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Great Pyrenees => Great Pyrenees Discussions => : CalistogaPyr December 06, 2005, 05:04:25 PM
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Greetings Pyr people! =) I wanted some feedback from the group about getting another dog. We recently moved into our first house (yeah!), which is great. However, when we left our old house, we left behind the other two Pyrs that lived on the property with us (Bo's mom & "uncle" Teddy). We've been in our new house for almost three months & Bo seems to miss having a pack. She's also started expressing some anxiety (excessive barking/fear aggression), which we think has to do with the fact that she went from being one of three Pyrs, the older two who were responsible for the guarding job, to being an only Pyr with no older, wiser dogs to guide her. My husband & I really want to get another dog, but our trainer said that we should wait 6 months before bringing another dog into the family. I can understand that, in terms of the adjustment phase. What I'm not sure about is how to go about finding a good brother for Bo. WE thought about doing a Pyr rescue, but I don't think I can handle 250lbs of dog at the end of the leash!! Not to mention, our neighbors are barely tolerant of Bo's barking, I can only imagine what they'd say if we had two. My questions:
Does anyone have a Pyr with a non-Pyr sibling? How do you introduce a new dog into the house? Do they do better wtih some breeds than others?
Helpful suggestions/feedback are welcome!
Thanks!
Jenn & Bo
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I'm involved in Pyr rescue in DFW area of Texas. (Defined involved as someone who as president hardly has a free moment away from dogs or dog business). More often than not, our pets and fosters benifit from being a member of a pack, rather than an only dog. There will be an adjustment time between the dogs, and there might even be real problems, real fights between the new dogs. But if her behavior has already changed, waiting 6 months is only going to delay what might be a benifical change.
And also, bless you for considering a rescued dog. PM me your email addy and name and I'll get it to your local Pyr rescue group. (Not that I'm trying to use guilt or anything to shame you into another BWD rather than another breed, I'm sure you wounderful person who wants a BWD, rather than some sort of devil worshiper who would settle for less than a BWD! ;D)
(man! Am I going to catch h*ll for that statement or what! At least this is in the Pyr Discussion forum, and not the general BPO forum. I'm not worred about the Rotty people reading this, I'm supprised THEY can read at all. But the great dane people do read, and they stick their big snouts in EVERYWHERE!)
(gee! I just don't know when to shut up, do I!)
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(But the great dane people do read, and they stick their big snouts in EVERYWHERE!)
(gee! I just don't know when to shut up, do I!)
The Dane people have to "stick their big snouts in" to get stuff done, because you BWD people are too scared to get your pretty petticoats dirty. :P
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HA! Pupdaddy! I can't wait to see how long it takes for those afore-mentioned Dane people to nose their way into this and freak out! hahahahahahaha!
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I am a fan of LGD's having other LGD's whether it is a pyr or anatolian or pyr mix and all the other ones
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OOH! The nosy Dane person I had in mind was actually even quicker than me! HA! You're right, Pupdaddy! ;)
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OOH! The nosy Dane person I had in mind was actually even quicker than me! HA! You're right, Pupdaddy! ;)
MUWAHAHAHA! Never underestimated a middle aged housewife with nothing but time on her hands!
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I'm sure you wounderful person who wants a BWD, rather than some sort of devil worshiper who would settle for less than a BWD! ;D)
BWHAHAHAHAHAHA HAAHA!Â
(As a soul-less, devil-worshipping, non-Pyr owner, I agree with PD - I don't see any specific reason to wait.Â
If your trainer is concerned that your dog needs some time to adjust to the recent changes (i.e., the move), well 6 months just might be enough time for Bo to decide that this is HER house and she doesn't want to share. Do it sooner rather than later and she may accept more easily that another dog comes part and parcel with the new house, and it is just one more thing for her to have to get used to. Plus, she has obviously shown that she benefits from having another dog to "guide" her, as PD said, why put off what could be a very beneficial change?
As for the breed - who knows? I think it would be great for you to have two Pyrs, if you have decided that is "your" breed, but I think she could get along with another breed, too. There are plenty of people out there doing it successfully both ways. I think the most important match is between Bo and whatever other dog you end up getting - i.e. a good personality match over a specific breed. Maybe it doesn't need to be another Pyr, but maybe some other LGD breed. Just find a nice doggy that needs a home, and is a good personality match with Bo.Â
Wow, not only can I read, I can type too! But, as at least a semi-Saint Bernard owner, I am surprised that I wasn't too dumb to come up with a response!  :P
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Ang, Don't you have some darning to do?
Marsi, Yeah, its a miracle. Us mixed-breed people can barely put a sentence together before we start drooling....go od job, good job. That's probably all you can handle for the day, isn't it? ;) ;) :-*
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There is a male TM that seems to be a great dog at guardian rescue. Angie Wheat runs the rescue and someone from BPO just adopted Ozzie a pyr from there. She is on the west coast.
http://www.guardianrescue.org/available.htm
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Ang, Don't you have some darning to do?
Marsi, Yeah, its a miracle. Us mixed-breed people can barely put a sentence together before we start drooling....go od job, good job. That's probably all you can handle for the day, isn't it? ;) ;) :-*
Yeah, I gotta go lay down now. Marsi tired. Brain hurt. Go sleepy now.
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I am thinking about getting a playmate for Kiah. I want another LGD. Gypsy has a Kuvasz that she's fostering and will be up for adoption with the kuvasz rescue soon. She's between 2-3 years old. I'm trying to convince hubby, but if that doesn't work out then she'll need a good home. See this thread http://www.bigpawsonly.com/index.php/topic,5833.0.html
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how is the kuv with other females?
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how is the kuv with other females?
From the information that I got she got along well with all the dogs at the shelter. I've talked with other Kuv/pyr people on here and got mixed opinions. It comes down to Kiah isn't a dominant dog and they both are spayed (misty will be before she's up for adoption). Still have to convince hubby though.
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I'm sure you wounderful person who wants a BWD, rather than some sort of devil worshiper who would settle for less than a BWD! ;D)
Wow, not only can I read, I can type too! But, as at least a semi-Saint Bernard owner, I am surprised that I wasn't too dumb to come up with a response!  :P
Saints are BWD's with too much color. ;D Newf's are just the photo negative of a pyr, and vise versa. Seriously, I love all dogs, and even small dogs. I'm just partial to all the big hairy Mountian Dogs, Swiss, Pyr, Kuv, Saints, Newf, etc
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I don't see any reason to wait & agree with (eeeek!!! Sorry Marsi & Anky!) Marsi's reasoning..... .as for breed specific or mix of breeds - it's more important that the dogs at least start by liking each other - take Bo with you when you go & check out the rescue dogs in your area - get a feel for how she gets along with others that aren't part of her "pack" (mom & uncle).....it'll help in the long run too to know that even if the dogs seem to like each other at the foster parent's home, they still have to go thru an adjustment phase and establish who's in charge of their new pack - it took mine about 10-15 days each time a new dog was added/taken away (adopted) in & out of the pack.
Good luck! This should be a happy & exciting thing to get to do: Go dog shopping!!! ;D
-lauriew
edited to change "Anky" to "Marsi" :-\
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Marsi is right. Don't wait. I think maybe Bo is off because of no back up. Since, Bo is used to having back up. Bringing in another dog may solve your problem. Does your trainer have lots of experience with LGD breeds? (Please do not take offense.) I have noticed that many trainers sometimes are really clueless with LGDs. They are excellent trainers with basic obedience and wonderful with the majority of breeds, but until experienced with an LGD, they tend to give advise that is off base. KWIM?
Think about taking Pupdaddy's advise and look into a rescue. Ask him to help introduce you to the local rescue and assist you with the application BEFORE you fill it out. I think you'll be quite pleased when you find another Pyr to add to your family.
Just a thought...
Deena
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PupDaddy you are gonna catch Heck away. You stinky little specieist.
My big girl is a 10 y/o rottie. I also have a Walker Coon Hound and of couorse my Pyr. So being a mixed household is cool..
I let the dogs check out each other and if they are OK with the new criiter they join our pack. Sometimes some trainiers don't klnow all they think they do. 6 months if your dog is hurting for a friend is to long to wait. At times like this listening to "Expert" advise is good but listen to dog with you heart and mot just on what say training that doesn't live with the dog says.
My rottie picked out the hound 2 days after Bear, my first Pyr died. So they who and what they need to bring home with them.
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Thanks, you guys! I appreciate all the feedback. In regards to my trainer...she's great and has been very good with Bo in the past, but I don't know how much experience she has specifically with LGDs. I am hesitant to get another giant breed, though, because I would, lieterally, be outweighed by the dogs! My husband works a lot and I am the primary caregiver of the animals, so the size issue is something that I have to keep in mind (currently I'm only about 10 pounds heavier than Bo...wait until after Christmas and I might have some more size on her!). I keep going back & forth about bringing another dog into the house & sometimes I wonder why I've let our trainer be the boss of me! Perhaps it's my own inexperience with dogs (Bo's my first), as well as my anxiety about being a good Dog Mom. My husband is anxious to add to the pack, as am I, but I'm the most insecure of the two of us!!
Jenn & Bo
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I can tell you I am a small female 5'3 and weighed 120-130 before being pregnant and when my dogs are full grown they will both be about 140 & 150. It has nothing to do with the size of the dog it is how you are with the dogs....Good Luck and that TM i listed sure is a cutie!
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(man! Am I going to catch h*ll for that statement or what! At least this is in the Pyr Discussion forum, and not the general BPO forum. I'm not worred about the Rotty people reading this, I'm supprised THEY can read at all. But the great dane people do read, and they stick their big snouts in EVERYWHERE!)
(gee! I just don't know when to shut up, do I!)
OK PupD, here goes another 'Big-Snouted' dane person nosing in (of course since I also have a rotti-chow mix, you nailed me with that jab too. (?!) ) ::) :P
Anyway, I have had to go through the intro phase 2 times in the last 7 months. I definitely agree that it would probably be better to do this sooner rather than later. Get all the change over at one time rather than letting him just get comfortable and then up-ending his world again.
As long as you have the ability to train and/or the access to assistance with training, having 2 big dogs really shouldn't be a problem. My 3 weigh a combined +/- 320 pounds - I'm nowhere near that and I take them walking at the same time by myself.
Definitely go with a rescue if your heart is leaning that way; they make incredible pets and you are literally saving a life. PupDaddy's intro to a rescue in your area could be an invaluable foot in the door. Who knows, he might even give you an intro to one of those 'heathen' dane rescues in your area.... ;D