December 21, 2008
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THE GUARDIANS
Three Great Pyrenees dogs are taking on a bear that threatens their flock. I found this picture on-line, but I couldn’t read the story because it was written in Swedish or Norwegian.
Pyrs and other similar guardian dogs don’t have to be trained as such. From what I understand about these livestock guardian dogs is that what they do is instinctive. They are raised with the sheep or goats when they are pups and literally become part of the flock.
When predators like bears or wolves threaten the animals that they are protecting, they place themselves between their flock and and the threat. They will kill when necessary, but are usually satisfied just to chase the predators away.
In the Pyrenees Mountains they are called “le patou” or “the shepherd”.
Comments (8)
The farm that I got my male pyr at is a working farm. All his pyrs work the herds. He said that it is instinctive for them and he always pairs up the ones that work best together. One pyr usually the calmest one will stay with the flock and keep it calm. The other pyr or sometimes two of them will just walk the around the perimeter for predators. If they find something the calm dog with the flock herds the animals far away so they won’t get the flock upset. Then the other dog chases off or takes care of the predators. They are known to be very calm and not show fear so not to alert or get the flock upset. The farmer said that he has raised pyrs for 20 years and they seem to be born with either the calm gene or the predator gene and it is just the roll of the dice on if it is male or female. My dogs father was 180 lbs and he said he was the best working dog he had ever had. He could be calm and he could also do the perimeter the farmer said you don’t find many of those. Groves I think would be the perimeter dog, Dizzy would be the clam dog with the flock. She does nightly bed checks with the family several times a night. When my boys were little she positioned herself outside their bedroom door where she could keep watch of them and the entire house and nothing would get past her.
To me they are the best dogs in the world!
@dizzymac -
Josie also came from a working farm that raised a variety of animals, but although her parents were outside, working dogs, she was just an eight week old puppy.
I’ve noticed that whenever she lays down she is always in or near a doorway facing away from us as if she’s guarding. The exception to this is when she knows we’re leaving without her; then she curls up in a corner of the kitchen and pouts.
If I had one of these I’d definitely look sheepish ! Lovely dogs and good to have around I bet !
My sis’s pyr, Sadie, is afraid of the dark… so she’d probably not be a good livestock guardian.
Let’s see… you can translate the site with alta vista’s babelfish site. (You’ll have to google it, I don’t know the url off hand.)
Dizzy lays the same way. She is always positioned where she can see the entire house and not be surprised in anyway. They are the best!
The bear becomes dizzy and finally go away threatened by those brave dogs.
I saw your Christmas album photo on facebook . Beautiful and happy people gathered .
I wish you a happy New Year ,2009, Paul
In friendship
Michel
@fauquet -
I saw from your site how cold it is in your house. Make sure to put on your warmest underwear.
All dogs are pack animals, just what pack they bond to is the question.