My Pyrenees Doesn't Guard Sheep, Goats or Chase Bears Hawk! post #26

[Baymule]

Thank you so much Southern by Choice, it was a really special moment to see her doing what pyrs do. Today I let out the "sacrificial crippled rooster" for a couple of hours totally unsupervised. This evening we let the laying hens out again, supervised. Both dogs ran laps around the yard, barked and ignored the hens. Making progress!

 

[Southern by choice]

I have met a few over the years that really didn't give up and accepted the dog just the way they were and it always warms my heart to hear about those huge hurdles that are overcome. I am so proud of Paris, but you really deserve a hand!

You will have to tell Paris that she has an Auntie...Auntie Southern! Then give her a big smooch!

 

[autumnprairie]

I am so happy to here that she has been rehabilitated, you have done a great job. I also have a pyr and she likes to dig and bark at only she can hear and the neighbor that is next to my neighbor

 

[Baymule]

Last night I didn't latch the coop door corectly. This morning as we were drinking our coffee, Mom smiled and pointed. I looked out the double glass doors into the backyard and was greeted by the sight of some very happy hens scratching and doing what hens do. And the dogs? Watching over their flock. Paris is the Queen of the backyard and she has everything under controll. I left the girls out all morning and they willingly went back to their coop for hen scratch. I am thrilled with Paris and her loopy friend, Parker our black Lab/Great Dane goofball. They are good dogs.

 

[terrilhb]

What a wonderful story. It brought tears to my eyes. What fantastic dogs you have. Both gorgeous. And what a wonderful woman you are. I am so glad Paris found her forever home and someone to not give up on her and help her. Thank you for the smile you put on my face reading this.

 

[Baymule]

Aw, thank you! I just had to tell about Paris. Not every GP lives on a farm or ranch. We are smack in the middle of our small town, just blocks from city hall and the police station. We love our Paris!

 

[Kitsara]

Thank you for sharing your story. It's so good to know that there are people willing to take a chance and work with a dog instead of condemning it because of the idiocy's of a previous owner.

 

[Baymule]

Thank you Kitsara. There was never any hesitation when she was offered to me. We love her.

 

[Baymule]

We now let the hens out every morning, then I put them up around ten or so. I let them back out in the late afternoons until roost time. The dogs are wonderful. One morning, my Mom pointed out the patio glass doors. The hens were at the back fence and on the other side of the fence was a black and white cat, stalking them. Parker was looking in the doors and had his back to the cat. Paris was under the deck, cooling off in the damp earth. The hens BA-GAWKED and sounded the alarm. Parker turned around, saw the cat and sprang into action. Paris boiled out from under the deck and beat Parker to the fence. They both barked and the cat left in a hurry. I went out and praised them both, they did a good job.

Paris likes to go in the run when I sit in the doorway watching the pullets. She has figured out that I am a captive audience and if she looks at me with those pleading eyes, I will lavish praise and love on her. Smart dog. A pullet we call Green Legs has been stalking Paris, eyeing all that long fluffy fur on her tail and the ruff on the back of her legs. Green Legs will walk all around Paris, stretching out her neck, cocking her head from side to side, thinking about mischief. Well, Green Legs finally did it. She reached up, snagged a tendril of hair on the back of Paris's hind leg and tugged hard. Paris turned her head and snapped her teeth in Green Legs direction. Immediately, I scolded Paris. I never raise my voice to her, I use that "I am so disappointed in you" voice we have all heard from our parents. She hit the ground and rolled over in submission. While I was explaining to her that she couldn't snap at the chickens, Green Legs stalked the big white hairy monster for another bite. She stretched out her neck, cocked her head and this time she snagged a beak full of belly hair. I saw it coming and was silent so Paris wouldn't be distracted by me. Paris never moved. I changed my tone of voice to approval and she jumped up for hugs. She seemed very pleased with herself, I know I was pleased with her. Little by little, step by step, Paris is doing what she was born to do.

I don't turn the hens out if I am not at home. We are not at that point yet. We may never be, but I am happy with the progress Paris has made. And as I have been teaching Paris, Parker gets lessons too. Paris is teaching Parker to be a LGD, and he has the makings of a good one.

 

[Baymule]

An update on Paris-I can let the hens out all day, totally without supervision. Paris has come into her own and is doing what she was born to do. I have full confidence in Paris and I know my hens are safe with her. She is an awesome dog. She absolutely hates motorcycles and races from one end of the fence to the other barking ferociously when one goes down the street. I really believe if she was loose, she would tackle a motorcycle and take it down. That is why we have a good fence. She doesn't bark as much as she used to, I think maturity has settled her down a bit. She used to bark at falling acorns, cats in the neighbors yard, anything and everything all night long. She is much better now--she no longer barks at falling acorns.