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How To Train A Great Pyrenees To Guard Chickens

Can Great Pyrenees guard chickens?

The Great Pyrenees has been used as a livestock guardian for hundreds of years because of its excellent disposition and its natural guarding instincts. This dog can be extremely aggressive toward predators, but is also a wonderful companion to gentle and helpless small animals like chickens.

How do you train a Great Pyrenees to protect chickens?

Encourage your Pyrenees to protect your chickens by creating artificial dangers, then rewarding your Pyrenees with treats and praise when she defends them. If you notice your Pyrenees wander, create a commotion among the chickens and reward her for coming to the rescue.

Do Great Pyrenees need to be trained to guard livestock?

The Great Pyrenees does not really need “training”. In our experience, there are two key requirements for a good working dog. First and foremost, is that the dog must come from working parents. This does not mean parents who came from “working lines” but parents who are actively engaged in protecting livestock.

At what age do Great Pyrenees start guarding?

Usually around six months, a Great Pyrenees will find his voice and begin his job of guarding and protecting. Unlike most guard dogs, they are not “attack” dogs. Great Pyrenees very rarely attack and typically only as a last resort.

Will a Great Pyrenees protect me?

The Great Pyrenees is not just a guard dog. He is a guardian. The Great Pyrenees protects the members of the flock, and he also cares for and nurtures them. His instinct is to be kind to and patient with all vulnerable animals.

How do you train a dog to protect chickens?

Teach him to ‘sit’, ‘drop’, ‘wait’ and any other useful commands. As he grows up, you need to encourage any behavior you’ll want to see when he’s protecting the chickens. That means giving him treats and attention when he shows protective behavior, such as growling or chasing other rogue animals.

Can Great Pyrenees be trained?

Pyrs have a strong independent streak—it’s what makes a Pyr a Pyr—and are not easily obedience-trained. That said, there is no question that Pyrs must learn basic commands and will benefit from positive-reinforcement training, which can be enhanced with clicker training.

How do Great Pyrenees protect?

The Great Pyrenees was bred to be a flock-guarding dog, working independently of its owner to protect livestock from predators. They’ll patrol the borders of the yard the way they would patrol the edges of your flock, and their instinct is to roam widely, so keeping them contained is important.

Will Great Pyrenees protect goats?

Great Pyrenees were bred to stand and fight bears to protect the sheep and goats.

Will Great Pyrenees protect cattle?

Known For: When hearing “Livestock Guardian Dog,” many automatically picture a Great Pyrenees. They’re also nocturnal, so they can protect your herd all night.

Where do guard dogs sleep?

These dogs are hardy animals and even during severe weather may choose to not enter shelter such as a doghouse or barn. They prefer to sleep where they have a full view of their surroundings and the sheep.

Do Great Pyrenees protect against Hawks?

Dogs are larger and stronger than roosters and aren’t easily threatened by hawks. Great Pyrenees have been used as livestock guardians for hundreds of years due to their natural guarding instinct. Sometimes, just having a dog in the area is enough to discourage hawks that prefer easy prey.

What is the Great Pyrenees bite force?

What is the bite force of the Great Pyrenees? There is no definite answer or calculation of this but it is expected that given his size and the size of his head, the bite force could be anywhere between 400 to 600 pounds. And this is a lot if the dog attacks a human.

Why does my Great Pyrenees growl at me?

Expect some growling. This is normal. They can try to guard areas and this should be addressed. You should get to say who rules, and occasionally, a Pyr will try to challenge you for supremacy.

What is the lifespan of a Great Pyrenees?

Do Great Pyrenees turn on their owners?

Originally bred to handle livestock, they view their owners in the same way, and strive to protect them. The Great Pyrenees breed itself is not dangerous at all, but improper training and negligence towards these gentle creatures can turn them into aggressive adults.

Will a Great Pyrenees run away?

If your dog is just a puppy then you could see results in just a week or so. However, if they are older, stubborn and with a lifetime of running away under their collar, then you may need a month or two.

Are Great Pyrenees protective dogs?

Great Pyrenees are guard dogs by instinct, and members of the great family of livestock guardian dogs. Pyrs are not herding dogs, but were bred to be left alone to protect their flock of sheep up in the mountain valleys. They do not need to be trained to be guard dogs.