Nancy Nikol

Reprinted with permission from Countryside & Small Stock Journal: Nov/Dec 1992

Sheep instinctively move away from canine contact. To a mature working dog, this is natural. His instincts are to remain with the flock, but he is usually content to follow at a relaxed pace. When the sheep graze, the Pyrenees usually chooses a high vantage point and sleeps. Any unusual movement from the flock brings immediate response. Distance maintained between the sheep and the dog seems to be set by the sheep. lessening as their tolerance to the canine presence increases.

In general the Pyrenees is a non aggressive breed. They were found to be the least likely of all guardian breeds to injure through intentional aggression or rough play. It is important that a new guardian in your flock be understood so that his intentions are clearly interpreted. Behavior that may look like chasing may merely be the result of the dog's desire to maintain closer contact with the flock than sheep unaccustomed to dogs are comfortable in allowing.

If things seem to be amiss between the dog and his charges, in every instance, I have found that in the dog's viewpoint, he was correct.

As our experience with Great Pyrenees grew, it became apparent that the more human input we provided the more complex the guardian duties became for the dog. We felt safest when the stock and the dog were closely confined together [at night] However, what we had actually accomplished was allowing predators the opportunity to infiltrate the Pyrenees boundaries. Any predator that was likely to be met in the morning was going to be encountered dangerously close to the flock.

Our first Pyrenees was mismanaged as well as misunderstood. We did not provide him a place were he could eat without the press of sheep who were likely to eat the dog food. A hungry dog may also show undesirable tendencies to growl or snap if his dish is threatened.

It is equally important to provide the dog with an escape route if ewes should decide to protect their lambs by battering the dog. Great Pyrenees, especially young dogs, accept this treatment with no thought of retaliation or self protection.

Our dogs are taught their name and to come when called. Beyond this, it seems to be considered by the dog to be human interference. In attempting to help new dogs adjust to living in a strange home, we have penned them, only to have them scale a six-foot fence, dig under the barn wall, chew through a door, chew through a chain link fence and work until the welds of a cattle panel had broken enough to permit escape. In all cases when the sheep came in at night the new dog was with them.

If a great Pyrenees is being considered as a protector for your flock and family, do all you can to prepare for his arrival. Purchase him in advance of predation problems, provide a place where he can eat undisturbed while he is off duty, and introduce him to the flock in a situation where they will not perceive him as a threat. Have confidence in his ability to do the job you need done. Trust his perceptions of the manner in which he should do it.