Emma

 After doing a little research, we decided that an Anatolian Shepherd was our first choice for a guard dog. However, we got the opportunity to buy a 12 week old Great Pyrenees pup for a good price, so we decided to start there.
There was originally 8 in the litter, but only 2 males and 2 females left. We decided ahead of time that we wanted a female, with hopes of raising our own puppies in the future. We spent a little while watching the pups play with each other, observing the parents, and walking around the farm. We were glad to see that the pups had been raised with free range chickens.

We noticed that while all the pups wrestled and played with each other, one kept breaking away to come over where we were standing with the owners. It was one of the females and we liked her friendliness. So, we made our choice and Emma came home with us. She was very docile the first couple of days while she adjusted to her new surroundings and we let her stay inside with us. Because it was Christmas break, we were all home and able to spend plenty of time with her. We took turns walking her around the property line and playing with her. She obviously missed her litter mates, but bonded with us in just a few days.

Being a puppy, Emma stills wants to play and was used to playing with the other pups. The only other potential playmates at our house right now are our very aloof 12 year old cat and our pet chicken, but she has still not convinced either of them that she means well.

We had been told that Pyrenees tend to roam, so we set out to “make” her to our 4 acres. We put her in a kennel for the first few days we were gone and got her out and played with and praised her as soon as we got home. We also walked the property with her several times and brought her back consistently when she went too far making sure to scold her when we caught up with her.

We rewarded her with praise and treats when she came back when we called her. This last step took a couple of weeks while she learned her name and what we expected her to do when we called it. She has done very well and sits guard outside whatever building we are in or lays by the chicken tractor. When we are gone, she lays in the middle of the yard and watches the road. She does sometimes follow us up the road a bit when we all leave, but we find her right here when we return. Getting her to where she is was not without effort and a little adventure when she was put in a  fence by some neighbors up the road, but she was a very receptive learner and we have been very pleased with her.


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