WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE BUYING A PYRENEAN MOUNTAIN DOG. 1) They
will be large: yes I know its obvious but it’s amazing how quickly they
transform from that cute little bundle of white fur to a lolloping great
teenager flying round the house. In order to grow to that size you have
to feed and feed and feed some more: they are very expensive while they
are growing. But take heart by the time they are two or so the food bill
goes down drastically and then you only have to worry because they won’t
eat and are looking as thin as a rake.
2) Never go
near a puppy until you have decided a Pyrenean is the dog for you - you
will not be able to resist that delightful, charming, endearing ball of
fluff.
3)
Pyreneans do not like being left on their own for long periods. If you
work full time, forget it unless you are prepared to have it live out in
a secure kennel. A bored Yorkshire terrier may nibble your skirting
boards, a bored Pyrenean may eat your kitchen cabinets.
4) You must
own a good vacuum cleaner - Pyrenean dogs molt at least once a year,
bitches twice and they lose a little hair all the time. Be prepared to
find Pyrenean hair everywhere in the house, on your clothes, etc.
Pyrenean hair can get to places where you don’t even allow the dogs to
go.
5) For at
least the first 6 months they should not be allowed up & down stairs or
to jump out of the car. The impacts on shoulders & elbows can damage
them. Exercise should start very slowly and gradually increase,
a fully grown dog should be able to go as far as you
like. If you can’t walk them far then play with them but don’t teach
them chasing games, people get worried about 10 stone of dog hurtling at
them.
6) They are
the worlds worst at coming back when they are called outside. You can
train your dog to do it perfectly at home but let them loose and most
will head for the wide blue yonder and they are sneaky with it, lulling
you into a false sense of security and then taking off when you’re not
paying attention.
7) Don’t
let them do anything at ten weeks that you don’t want them to do when
they are ten stone. Jumping up to your knees is charming, flattening
your mother in law as she comes through the front door is not.
8) Get them
to a good obedience training class as soon as their vaccinations are
completed. You can make a smallish puppy obey. If you leave it to six
months its all-in wrestling. The same goes for baths, grooming, nail
clipping, teeth cleaning etc.
9) If
antibiotics at the vet cost £5.00 for a Yorkshire Terrier it will cost
at least £15.00 for your Pyrenean, remember a dog will weigh 10 stone or
more, a bitch 8 or 9 stone and many medicines are given to animals by
weight. MAKE SURE YOU VET IS AWARE THAT PYRENEANS ARE VERY SUSCEPTIBLE
TO ANESTHETICS AND ON NO ACCOUNT SHOULD THESE BE GIVEN BY WEIGHT. 10) Other delightful hobbies they, may have can include escapology (secure fencing at least four feet high, preferably six, is a necessity), gardening (many appear to wish to emigrate to Australia), over friendliness to complete strangers who may not be equally delighted, possessiveness of you and your family, and the ability to guard your house by barking and keeping away the danger of intruders (including passing birds, butterflies etc.) 11) Puppy Lists can be obtained from Marian Absolom Email: absolom.fontenay@google.com
If all this hasn’t put you off then we’d be delighted to hear from you, or if you already have a Pyrenean, do join us.
Mr Richard Waters Email:
rswsquibs@gmail.com MEMBERSHIP is £10.00 Single, £12.00 Joint, Junior £0.50p and if you wish can be downloaded from the form by clicking here.
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