pyrless

Thank you. I should be able to talk to my vet today about her diet. She is doing better by the way!

i am so sorry, DAL... :cry: big pyr hugs to you, boonie will be there at the bridge.

Is yogurt probiotic?

My Pyr Sasha now has her 2nd UTI in three months. The vet is putting her on a 3-week course of antibiotics now instead of a 2-week one, but my question is, do any of you have experience with this and what have you done to help prevent it? Pyrs are not prone to these as a general rule. She is spayed, if that makes a difference. Any help would be welcome-I can tell she is miserable and know what that feels like :o so i just want to make her more comfortable now & in future. Thanks in advance you guys. :cry:

ooohhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! what a gorgeous boy! you see what i mean? there is [b]nothing[/b] like a Pyr! :wink: (me being unbiased, of course!) I am so happy for you!

again, my Taz does the EXACT same thing-it upsets Sasha so much we can't give them treats together!

It sounds to me like your home is prepared for a Pyr! I should have been clearer about the same-sex aggression thing. This mainly occurs when the dogs are living together. I am sure that it [i]can [/i]occur outside of that situation, as it can with any breed, and that is largely a factor of the individual dog, like you said. It is more likely to occur over resources; toys, attention, the chicken you just dropped... :D But to answer your question, yes, the Pyr can be the kind of companion you described, as long as you keep them on leash. If you can control them on leash and with verbal commands, which will take some time, regardless of whether the Pyr comes rescued with this knowledge, they will take time to see [i]you [/i] as their leader, you will be fine. They are naturally gentle with children, of course the children must be taught to behave around the dog, as with any breed. The good thing about the Pyr bark is that it is mellow and low, not that yappy high pitched bark that sets your teeth on edge. (i also have a norwegian elkhound who is a nightmare barker!) I live right in the middle of Cleveland and have found this to be manageable. Yes, of the three breeds you are looking into, they are the most challenging. It is worth every second. All I can tell you about Newfs is that they adore water, so you will have to let them swim, so you will have a 140 lb. wet dog to deal with! Pyrs are considerably smaller than both Newfs and Saints, too. Please keep me updated on your progress! Another site you may want to check out is LaBrise, they are breeders of the true French pyr and she has a lot of valuable info and links on her site.

HERE I AM, HERE I AM, not paying much attention lately!!!!!! :roll: You've got a lot of good information here. Some things I can add from my own experience with the breed and which you should consider: They love the outdoors, yes, but do ultimately prefer to be with their families and should [i]not[/i] live outside unless their "family" is their flock of sheep. They dig. This isn't a breed that digs out of boredom or any kind of typical behavior issue. They like it. They can dig themselves into a crater in your yard, so if you value your landscaping, consider another breed. They drool. Some more than others. If you were considering a Saint, I'm assuming this isn't a problem for you, but you will need to keep slobber rags handy! You will have to trim nails, especially the back double dew claws, every 2 weeks. This is [i]not[/i] an offleash-lifestyle dog. They will, "disaPyr". They will blow coat once a year and you will have to vacuum and brush twice a day for about a month. You get enough undercoat to fill a garbage bag. They have a relatively slow metabolism for their size, an adult Pyr only needs about 4 cups of food a day. Also, their coat gives the impression of more mass than is really there, so when your vet administers anasthesia, heartworm medication, etc. make sure the dog has been actually weighed. The barking. Some bark more than others, but a "quiet" Pyr still barks. I have taught mine one bark in the house, but trying to get her to stop barking outside has been futile. They hear [b]everything.[/b] and will bark accordingly (squirrel farting, etc. Sasha even barks at low-flying aircraft, I am not kidding!). Remember this is a serious livestock guardian dog and once he has decided you are his flock and your home his territory he will protect it. Same-sex aggression is VERY COMMON in this breed, even with the females. You can't have two Pyrs of the same sex in the same home, neutered or not, without keeping them apart. Problems also arise with other large, guardian type dogs, ie German Shepherds, Malamutes and the like. Most are good with small animals, Sasha loves my cat, BUT she attacked our Pomeranian twice and we have to keep them separated. They tend to be protective of their food, [i]from other dogs only[/i], not people. This is a serious, large, slow-moving dog. They are devoted and loyal but will not jump up and lick your face every time you walk into a room. They will not always listen the first time you ask them to do something. They don't fall over themselves to please you. They come when called, unless there is something more interesting than you , which is 90 percent of the time! :D You can't train them by jerking them around on a chain. You must be calm and assertive at all times. (They [i]will[/i] pat you for attention, however. :D) This dog also has serious power. One Pyr can hurt a wolf or a bear, two can kill a wolf or a bear. I am telling you all this to give you a balanced picture. If it turns out you"speak Pyr", you will never want another breed. They are Zen dogs. I am just trying to get across that this is not always, nor should it be, a cuddly white teddy bear of a dog. If I may ask, which rescue are you working with? You can get some great information from the GPCA website, and the Heart of Ohio Great Pyrenees Rescue website. Sorry so long, everyone. Good luck to you. Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions, either post here or pm. :D

Yeah, there [b]IS[/b] something wrong with studding a dog just so your boyfriend's mom can have a puppy. Breeders are supposed to better the breed.

okay, mouse, love that photo! my Elkhound/Collie mix, Taz is probably the most gorgeous dog ever. (i have GOT to get some digital photos!) People have told me on more than one occasion that I should "make that a breed". What? Que?

[b]ALL TOGETHER NOW![/b] "Welcome to a new kind of tension, all across the idiot nation" :D

Hey, at least you liked my idea-that's cool! :wink: Lizzy does sound right for a Bichon somehow...

Gigishiba, Pheasant..."Everybody hear the propaganda!" :wink:

okay, first of all, i also have a dog named sasha and a cat named harley...great minds... :D If Sasha is spayed and the cats fixed as well I really think it is a dominance thing. Our Harley does this crap in reverse to our male dog, jumps on his back and starts yowling like a maniac. They are both fixed, Taz is the alpha dog in the dog pack of 3, but Harley is the undisputed ruler of them all (at nine pounds and declawed, mind you!) and I think he just needs to reassert himself every so often. This happened more often when we has just added 2 new dogs, so if the kittens are new maybe your Sasha is just trying to work out the "new" order of things. I know it is odd, but nine times out of ten the cat will win, so I would let it run its course and keep a squirt bottle handy for when company comes!

oh, this is so wonderful! i am in the Heart of Ohio Great Pyrenees Club but it is so rare to meet some one outside of that that knows the breed! What a small world! Yes, she is mentioned in the [i]Complete Great Pyrenees [/i] by Paul Strang and I see the Kenneview prefix all the time at shows. I will not be looking for another dog for quite some time (years) but I will definitely keep her line in mind. I like how they look, a nice solid dog.

Labs here, and for some reason, beagles overrun my neighborhood... :D

oh, Kenneview! I have been to her site, she has some lovely dogs, and they are well-known and respected by Pyr people in the U.S. too!

I like Myrrhh.

Noelle, Holly, Neige (French for snow), Comet, Cupid, Jingle, Angel, Star... i love naming dogs! :lol:

Cassie, i know you weren't putting down the pyr, no worries! :D They are certainly not the breed for everyone, and roaming [i]is[/i] a really big issue. In fact, some breeders say that what you've got when you let a Great Pyrenees off-leash is a "disapyr". :lol: so we have a fence and it's cool. Sasha has a pretty good recall too, but I wouldn't trust her off leash either. She'd amble slowly and not run, but she would sure amble far away! It's in their blood. Which kennel does your friend have? It's funny, everyone says they need an experienced hand and I suppose that is true, I had experience with other dogs before her, but I found her the easiest to train and bond with. I have also heard that shelties are great for first-time dog owners but I am quite sure I couldn't handle them! :lol: I like the newfs too, and leonbegers, but i like to keep dry dogs!

well congratulations! what a lovely choice! well, the pyr is the "ancestor" of the saint, and one of the most important things is to watch out for their hips, as in any large breed. if you have a truck or SUV a ramp is really helpful so they don't do alot of jumping in and out. Also if you get a pup, be sure to grow it slow, start adult food at 6 months or so so the body weight doesn't outgrow the frame.

Cassie, what is a "horizon dog?" it's funny, i will probably always own a pyr, since I have had one, every other breed seems like "too much!" :D i realize alot of people would say that about the pyr, "too much shedding, too much barking, too much drooling..." but to me they are my soul dog. to paraphrase horsefeathers, i "speak pyr". i think border collies are gorgeous but i couldn't keep up with them. i admire the grace of the sighthounds but would constantly worry about them being too fragile. i love the look of huskies but want a more bonded dog. terriers drive me a little crazy! this is a great topic, it really proves that there is something for everyone.

yeeaaaah, that sounds like my taz too, he thinks he is smarter than me! 8) it is frustrating, the only thing to do is not give him what he wants, which we all know is easier said than done!!!!! :D

once again, pyr power to boonie! :D

try a teaspoon of olive oil on her kibble once a day-it is not only great for their coat and general health but my dogs REALLY like how it tastes! (Of course, I'm Italian, so maybe I just kind of passed that on to them! :wink: ) Also, have you tried soaking the kibble in chicken broth? Good luck!