George

George has found the life he deserves with alumni Umka. He gets to hang out with livestock and put smiles on people's faces because he is such a doll.

You can follow him at the Nourishing Hearts Wellness Care Farm.

DOB: February 02, 2013

Sweet George was found as a stray on a highway. The way he is with the goats at his foster's, we are certain he was a working dog. We suspect he was abandoned because he became blind or was already blind. He does have a tiny bit of vision we think.

George loves snuffing around and being near the goats.

This sweet boy prefers being outside than inside although he has the option to do either. We normally find him lying outside in the sun, sniffing and listening. He does bark whenever he senses something near him or is unsure of a sound. He recently got out of his kennel and ended up amongst the goats.

He is very timid, and will try to get away from anyone approaching him until he is sure of who they are. He is very nervous of strangers and will not approach them. Being blind, this is expected. It's important that no one approaches him but they must let them approach him as they speak to him in a kind voice. His new people or a anyone must always speak to him and allow him to approach them on his own time.

Children over 15 should be fine as long as they understand the rules. We always want to set up our dogs for success.

He is not aggressive at all, just nervous. He is nervous of other dogs and will growl at first until he knows who they are through repetition. Again, being blind, extra time must be taken when making introductions.

He is not dogcentric and will not stay engaged very long. He needs a routine. He is not house broken, so doubtful that he has lived inside at all. He can be house-broken with a little work which means giving him a routine of morning, afternoon and evening walks. Always watching him in the house and if it appears he will do his business, take him outside and praise him for doing his business.

He would do well as an outside dog with a behind-the-scenes role as a working dog. He must have access to shelter like any dog.

They are beautiful dogs with great temperaments given the right breeding, socialization, care including diet and training. Dogs are a lifelong commitment. If your dog requires critical vet care, make sure you are able to go forward with that. This is not the breed for most people.

BARKING: They bark more than most dogs and neighbours do complain. That is a common reason for people surrendering their Pyrs (they didn’t do their research). Their bark is what deters predators and it is instinct to them. That and marking their territory. To take away their bark is to take away who they are. The barking can be managed to some degree but it takes time, patience and consistency with positive-reinforcement training. If you don’t like barking, they are not the dog for you.

CONTAINMENT: Pyrs love to hang out outside and their instinct is to wander. Therefore, they require at least a 6-foot secure fence in a large yard in which they can play, run and watch over. Some have been know to scale any height of fencing. No tie outs for these guys. It can lead to aggression since they cannot fully watch over their territory. If they are out all day, as they usually prefer, they need shelter from the elements. And, no shock or prong collars or invisible fencing.

DIGGING: They dig holes in your garden to stay cool in summer so you’ll want to set aside some garden for them. If you don't want to do this, this is not the dog for you.

DIET: Raw is the species-appropriate diet. They eat 2%-3% of the ideal body weight. Start them out on one protein until they are used to it and gradually add another.
Raw food primer. There is also an excellent facebook page on raw feeding and dog health.

DOGS: If you want more than one dog in the home or working, we always recommend two dogs of the opposite sex. Two males or two females do not always see eye-to-eye and fights will ensue in some cases, but not all.

EXERCISE: They require regular walks and hikes, of course, so they get out and see the world to keep them interested in life. They must be leashed because they will wander. Again, they have been specifically bred to wander with sheep as they watch over them without human intervention. We do not recommend dog parks since not everyone pays attention to dog body language and fights can ensue.

GROOMING: Working and companion dogs must be groomed. They require a daily grooming with a slicker brush, and a good weekly grooming to keep them mat free and their skin healthy (hence, pain free from the pulling of mats as they move), and cutting their nails including their dew claws every couple of weeks to a month. NEVER have their dew claws removed. This is a barbaric practice. Simply keep the dews trimmed.

They molt twice a year and shed all year round so your vacuum stays full. NEVER shave a Pyr. Their coats keep them cool in summer–they lose their undercoat, leaving just guard hairs–the guard hairs protect your dog from sunburn and insulate them against heat, as well as allowing air to circulate to keep the skin cool–and warm in winter–their undercoat grows close to the skin to keep your dog warm and dry. This system only works if you groom your dog regularly. If you don’t like grooming, take your dog to a master groomer. If you don’t want to, this isn’t the dog for you.

TRAINING: They require a lot of socialization as pups onward with people and other dogs. They also require positive-reinforcement training (a trainer who shows you how to work with a clicker). Pyrs, nor any dogs, take kindly to any kind of punishment. Always use positive-reinforcement training. It will lead to aggression. Susan Garrett and Karen Pryor are great website resources.

It’s important to work with dogs as if in a dance and you are leading. Rewards for good behaviour and redirect for unwanted behaviour. It’s up to you to make them a good canine citizen. When engaging a trainer, ensure they use positive-reinforcement training to show you how to work with your dog. Never send a dog away for training. If you are not ready to work with a dog, this is not the dog for you.

To train a Pyr is not like training some other breeds. They are not eager-to-please and just as soon walk away from you than do as you say. They were bred by man to be used as guardian livestock dogs because they do not require human intervention to tell them how to do their job. Lots of patience, consistency and time is required to work with them. If you want an obedient dog and do not have the time for training, this is not the dog for you.

TRAINING FOR LIVESTOCK: There are a few who just want to be a companion dog. Most are natural guardian dogs of livestock. Yes, it is instinct. However, you must introduce your dog to any livestock slowly. This means leashing your dog to you as you work about the animals and barns so they get used to them. When you are not there, keep them penned near the animals so they get used to them. Fowl can be difficult for dogs because of how they move but it can be done. It will take at least a month for a Pyr to get used to the animals, maybe less. You’ll know when they are ready, and the dog will take it from there.

WHY ARE THEY SURRENDERED: There are those in need of a home because someone didn’t realize they would get so big, bark so much (complaints from neighbours), leave so much hair in the house, wander, and require work. There are also those whom people want to surrender for aggression but we do not knowingly take those dogs in. These dogs usually come from farmers, backyard breeders and pet shops (puppy mills) where genetics are unknown by the ‘breeders’. Combine this with lack of socialization and handling by many many different people in the crucial first thirteen weeks of their lives, and by the time they start to mature, aggression can set in.

It is very important to do your research on any breed before deciding if they are a good match for your family. Please start here:

Are Pyrs a good match for your family?

We never want to see these dogs fail so it's important that children learn how to behave with dogs and that parents never leave their children alone with a dog. Here is a link on that subject:

Children and Dogs