Are they good family dogs?

Yes! Great Pyrenees and other large breed guardian dogs make great family dogs. They become very protective of their family, and the gentle nature of some breeds like the Great Pyrenees makes it so that these dogs get along well with children, other dogs, and even cats.

 

How big will they get?

For the Great Pyrenees, males will generally grow to 100-120 pounds, females are a little smaller at 85-100 pounds.

 

How long do these big dogs live?

Life expectancy varies among the different breeds, but the average for the Great Pyrenees is 10 –12 years, and occasionally older. For the Anatolian Shepherd, life expectancy can reach 13-15 years.

 

Do they bark a lot?

Barking is one of the ways that livestock guardian breeds protect their territory, and they are generally nocturnal so will bark at night. The amount of barking varies from individual to individual, but the instinct is there and in some cases can cause problems if the dog is left outside at night in a city/suburban environment.

 

Do they need lots of space and exercise?

Pyrenees are very happy lying around most of the time, being petted and being watchful just in case some other animal wants to invade their home. Some can even do well in an apartment environment. They do need regular exercise, but these are not breeds that are going to want to go jogging with you.

 

Do they herd?

These are not herding dogs. Herding dogs are used to manage livestock and move them from place to place. Guardian dogs are used to protect livestock from predators. Herding dogs need to show dominance, whereas the guardian dog needs to be more submissive in behavior. The Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, and other livestock guardian breeds are territorial by nature and work to keep their territory free from predatory danger. Usually they will just ignore the stock that they are guarding.
 

Do they shed?

Long haired breeds such as the Great Pyrenees do shed, generally twice a year: heavily in spring when the warm weather arrives and they need to "blow" their winter coats, and more lightly in the fall. And they will shed lightly all year round. Daily brushing helps minimize the shedding. A good vacuum is a must-have. If you must absolutely have a spot-less home and the dog will be an inside dog, then the Great Pyrenees is not for you. Shorter haired breeds such as the Anatolian Shepherd do not shed as much.

 

Do they eat a lot?

Not as much as you might think. Great Pyrenees tend to have a relatively slow metabolism, which means they eat less than expected for their size. It can be easy to overfeed these dogs. We generally feed our big dogs 4 cups of food per day - 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening. It's not unusual for some of them to ignore a meal every now and then.

Do they drool?

Not all dogs of a specific breed drool. Some dogs drool, some do not. Generally, a dog will only drool when they are eating, begging, panting excessively, and/or drinking water. The Great Pyrenees is a dry-mouth dog and drooling is generally not a big issue.

 

What should I feed my new dog?

We feed two brands of dog food, and can recommend a few others. Because of the number of dogs we feed, we can’t afford to buy grain-free for everyone, but we do invest in a good quality dog food that has no wheat, no corn, and no soy. All of those are common allergens for many breeds. One thing that a lot of people don’t realize is that if your dog is allergic to anything, in addition to digestion issues, s/he will be more prone to ear infections.  When people have allergy problems, we usually get gunk in our head, especially eyes and nose.  Dogs often get gunk in their ears, and that gunk can easily get infected. So if you invest in a good quality dog food, your dog is less likely to have ear problems, and will usually have fewer hot spots as well.  We prefer chicken-based dog food, because a canine nutritionist told us that most dogs digest the proteins in fowl better than they digest and metabolize the proteins in other meats.  We feed Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice and SportMix Wholesomes Chicken & Rice – those are the two foods we buy most often. When we lived in Dallas County and could go to Costco easily, we bought Kirkland Nature’s Domain, which is fully grain-free and is priced comparable to the Diamond Naturals and SportMix food we buy.  Nature’s Domain comes in a turkey variety and a salmon variety, and the nutritionist says both of those are good.  Where we live now, it’s just too far to go to Costco on a regular basis, so that’s why we buy the other brands.  Both Diamond Naturals and SportMix are available at Tractor Supply and at some locally-owned feed stores. When we have a dog whose allergies are significant, we usually buy Taste of the Wild grain-free, which is available at Tractor Supply (and probably many other places, but that’s the place that’s convenient for us).  We typically buy salmon-based food for the dogs with the most allergy problems.

 

How much should I feed my dog, and how often?

We feed twice a day – morning and evening. We feed 1 measuring cup per 20 lbs of the dog’s weight. We try to err on the side of UNDER-feeding rather than over-feeding because just as with humans, carrying too much weight can be hard on a dog’s joints.  We feed puppies as much as they will eat. One of our vets told us long ago that a Great Pyrenees puppy can eat 12 cups per day for the first year and not be overeating. We divide their portions into two meals a day for adults, and 3 meals a day for puppies and nursing moms.

 

What kind of chew treats should I offer my dog?

We avoid rawhide chews and bones, as they are not well-digested by many dogs. We buy pork “chomps” instead of rawhide, and we usually offer these as a special treat once a week.  We also offer DentaStix because they can be completely devoured in one session, and they seem to be good for the health of the dog’s teeth and gums.  We buy cow femurs from Tractor Supply (http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/grillerz-5-7-in-natural-beef-femur-bone).  We also have a few antlers, which the dogs love. The nice thing about the bones and antlers – they are not messy, and the dogs don’t consider them a “high value” treat, so they don’t fight over them like they might fight over a meaty bone.  Literally every day we see a dog working on a bone or antler, then leave it on the floor and walk away, and 5 minutes later, another dog picks it up and starts to chew. Chew treats and bones are especially important for puppies and young dogs -- better for them to chew a treat than your shoes or furniture. J  One family adopted a young dog from us a few years ago, and they said he is a motivational chewer. I asked what she meant, and she said he motivates her to be a better house-keeper – she puts her shoes back in the closet, doesn’t leave the TV remote at a level that the dog could reach it, puts her knitting away, etc.  We have learned that it’s best to put books, magazines, and mail out of reach because we never know when a young dog is going to find those things appealing.

 

Do I need a special collar for walking my dog? How about choke chains or prong collars?

We recommend a martingale collar for every dog.  In case you’re not familiar with this style, it’s a collar that works like a choke chain but is gentler on the dog. Our favorite collar is Brett Michaels for PetSmart – it’s a padded collar with a buckle and a short section of chain.  It is adjustable, easy on/off, and it’s comfortable for the dog.  The chain provides the control you want/need. We have also bought some martingale collars that have no chain, just nylon. They are OK, but we have found that some dogs will chew through the nylon that makes up the adjustable portion (in place of the chain).  The martingale is not a collar that we leave on 24/7. Every one of our dogs has a regular collar, and we put the martingale on when we want to use a leash and take the dog somewhere – to the vet, on a walk, anywhere.  I tried to find a link to this on the PetSmart website, but couldn’t find it – maybe they don’t carry this collar any more, but we that’s where I have bought ours in the past. Maybe it’s something that’s in the stores only, not on the website?

We also like harnesses for dogs who are harder to manage on a leash, or even for well-trained dogs when you’re going on a long walk, a hike, or you’re going to be in a place with a lot of other dogs who may not be as well-trained as your dog.  A harness can be a very good tool for maintaining control of your dog.  Kong makes a really good harness that is easy on/off, and it has a padded hand-hold on top, so you can keep control of your dog from that rather than from the leash.

We do NOT recommend a prong collar. We know that some trainers recommend them for certain breeds (such as Siberian Husky), but a prong collar is not the right type of collar for any of the breeds that we typically rescue. If you adopt a dog from us for whom we think a prong collar would be appropriate, we will definitely tell you so.

 

What kind of leash do you recommend?

We recommend the Kong traffic leash. It has two padded handles – the regular one at the end of the leash plus a second one closer to the hook that you attach to the dog’s collar. That second handle allows you to maintain closer control of the dog, such as when you’re on a walk and you come to an intersection, or you encounter a dog who may not be very friendly. We have used all kinds of leashes, and we definitely do NOT recommend the kind that are retractable – those are VERY un-safe. I wish they had never been invented because you have no control of your dog, which is a bad thing whether you have a big dog or a little toy dog.

 

What about a crate? Do you recommend using one?

We will try to remember to tell you any specific history that the dog you are adopting from us has with crate-training.  Generally, we use the crate for every dog at some point in their stay with us. Typically, when a dog has any kind of surgery (spay/neuter, dental, and tumor removal are just a few of the types we have dealt with in rescue dogs), we put them in the crate during recovery. For some dogs, that may be just one overnight stay. Other dogs will be on crate rest for an extended period. We also use crates for potty-training.  We have crates in our bedroom and in our family room, and many dogs like going in there just as a quiet place to nap. We put good beds in each crate, so that’s motivation for some dogs. If you have a crate, you might put it in a room where you spend time. If the dog you are adopting seems to really NEED a crate, we will let you know.

 

What about heartworm prevention?

When you adopt a dog from us, we will give you a file with veterinary records, including a page listing dates when s/he had vaccinations, heartworm prevention and flea treatment.  Our adoption agreement requires you to take the dog to your veterinarian within the first 30 days, and we recommend taking this folder with you.  Depending on the date at which your new dog last saw our vet, your vet may require a new blood test to be sure the dog is heartworm negative before selling you any heartworm prevention products. We use a variety of products including HeartGard, Tri-Heart, IverHeart, Advantage Multi (a topical which covers both heartworm and flea/tick protection), and Trifexis (which covers heartworm and fleas but not ticks).  When you buy HeartGard or a similar product for a dog who weighs more than 100 lbs, the vet will prescribe two chews per month – one for large dogs plus one for small dogs, in order to reach the correct dosage for the dog’s weight.  We typically use liquid Ivermectin for dogs who weigh more than 100 lbs, because it’s more affordable.  Ivermectin is the active ingredient in HeartGard and many similar products.

 

What about flea and tick protection?

We have tried many different products through the years.  Our favorites are NexGard (a chewable),  K9 Advantix II (a topical), and the Seresto collar by Bayer.  The Seresto collar is advertised to be effective for 7 – 9 months; in our experience, it is very effective for at least 5 months, which makes it an easy, affordable option. (Seresto collars can be bought online, with the price usually being around $40 for a large dog collar.)  As mentioned above, we also use Trifexis for some dogs, but it does NOT work on ticks, so if your dog spends very much time outside, Trifexis is probably not the best choice. Tick-borne diseases can be deadly, and treatment can take months and be very expensive.  Other products we like are Vectra 3D (a topical), Advantage Multi (a topical which covers both heartworm and flea/tick protection), and Bravecto (a chewable which lasts for 3 months).

 

What about grooming?

We definitely do NOT recommend shaving your new dog. As long as you brush out the undercoat, s/he won’t be likely to get too hot in the summer, and since white-coated dogs tend to have very sensitive skin, shaving the coat can be hard on the skin.  Our favorite tool for grooming is a simple rake – usually called a grooming rake or undercoat rake.  These are great for keeping a double coat in good shape.  We have at least 5 of these, which we keep in different rooms of the house and in each barn and in the van: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/enrych-at3-undercoat-rake  You can find them at almost every pet store and in the pet aisle at many other big box stores.

Because of the “magic self-cleaning” nature of the Great Pyrenees coat, you may only need to bathe your new dog 2 or 3 times a year. If you prefer to have your new dog groomed every month, I would recommend taking him or her to someone who understands that white-coated dogs tend to have sensitive skin, so that they use gentle shampoo products. Generally, we think over-bathing is hard on both their skin and their coat, and I think (but don’t know definitively) that the natural protection (almost like built-in Scotch-guard) doesn’t hold up well with over-grooming. Maybe there is a unique kind of oil in the Pyr coat? Whatever it is, we try not to mess it up by treating a Pyr like a Poodle with lots of fancy grooming.

Whether you take your dog to a groomer or do the grooming yourself, a sanitary cut is the only kind of trimming that we recommend. This cut helps keep a dog’s paws, tummy, hindquarters, and tail clean. If your dog spends much time outside, this type of cut makes it a little bit easier to keep grass burs brushed out.

If your new dog has dew claws on his/her back feet, you will want to pay close attention to them. Rear dew claws typically do not make enough contact with the ground to get worn down, so they need to be clipped more frequently than the rest of the nails. If left unclipped, rear dew claws will often grow into a curl, piercing the foot pad, causing pain and the potential for infection.

 

Do they roam? Do I really need good fencing?

We require that our adopters have strong fencing, especially if they are adopting a large breed dog or LGD. Many of these large breed dogs will roam if not in a fenced yard. Great Pyrenees are especially notorious for roaming. These dogs were originally bred to watch over livestock in mountain pastures, and are hardwired to move around and roam to protect their territory and those things that it considers "theirs" within those boundaries. Many of these big dogs that we take into rescue come to us as strays.

Fences also keep other animals and people OUT. The same protective nature we admire may prompt some dogs to react when strange people or animals come into their territory. Good fencing creates a safe boundary between your dog and strangers.

We prefer fencing that is at least 4 ft tall, preferably taller. We have rescued several dogs that could easily jump a 4 ft fence. The fencing should be made of good woven wire - barbed wire will not keep a big dog in.

 

Why must all your dogs be "fixed"?

As a rescue, we are particularly sensitive to the pet overpopulation problem in this country. We see too many dogs in shelters and even on the streets, unwanted. Many of the dogs that come into our rescue have not been spayed/neutered. We are committed to reducing pet overpopulation as much as we are able. Thus, every dog that comes into our rescue will be spayed/neutered, and we require all potential adopters to have their own dogs spayed/neutered as a prerequisite for adoption.

As for livestock guardian dogs, there are a number of benefits to spaying/neutering. A female dog in heat can be a problem due to the fact that she will attract other dogs and this could add to a predator problem. If the female is kenneled during her heat periods and whelping she will not be out protecting the flock. Neutering may also lessen the chances of roaming tendencies in males and also in some females.

 

What are dew claws and should they be removed?

The AKC breed standard for Great Pyrenees is to have double dewclaws on both hind feet. Other large breed guardian dogs may or may not have double dewclaws. It is believed that the dewclaws helped the Great Pyrenees maintain stability when working in rough, hilly terrain and provide a snowshoe effect in deep snow. These dewclaws are generally not a problem and should not be removed.

 

What about the hot summers in Texas?   Should I shave my dog?

No, please don’t. The Pyr has a double coat. There is an insulating undercoat of fluff, with harsh guard hairs on the outside. In warm weather the undercoat is shed, leaving the protective outer coat. This coat is at least mostly white and reflects the sun. It traps a layer of air that is not a good conductor of heat to protect the dog underneath. In the winter, the dogs who come from the colder climates do have a beauty advantage in the show ring, as they grow their massive undercoats to keep them warm, but the dogs from the warmer climes are just as comfortable with their smaller coats. The Great Pyrenees has very sensitive skin and their coat helps to protect them from the sun. Also, remember that dogs do not sweat through the skin as humans do, so "exposing" their skin to the air doesn't really do much to cool them down. If the dog is going to be outside in the Texas summer, provide plenty of shade and cool water. You might even consider getting a kiddy pool for your dog and keeping it full of water. Many of our big dogs enjoy sitting and even laying down in a kiddy pool full of water.

 

Can they come inside if they're LGDs?

This would need to be decided based on your own situation. If the dog is inside, then it isn't protecting your livestock. Many dogs that make excellent LGDs show no interest in coming inside, preferring to stay outside and work. If you do want your dog to come inside for part of the day, during daylight would be best. You will want your dog outside at night, when most of the danger to your livestock is going to be.

What happens if the adoption does not work out?

We hope that every adoption results in a dog finding their "forever" home, but sometimes adoptions just do not work out for a variety of issues. And sometimes life changes require that an adopter may have to give up a dog that they adopted from us. If you adopt a dog from us and come to the point where you are considering having to give the dog up, please contact us. We may be able to help. Bluebonnet Animal Rescue Network will always take a dog back into our rescue that you adopt from us and, in fact, you are contractually obligated to do so.