[AlpacaTalk] Great Pyrenees question(s)
I have been having an uneasy feeling about roaming domestic dogs since
the week *before* the lady in TN lost her females to a dog attack. Her
experience lit a fire under me given that I was already having that
uneasy feeling.
I am about 3/4 finished putting up hot wire - 18" off the ground and 5"
offset on the outside of the wire fencing to deter anything outside
getting in.
About 3 wks ago I started hearing a coyote back up in the wooded area
pretty far my yard and from where the alpacas are penned. I would go
out in the middle of the night with several flashlights and the yapping
would go in the other direction. About 10 days ago I went out and could
tell the yapping was very close. This time however it came towards me
instead of going in the other direction. Then it veered off towards the
woods that are in the back of the alpaca pen.
Needless to say I haven't slept much since then. Mama and cria (I guess
at 4mos they are not still called cria, but she is still a baby) are
being locked up at night, but the other 3 adults are being left out as
there is not room for them all in the tiny barn. I go out several times
a night, but I have not heard a single yap since Mother's Day night. I
don't "feel" them here any more. In the 12 yrs I have been here this is
the first time I have heard coyotes, tho I know they are plentiful back
in the hills and woods all around me, just not close to me.
As luck/coincidence would have it a woman I know with a large llama farm
also breeds Great Pyr and has a month old litter. I have been around her
dogs on several occasions and know them all to be very laid back and
have never heard them even bark. She only has 3 males left. I went to
meet them on Sunday and picked out the one I want. They will be ready
to come home in about 2 wks. I need to send her a deposit. But I am
having second thoughts and need to ask some questions to those of you
that have experience with these dogs. This is a huge decision for me -
financial and time wise. I always give very careful consideration
whenever taking on the responsibility for another life. Any input will
be greatly appreciated. I have also joined the working lgd list and
asked questions there as well, but wanted to come here as I know many of
you have Pyrs.
Here are my thoughts and concerns, again any input will be greatly
appreciated.
First, I have a 2yo child. I got an imported working german shepard
puppy when my oldest child was 2 (I already had a grown one but like to
always have 2 protection dogs and this puppy came available - I didn't
consider the ramifications as carefully as I should have, tho I wouldn't
trade him for the world now - 9 yrs later). I lamented that decision
for at least a year and many many times have said anyone that gets a
puppy when they have a 2yo is crazy and that it was the stupidest thing
I have ever done. It was by far the most miserable year of my life - a
2yo and a puppy - egads, what was I thinking.
And here I am on the verge of doing the same thing again, and *this* 2yo
child is double the handful that one was. This is what is giving me
most pause. And I know only I can make that particular decision. My
perhaps too optimistic, hopeful thoughts are that the Pyr will be
outside and not require the level of training and supervision that an
inside protection dog does in terms of dealing with the usual and normal
puppyhood destructive crazy stuff. Any input on this point would be
appreciated in regards Pyrs.
The other thought that is giving me pause, and not knowing a thing about
this breed and how they react to various things, is that next spring I
hope to get dairy goats. I also hope to eventually add some sheep. I
also have my eye on a miniature donkey. And there are always cats
coming and going and the bird population will also be added to at
various times.
The reading I have done tells me all about how to introduce the puppy to
its herd, the animals it will live with and hopefully protect. But what
about adding livestock to an already grown Pyr that has not previously
been around that species; or in the case of the birds and cats, used to
that species, but not that particular animal? This is the point I am
stuck on right now being concerned about.
Also, how reliable are they around birds - i.e., guineas, ducks,
chickens? The ducks and chickens are calm movers but the guineas tend
to scoot about rather quickly. I know my german shepards have always
lived peacefully with all the birds while they would kill the alpacas
giving half a chance, and like to run the fence line with the horses.
Go figure. They totally ignore the guineas scooting about the yard.
So that is also another concern I have. My boy is 9yo, he only has
another year or 2 left with me :-(. But he is all male and still gives
chase. I am concerned about him running the fence line with another dog
that is inside the pastures (and males is all she has left)? Do I bring
the pyr puppy out into the yard when we are all out there (my shepard is
mostly a house dog, he is only out when I am out) so the dogs can play
and become friends? Or would that make the fence running worse? I know
when he sees another dog inside the fence which inside HIS yard he will
put up a huge fuss and ruckus, running and jumping at the fence. How do
you deal with large dogs that have different jobs? Would having them
become friends lower the Pyr's willingness to protect "his" livestock
from roaming domestic dogs? Or even from my own dog should the worst
happen and the alpacas get out or my dog get in?
This leads me to my next concern and question. In the reading I have
done I have read that "the smart farmer, if predation is experienced,
will look first to his own dog" Double Yikes. And that lgd are
excellent protectors against coyotes, but are not dependable against
roaming domestic dogs; that they have been known to sit back and watch
while domestic dogs killed the livestock and in some cases have joined
in the killing spree. This one paragraph has given me much pause.
Roaming domestic dogs are a huge problem and pose a serious threat to
the alpacas (and birds). Just this morning I was awakened by the sound
a very close by yipping dog. I roused myself just in time to see 2
critters running thru my front yard (I have a perimeter fence and have
no idea how and where they got it). One a large black dog (which in my
sans contact lens state I thought was my black cria) and the little one
running behind it. It all happened so quickly I couldn't tell if it was
chasing the big dog or they were both just running. By the time I got
out the back door they were all the way to the back of the property
running like the devil was chasing them into the woods. This is very
rare, only maybe once every few years do I see dogs on my property. I
often let the horses out of their dirt pasture to graze the yard and
also often let the alpacas out to do the same (until they started eating
my apple and fig trees!). I rarely leave the alpacas unattended in the
yard, but over the spring had gotten a little too comfortable with
leaving them out there. This morning reminded me of why I should never
ever do that......the grass is just soooo much nicer in the yard than it
is in the pastures I really hate to deprive them :-(.
Sorry this got to be so long; these are my main points of indecision.
Again any input anyone has will be greatly appreciated. I need to make
a decision like *today* before she sells the last of the litter. Right
now I have the choice of the males, because they have all been purchased
from her website and I am close enough to go in person and personally
pick the one I want - which I did on Sunday.
Thanks to you all,
Warmly, Janice
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posted by Chaddo at 11:01 AM
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