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livestock guardian dog

Breeding Great Pyrenees: Does Job Matter?

August 13, 2018 17 Comments

Pet, show dog, or livestock guardian - does breeding matter? Here are tips for choosing a breeder and considerations for breeding Great Pyrenees.

Adopt don’t shop.

I’m sure everyone has heard this phrase encouraging people to rescue rather than purchase dogs from breeders or pet stores. I’m going to say something controversial–I don’t agree with it.

Do I think there is a rescue dog out there for the majority of people? Yes.

Do I think there are far too many people breeding? Yes.

Do I push adoption over the purchasing of dogs? Yes.

If I’m saying yes to all of these questions, then why can’t I get behind “adopt don’t shop”? To me, the answer is simple: Without people responsibly breeding Great Pyrenees, the breed I love and am extremely passionate about would cease to exist.

[Read more…] about Breeding Great Pyrenees: Does Job Matter?

Filed Under: What's New Tagged With: great pyrenees, great pyrenees puppy, livestock guardian dog

Meet the Giants: Akbash

January 18, 2016 12 Comments

Today on Meet the Giants, the Akbash! Head over to read all about this amazing livestock guardian dog.

Today, we have another big, white, livestock guardian dog to talk about – the Akbash! Many thanks to Emily Musgrove for the information and Amanda Kaiser for the pictures 🙂

Today on Meet the Giants, the Akbash! Head over to read all about this amazing livestock guardian dog.

If you currently have an Akbash, please list the name, age, and gender.
I have fostered 14 Akbash mixes and 1 purebred mom. Ages ranging from 2 days old to 2 years old.

Are there any names/nicknames for the Akbash?
I only know them as Akbash, many mistake them for pyrs, or lab/pyr/golden mixes. They only come in white and are descents of the Anatolian Shepherd which comes from the Turkish Kangal. Akbash are basically white Anatolian’s but are now considered their own breed like the white GSD.

Today on Meet the Giants, the Akbash! Head over to read all about this amazing livestock guardian dog.

What are three words you would use to describe the Akbash?
Aloof, watchful, and loyal once they trust you.

What is the Akbash’s average size?
Breed size is 90-150lbs

What is the average lifespan?
10-12 years

What are common health problems of the Akbash?
Joint issues

Today on Meet the Giants, the Akbash! Head over to read all about this amazing livestock guardian dog.

How much grooming does the Akbash require?
Grooming, lots of brushing, lots of shedding. Tend to have double dew claws watch for rear dews too.

What was the Akbash originally bred to do?
Originally bred for guarding livestock mostly sheep and goats. They have less coat than a pyr so they do better in warmer climates.

Today on Meet the Giants, the Akbash! Head over to read all about this amazing livestock guardian dog.

What do you wish people knew about the Akbash?
This breed is aloof unless they trust you. If they choose to work you must still feed and take care of them or they will get up and leave. They can be difficult to motivate so they are not the dog for dog sports. They tend to be very quiet unlike the pyr and they also tend not to have prey drive problems. Mine have always loved cats.

Pin It!

Today on Meet the Giants, the Akbash! Head over to read all about this amazing livestock guardian dog.

Filed Under: Meet the Giants, What's New Tagged With: breed information, livestock guardian dog, meet the giants

Meet the Giants: Kuvasz

November 16, 2015 11 Comments

This week on Meet the Giants we're talking about the Kuvasz!

For today’s installment of Meet the Giants, we have the Kuvasz! The Kuvasz and Great Pyrenees are both big, white, fluffy, livestock guardian dogs, but with a few key differences.

Our pals at My GBGV Life are helping us out with today’s post!

This week on Meet the Giants we're talking about the Kuvasz!

If you currently have a Kuvasz, please list their names, ages, and gender.

Katie, 13, spayed female

Are there any other names/nicknames for the Kuvasz? If yes, list here.

No

What are three words you would use to describe the breed?

Strong, independent, loyal

This week on Meet the Giants we're talking about the Kuvasz!

What is the average size of a Kuvasz?

Males 70-115 lbs, females 70-90 lbs

What are the acceptable colors of a Kuvasz?

White

What is the average lifespan?

12-14 yrs

What was the Kuvasz bred to do?

Guard livestock without human supervision. They were placed with the animals they were to guard at a young age and grew up feeling like part of the herd and would do anything to protect them.

This week on Meet the Giants we're talking about the Kuvasz!

How much exercise does the Kuvasz need?

A medium amount of exercise. They are not hyper dogs, but they need a good walk or run at least once a day to expend energy.

What are some common health problems?

Hip dysplasia, and growing too fast as puppies. It’s important to feed the right diet to keep their growth in check, and also monitor exercise until their joints are all set to prevent problems later in life.

How much grooming does the Kuvasz require?

They shed a lot all year, but twice a year with the season change they really blow their coats. The Kuvasz needs to be brushed at least once a week and when they are changing coats, every two days or so.

What do you wish people knew about the Kuvasz before bringing one home?

Socialize, socialize, socialize! These are guard dogs by nature and if you don’t socialize them properly with people, animals, new places, they will start guarding you and your home and it will become a problem. It is not a breed for the faint of heart. They are not easy to train and are challenging, but if you are up for the challenge, the Kuvasz is wonderful!

This week on Meet the Giants we're talking about the Kuvasz!

Why do you love the breed?

They are so beautiful and loving to their family. People and cars are always stopping to tell me what a beautiful dog I have. I also love the challenge they present being such independent thinkers. Nothing is easy with the breed but, I like it that way.

Anything else you want to say?

I love the Kuvasz. Katie has brought me to tears at times with her naughty, independent side, but she has been such a loving girl her whole life. I would love to have another, but frankly, the 24/7/365 shedding of white fur is just too much for me. I need a break from fur. It is a great breed of dog, but the owner needs to have control of a Kuvasz and it is not good as a first dog in most cases.

So there you have it! A little bit of info about the Kuvasz. I cannot express enough how much I love the statement about being brought to tears with their naughty, independent side, but that they are so loving. I think it perfectly sums up livestock guardian breeds 🙂

Want to see more of Katie and the rest of the pups at My GBGV Life? Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

We hope you learned something new about the Kuvasz and check back next week for another giant breed!

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This week on Meet the Giants we're talking about the Kuvasz!

Filed Under: Meet the Giants, What's New Tagged With: giant breed dog, livestock guardian dog, meet the giants

Does Positive Reinforcement Work for Great Pyrenees?

August 6, 2015 18 Comments

Does Positive Reinforcement Work for Great Pyrenees?

“The Great Pyrenees is a large sized dog and a dominant breed.”

“The Great Pyrenees is a dominant breed of dog.”

“It (Great Pyrenees) has an independent, somewhat stubborn, nature and may try to dominate a less secure owner.”

Let me start by saying that I do not like the words “dominant”, “submissive”, and “alpha”. Pack theory has be debunked – let’s move past it. I understand some people use these terms in a more humane way, but the stigma still exists.

Before bringing home my first Great Pyrenees, I did a ton of research. Article after article warned me that my Great Pyrenees would be a “dominant dog”. I would have to ensure I was “alpha” to prevent my pyr from taking over or becoming aggressive. I read that my pyr would need corrections, should never be on the couch, or have any of the same treatment as the humans. I started to wonder if I was making the right decision.

I’m thankful I didn’t buy into what I read or else I probably wouldn’t have Mauja and Atka.

Great Pyrenees are independent thinkers and extremely smart. They were bred to work on their own and don’t need to be told how to do their job. Just because a pyr isn’t guarding livestock doesn’t make the instinct go away. They need to be convinced that what you are asking is in their best interest. “Because I said so” doesn’t cut it with this breed.

Due to their intelligence and independence, people often feel these dogs need to be “put in their place”.

The common training method for pyrs and other livestock guardian breeds is to get your dog to respect you through reinforcement and consequences. If you teach your dog to “respect” you through consequences, what kind of a relationship are you creating with your dog?

Not one that I want.

I wanted Mauja and Atka to trust me. To know that I would never hurt them and always look out for their best interest. Does that mean they get to do whatever they want? Does it mean they have taken over the house? No. It means we work together to find a common ground – to build a positive, trusting relationship.

Working with a Great Pyrenees can be a challenging training adventure, but that just makes successes even more rewarding. If you go into training recognizing that your pyr is just as smart (if not smarter) than you, training will be incredibly enjoyable. Personally, I love the challenge of a smart, independent dog. The kind of dog that doesn’t plop into a sit in half a second. The kind of dog that makes me think outside the box. However, that doesn’t mean I snap their collars when they don’t listen or force them off of the couch. It means I became less noticeable than their breed instincts and I need to determine how to get us back on track.

From day one, Mauja and Atka were trained through positive reinforcement. Neither of them have growled at me or tried to “take over the house”. They aren’t possessive and they don’t make the rules. These are things the articles assured me would happen if I didn’t show my pyr I was “alpha”. Mauja and Atka sit politely for food, toys, and to get their leashes on for a walk – regardless of whether or not I have a treat. In true pyr fashion they take their sweet time, but they enjoy my affection and praise. They do this because we have a strong bond, not because they are avoiding consequences.

I challenge everyone with a Great Pyrenees or other livestock guardian breed to try positive reinforcement training. Enhancing your relationship will bring out the best traits in your dog, not to mention yourself 🙂

Positive Pet Training Blog Hop

Filed Under: Healthy, Happy Dog, What's New Tagged With: dogs, great pyrenees, livestock guardian dog, positive reinforcement, training

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