Friday, January 20, 2012

Great Pyrenees

Gypsy is loving her new home and her new owners love her! The young lady working on the farm that will be training Gypsy is from Nome, Alaska! Had a wonderful conversation with her as we walked Gypsy around the farm. I have talked with Laraine a couple of times to see how Gypsy is doing and things are great. Gypsy who chase chickens here is already helping put up their chickens each evening without barking or chasing them. She is out learning about the farm and her new duties during the day and until the goats arrive she is enjoying sleeping indoors at night. She guards her new master at night.LOL The minute I saw Laraine with Gypsy I knew they were perfect for each other and had no problem leaving Gypsy.
As for Bella, I have no idea what has gotten into her. She is usually quiet, well behaved, and excellent guarding the goats. Lately she has kept me busy. She finds the strangest ways out of the goat pen only to run around to the gate and wait to be let back in. Tinker use to be the escape artist but has settled down and behaving. Of course Hillary is so happy to have a home and be off the streets she doesn't want to get out. You could open the gate and she will go to the gate and just stand there. She loves being with the goats and doesn't bother them at all. She will bark if anything or anyone not suppose to be there steps on the property. She will bark to let me know Bella is trying to escape. She will bark if one of the goats is where it shouldn't be or something is wrong. Bella use to do all these things but has suddenly after turning 3 to be a puppy again. Right now she is on a runner inside the goat pen. I let her off while I do the morning and evening feed and when I am working in or near the pens but the rest of the time she is on the runner. This too shall pass. Over all having Great Pyrenees to watch over the goats is perfect. If a animal or human comes near the goats they will put themselves between whatever and the goats. They won't bark and chase what/whoever but will just quietly stay in front of the goats. If a dog or animal seems threatening to the goats they will quietly round the goats all together and then walk around the group of goats keeping an eye on the threat. If the threat comes for the goats then the dogs will bark and attack. Their instincts are to protect the goats in their care even if it means they have to be in harms way. They will also start barking an alarm so we know something is wrong. It is a different bark from seeing a squirrel or neighbors dog. Its an alarming bark that makes you know right away something is wrong. We had a small pack of stray dogs come through our property once. Bella and Tinker had the goats all in a huddle and were running around and around them keeping them together. When the dogs got too close they sounded the alarm and Tinker went after the dogs while Bella kept the goats together. It is truly amazing to watch how they care and protect the goats. It is also beautiful watching them when a doe kids. They stand outside the birthing stall watching real quietly. Once the goat has kidded and everything is cleaned up, I open the stall and let them come near me while I hold the kid or kids so them can sniff them. That takes a few minutes and then they understand they have a new goat to watch over. They are so loving and gentle with the kids. You will find the kids climbing on and sometimes sleeping next to the dogs. They won't let the kids wander away or if they do they stand over and bark until you take the kid back to its mom where it belongs. If you have goats or sheep I highly recommend Great Pyrenees

or Great Pyrenees mix. Tinker is Great Pyrenees/Antonin Sheperd

You won't be disappointed.

11 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

such wonderful dogs - and beautiful too. glad to hear gypsy has found her place!

Anonymous said...

Glad Gypsy is doing well! Hopefully Bella calms down soon. We had an escape artist Pyr. she only loved being with humans though, one time she was out on the road and we live on a dangerous intersection and we were getting a delivery of stock panels and they told us about our 1st Deja.

Amy

Unknown said...

I'm so glad to hear that Gypsy found her "place" and that she is getting along so well. I know it must make you feel so much better. Especially knowing that she and her new people get along so well.

Unknown said...

I'm so glad to hear that Gypsy found her "place" and that she is getting along so well. I know it must make you feel so much better. Especially knowing that she and her new people get along so well.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pictures, Peggy. Sounds like Gypsy is well-suited for her new home. So happy it all worked out. Enjoy your day.

Patty said...

Thanks for the awesome post on how the dogs work. I think it's a wonderful way to have some peace of mind about your livestock. :) And, they're cute!

Donna OShaughnessy said...

Hi there! thanks so much for coming aboard my blog The Midlife Farmwife. I too am a great fan of the GP dog. Wonderful for our farm for years !

Kelly said...

We werent sure if we wanted a guard dog, guard llama or guard donkey. Fuzzy just happened into our lives and so we are happy with a guard llama. The Great Pyr is a beautiful animal in their own right. Yours are lovely.

Adam said...

she looks like a sweet dog

Sarah said...

So glad that you found the right fit for Gypsy! They really are beautiful dogs! My sister wants one as a pet.

amelia said...

I'm so happy that Gypsy has found her place and most of all that you are happy with where she is.
My aunt in England who bred Great Pyranees used to spin their hair into yarn and make coats with it. Beautiful, they were!