Training the Great Pyrenees Puppy

When training your puppy, it is important to know what your Pyrenees' function will be.  Will your puppy be a family companion or a livestock guardian (LGD)?

Changing environments is very confusing to a guardian breed.  They protect their territory and those within the territory with whom they have relationship.  If you want your livetock guardian dog (LGD) to protect your livestock, he needs to grow up with your livestock.  Great Pyrenees were bred to work in pairs.  It is best not to expect one to assume this role alone.  If you would like your Great Pyrenees to be with your human family, it is best to raise him that way.

There are characteristics of the Great Pyrenees that one needs to be aware of when training their dog:

• Great Pyrenees are very intelligent.  They learn very quickly.  They also get bored quickly.  Vary your techniques and lessons.
• Great Pyrenees are very independent.  It is said that they obey very well...when they want to.  Your job is to make them want to.  You must win their hearts.  Make your training as unemotional as possible.
• Most Great Pyrenees are very calm.  They spend most of their time calmly watching.  Yet, are capable of springing into immediate action.  They do not typically have a retriever instinct.  If your Pyrenees does, you probably want to foster it.
• Keep in mind that this is a very large, very strong dog.  It is important that they respect your place as the Alpha member of the pack.  Treating your dog with care and respect is the surest way to achieve this.  This does not mean that you should not be stern when necessary.  But it does mean that the majority of your interactions need to be very positive.