally got the enthusiastic response I hoped for.

 

I started also using the "life reward" of letting her out as a reward for executing some obedience exercises since at times going out seemed what she liked to do the most. Once out, she was on a mission "to patrol " the yard.

 

I will address your other questions in the next post.

 

Edited November 20, 2019 by Adrienne Farricelli

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi,

 

I haven't made it very far in my reading yet, but I have noticed that she wants to chew on plenty of things. I have toys and she is content and I'll get more soon. If I see her go for something that she isn't suppose to, like the table leg, do I say anything? For now I have just been swapping a toy. Do I stay quiet, swap the toy, and then praise? I'm just trying to figure out how to stop the behavior I don't want as well as encourage her to do what I do.

 

Once again, thank you for all of the information that I am reading. Looking forward to working with you and everyone on the forum.

 

Thanks,

 

Susan

 

Providing chew toys is the way to go with a puppy of this age. Make sure they are suitable for puppies (read the labels) as some may be too hard for young pups. Rotate the toys to keep the interest alive. At the same time, make sure that you don't leave out tempting non-legit things to chew (like shoes, slippers, rugs, wires) so that your pup can make good choices. Of course, there will always be items you cannot keep out of reach, such as the legs of tables, couches, baseboards and drywall.

 

Since you just got your pup, for the time being, yes, you can redirect her to chew toys as soon as you catch her chewing, but even better, catch her right before she chews, the moment you notice her intent. You can do this by wiggling a chew toy as movement attracts puppies or bouncing a ball. As soon as she moves in the direction of the toy (making a good choice) mark it with a yes! and let her have the toy.

 

Then, you can aim to train her the "leave it" cue as outlined here:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/obedience-101/take-leave-it/

 

So for chewing, once she understands the meaning of "leave it" you can then just say "leave it" as soon as you notice her intent to chew, and as she successfully leaves it, mark it with a "yes" (or click your clicker after conditioning her to it) and reward her with treats/toys as you praise lavishly.

 

Now, this often works when we are around. When we cannot actively supervise and must leave the room, it is best if the dog is taken along with us, crated or placed in playpen/ safe area with a baby gate and nothing around that she shouldn't chew.

 

If we don't, the pup will likely be set up for fail and may chew inappropriate items or even manage to grab items they shouldn't have (what we consider stealing). Rep after rep these dogs may learn that, when their owners are away, they get to enjoy mouthing and chewing non-legit items uninterrupted. Here is a thread on stealing and how to prevent that:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/forum/showthread.php?43-Thieving-Pooch&highlight=stealing

 

Hope this helps!

Let me know if you need any further assistance.

Edited November 20, 2019 by Adrienne Farricelli

[s_wiss13]

Adrienne,

 

Thank you so much for the detailed and thoughtful response. I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the information you share both on your site and in the way you respond to each question. Having all this information in a personalized message, in one spot, will allow me to share with others that will also be training her. This has already been the best investment I have ever made toward training any of my dogs. My other 4 dogs do pretty well, but I know they have so much more potential if I work with them using the information that you provided - even though 3 of them are Seniors.

 

I will keep you posted on my progress. I'm now going to read your post and information again and get started with some short, fun training! I'm also going to be telling all of my dog loving friends about your program.

 

The Pyr in the picture you sent me is beautiful and sitting so nicely. I've posted pictures of the rest of the crew here.

 

 

Have a great day!

Edited November 20, 2019 by s_wiss13

[Adrienne Farricelli]

You are very welcome!

Your canine crew is adorable and your dogs are very fortunate to live in such a lovely place, there seems to be lots of space to romp around!

If you need any help, this is the place to post.

Best,

Adrienne