| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Calico Hen |
Posted - Jul 14 2012 : 6:43:06 PM
Our 5 month old Great Pyr puppy, male, has begun challenging me this last week. When we are out for a walk and I do something he does not want (put him on leash, start back to kennel, don't give him a treat) he starts nipping at my thighs or hands. This is very frustrating as we have worked very hard with him and have had months of a wonderful puppy, happy to walk on his leash or do anything we ask. I recognize this may be his rebellious teen years but I do know I have to get this under control NOW. I also recognize this as a challenge as to who is the Alpha. Friends have told me to put him on a collar with studs to pinch him when he does the unwanted behavior.? Those of you who have Great Pyr dogs, do you have suggestions or methods that you found successful with these wonderful, intelligent, strong willed dogs? I should mention that he has also challenged my husband with the same behavior this week. My husband travels so I am the 24/7 dog handler. Nothing in his environment has changed other than his getting older, bigger and obviously grouchy! |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Calico Hen |
Posted - Jul 16 2012 : 1:37:25 PM
Thank you Ladies! We are taking his behavior very seriously and took him to a professional trainer this morning. He gave us many suggestions to modify both the dog's behavior and ours. We will meet with him again in two weeks to see how things are going.
We want our Great Pyr to be a working dog. He is totally outdoor and his kennel is right next to the chicken run and coop. We got him from a farm where his parents guarded poultry and goats, the puppies were exposed to both day one. Right now he is kind of rough with the chickens (putting his huge paw on their backs, making them run) wanting to play more than hurt them. We have been told that as he matures, he will calm down and we plan on his being out with the chickens in a large pasture area. We will keep the kennel so he has his own space and will be fed there, etc. so the chickens do not bother him.
As for the leash, we let him run freely around our barn/house area but for more exercise we walk him along the driveway which is one of our farm boundaries. In the last week, he has been mischevious and not coming to us when we call. He stays in our sight but takes his own sweet time smelling things and working his way over to us. We have been told by the trainer and friends that this is typical 5 month puppy behavior (Their words: think teenager). The trainer also gave us several things to try in training him to come to us immediately.
Thank you Grace for your offer of email, I may take you up on that. |
| Keeper of the Past |
Posted - Jul 16 2012 : 07:53:17 AM
I have 2 GDs that I got as puppies. The guy that sold them to me told me to never treat them like pets. My girls will take each other's collars off and I have never tried to train my girls to leash. They get a very strong verbal if they try to jump up on me. They get petting and praise when I see them do a good act.
Instead of putting your pup on a leash can you let him run around the area that he will be guarding and let him lead the way and stop and mark his territory, that is what his breed does. They are born with the natural instinct to do their job and your walking him may be frustrating him... I would carry a stick and if he nips at you rap him across the top of his nose and tell him NO. He needs to know that you are the boss.
Let us know how things go.
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
"It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are." EE Cummings
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| grace gerber |
Posted - Jul 15 2012 : 5:28:39 PM
Meg I have been raising Great Pry's for now 20 years and I must say this is not good behavior at all. Is the dog working or just a pet? The problem with these dogs as pet's is they are too smart to have no purpose and they think for themselves not waiting around for instructions. Being the Alpha is very important because once they decide they can bully you do not want to be on the end of that. I would restrict his movement some - taking for a walk get's him confussed as to what his territory is. Also, the moment that he is acting like he is going to bully I would grab him by the scruff on the back of the neck, shake and so very loudly NO. I have a big guy who does not like toenail clipped since he was a pup - but if he gives me any gruff I have been known to place my mouth over the bridge of his mussle and growl softly = that is what a mother pry would do - however, you must truly know your dog because you do not wish to get into a Dog Fight with these big guys. If you can not correct this soon I would call a professional because you do not want something really bad to happen and the dog be put down in the end. Good luck and if you wish to talk privately please email me. Great Pry's would give their lives for us so we need to do all we can for them.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| oldbittyhen |
Posted - Jul 14 2012 : 8:30:25 PM
try flipping him on his back and pinning him down till he stops fighting it, and/or grabing his muzzle with both hands if you need to and not letting him mouth you, and always use the drop-it/release word, what ever you choose that word to be, you have to be the alpha at all times, period...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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