I'm losing my mind!

[BaileyBear]

My pyrenees is super independent.  I know this is normal with this breed but she takes it to a new level.  She knows her name well and will lift and ear or maybe even look at you when you say it but she refuses to come unless she feels like it.  She runs away from you likes it a game if you try to put a leash on her and worst of all she wanders if she has any chance out of the yard.  She's not a year old yet but i'm getting concerned that she's not just acting like a puppy, and that these things are going to be permenant habits! please HELP ME!

[Binky]

Well, she is still a puppy at under a year, but you might want to get used to the not coming when called, etc!  It's typical Pyr behaviour.  Binky is almost 3 years old and she still does the run up to the door when called and then zooms away and thinks it's funny!  It is frustrating but there's not much you can do to change the Pyr mentality! 

[BaileyBear]

I love the dog to death but sometimes she makes me crazy!  My parents bred and trained white german shepherds & they helped me to train her.  She knows how to do so many things but she just refuses to do them.  I guess im just going to have to get used to it!   Bailey also is a big fan of digging tunnel sized holes... she's a mess!

[marypyrs]

That's pretty much Pyr behavior. They tend to have "Selective Hearing Syndrome".  But there are some things to do to ease your frustrations somewhat. Obedience Training Classes are great in many, many ways. You'll never have the same response nor the personality as the Sheps, but then, you have a totally different dog.

First thing I would do is sign up for the next class available. Find a really GOOD Training Center. Your Vet can probably recommend one.

Never - ever - ever - never - trust your Pyr off lead or out of a fenced area.

One thing that has worked with all my guys over the years to get their attention, is to totally ignore them. Turn your back on her. Call her. If she runs away you can be sure she's watching you & chances are that if you turn & start to walk away - she'll think "Whoops! ? ? ? What's happening? Where's my Person going?" I usually throw in a "Bye! See 'ya!" That gets their attention for sure. Just be sure you're doing it in a safely fenced area and without other distractions.

So far as the digging. Well. What can I say? There was such a discussion on that exact thing here a day or so ago.

Good Luck.  Keep smiling. And WELCOME BaileyBear!
   

[pyr4me]

Some of the things you listed are known as typical Pyr behaviors...me aning that you probably won't be able to train them away, such as wandering out of the yard when she gets the chance--Pyrs are notorious wanderers, they should never be off leash in an unfenced area.  Also the digging, Pyrs are champion diggers. Many of the folks on this board create special digging areas in their yards with sand for their Pyrs to have a place to dig to help keep the rest of the yard from looking like various landmines have been dug from it. Plus, your dog is still very young and will go through testing periods with you. Hang in there!    Welcome to the board, it's a great place to ask questions, learn new stuff, and meet other dog crazy folks!

[BaileyBear]

Well thank you for all the advice!    I just wanted to make sure my bailey wasnt as naughty as my husband was making her out to be!  In her defense, she is compared to a 7 year old yellow lab sometimes and obviously he's a better listner.  I have polar opposites in dogs, one who wont leave me alone and one who could care less what i'm doing!  anyways, thanks again & its nice to have others to talk to about these things!

[MarleyPyr]

welcome to the Pyr club! Digging...not listening...ru nning away from a leash...YUP you have a pyr! Marley just turned 2 and still does all the above. With this breed it isn't so much a puppy thing as a Pyr thing
Ditto about the pyr off a leash. Not a good idea. They get something in sight or a wiff of something that seems too good to pass up on and they are off...with you in thier dust running to catch them. That is pretty much a guarantee. I have ever only seen one pyr in a non fenced in yard (physical or electric) that stayed put and she was 8 years old with bad hips. It is just in them.
BUT all that being said, they are the most wonderful creatures to own  

[People Whisperer]

I can shout exactly the same thing "I am LOOSING my mind!" LOL
One year old is a pretty difficult time! Hang in there it WILL get a little better...but not "come" and selective hearing...thos e things will be the same

[bigdogs@5501]

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
sorry- But yep, you have a typical Pyr and there is not too much you can do about it. Also if you will notice most of the Pyr people tend to agree that this is something that will never change but none of us are stressing about it too much and some of the more insane crowd actually torture themselves with more than one Pyr.
I am totally teetering on insanity- I have 7 adults that reside here at the house now.
But all of the bad habits aside, they are the most incredible, majestic wonderful dogs in so many ways. Pyrs have what I refer to as an "old" soul and they are wise beyond explanation. Maybe I am hoping that if I surround myself with them long enough I will also gain some insight into what makes them so incredible.
I also have some other big paws and love them dearly- but Pyrs are so much different than the other BP's that share the house with me.
So when the Pyrs totally frustrate me with thier attitude I have my Jake and I just go and hang out with him and really realize what total unconditional love is from a big paw, Pyrs will make you work for it- Danes shower you with it.

[BaileyBear]

Oh don't get me wrong I wouldn't change having her around for the world!  She's a great dog despite some of her habits.  I am glad to hear that it's not just her though, i kept thinkin I had just picked out a very naughty dog!  My lab and her seem to balance eachothers personality's out and that has been helping to save my sanity a little!  I'm gonna stick in there, this is my first pyrenees so i'm learning a lot!

[GoldenPyrs]

Hi Sarah & welcome!  Everyone is oh so right...your pup sounds like she's just pyrfect!  LOL      I could write a book about Cara's exploits when she was that age, but she settled into the most wonderful, sweet girl that you can imagine.  Though she always dug, had selective hearing, and I could never trust her off leash, we had 12 wonderful years together.    The truth is that we've just gotten used to those things, so they don't worry us anymore and we just expect them from our Pyrs.  They are a different kind of dog than many breeds with their own mindset, so it can take some time for us humans to learn how they think.

I'm glad that you found us.  You'll find a lot of friendly, supportive people here that will be happy to help if you have any questions.  It's a fun place to share pup stories, too!   

[BaileyBear]

Wow, you did describe Baxter pretty well!  He's a good dog but his life is all about hunting and my husband.  Bailey definatly does not want to be by my side 24 hours a day but she's got a weakness for having her tummy rubbed so i know how to win her over!  I guess i don't think she's got bad behaviors so much as its her breed anymore!  My husband on the other hand has a really hard time going from his 7 year old lab to my independent pyrenees.  Oh well he loves her even if he wont admit it!

[Zuke]

Hi Sarah,

My name is Sarah too and I have a 9 month old Pyr. HAHAHHAHAHHAHA H. It sounds like we have the same dog 

However, unlike labs (no offence intended to yours):

1) They aren't made of velcro
2) Every waking hour isn't spent wandering after you wondering when they are going to be fed
3) Coming when called is for mamas boys (and girls) and total sissies, c'mon.
4) They don't wake up in he night as you pass them on the way to the bathroom (you gonna feed me now?)
5) They miss the mountains (why not recreate them in your garden, no?)

Sarah, your post made me laugh!!!  I have a 2 1/2 year old Great Pyrenees named Zuke and a 1 1/2 year old black lab mix named Louise.  We got Louise when she was about 5 months old and we're not sure what she's mixed with, but I'm convinced that she's part pig...she eats anything and everything including Zuke's food, and he lets her do it!!!  She is SO TOTALLY treat motivated that she has been so easy to train her to do tricks, etc.

Zuke's a bit different...he sits, waits (stays), lays down, etc. and he has an OUTSTANDING Great Pyr recall at about 40% of the time! LOL  Okay, maybe 30%   He's just not very treat motivated, even for really good treats, like real chicken, liver, etc.  He wants it at first, then he'll go back to whatever he was doing, barking, digging, napping, etc. after he realizes that I'm not just going to give it to him...anything more than sit, wait or lay down and he's bored.

Labs want to please and Pyrs want to guard.  My two dogs are very different and I keep different expectations for each of them...it's great when we can joke about it!  Thanks for sharing!

Val

[Michelle Schnapp]

I know exactly how you feel and what you're going through.  We have two Pyrs, male and female, Noah and Jazzy.  Both turned a year in April.  They both do exactly what your pup is doing.  Get used to it.  If they feel like coming in, they'll come in right away.  If they don't, well..... you can just wait.  I avoid the aggrevation and wave a biscuit in front of their noses and that works every time.  Weak? I know, but it works and if it's pouring rain and you want them in the house before they're drenched, or it's late and you want to go to bed, this is the way we've done it and it seems, so far at least, that our Pyrs never turn down a cookie.  We just can't change their behavior with this particular issue.

Michelle
Toledo, OH

[jesday]

I'm having a bit of the same problem with our 9 month-old Newfies. Particularly the male, Syrus. Sophie is a bit of a treat junkie so she is more manageable when it comes to getting her attention and come back to me. But Syrus is kind of like, "Thanks, catch ya later. The smells out here are so much better than anything you've got. Oooh, what that? I'm outa here."

We've got 10 acres surrounded by other acreage and I am so fearful they'll be off and lost. We just moved in and haven't been able to fence yet. We've build a large pen area for them temporarily and they have started digging huge holes particularly around a 30ft Pine tree. I hope they don't disturb the integrity of the root system.

Our imagined scenerio of us working lazily around the yard with the bubs following us around or resting under a shade tree is pretty shattered.

I'm hoping this is truly a puppy thing with the Newfs and not a breed inherited trait. Needless to say we never go anywhere off lead. I found I can control them much better with a harness type rather than just a collar, but someday it would be wonderful to take some nice trail hikes without having to manage two leashes through trees and brush.

Are we being unrealistic?