the basis of our breeding program:
-Why We do Not Participate in Guardian Homes
-Selection of Our Great Pyrenees Dogs
-Their Daily Care
-Why Purchase a Puppy From a Registered Great Pyrenees Pair?
-Why Do We Require a Spay/Neuter Contract?
-Selection of Our Great Pyrenees Dogs
-Their Daily Care
-Why Purchase a Puppy From a Registered Great Pyrenees Pair?
-Why Do We Require a Spay/Neuter Contract?
Gabriel & Pirita
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Why We Do Not Participate in Guardian Homes
We love our dogs and want to be near and spend time with them - they are amazing!! And so, we would not want them to live anywhere but at our own home. The benefits of being with them (besides our personal enjoyment!) include being able to fully know each of our dogs personalities, temperaments, strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, we do not participate in/use Guardian home breeding programs - placing female dogs in other homes to raise and take care of, to then bring the females back for the duration of breeding, pregnancy, and whelping of puppies, to increase profit. The relationship of the breeder with their animals should be one that is close and constant. We can tell you in detail about each of our dogs on an individual basis - their pros, cons, funny quirks, and endearments. We know that our breeding pairs are dogs that our family trusts. Most of our puppies go to pet homes, with the other portion going to families that live on farms that want the close pet relationship with their dog, while they also protect their animals. |
Careful Selection of Our Great Pyrenees
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Health and great genetics are essential to our breeding program - no decisions are taken lightly! Temperament, along with body conformation, strong pigment, and genetic markers are all important; we have searched for the just the right dogs that encompass these conditions. Each of our four-legged family members have been DNA swabbed and are clear of all major and minor genetic health conditions; of both general types and those that are more common in the Great Pyrenees breed, and OFA's are complete or in process. Our top priority is to continually look for ways to to do our part to improve and maintain the Great Pyrenees breed, referencing its history in all these areas. |
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Their Daily Care
Meatball making day - 20 lbs of raw grass-fed meat!
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All the animals on the farm are on a natural herbal deworming schedule, and receive traditional dewormer only as needed. For our dogs, we feed a daily base of dry kibble that is supplemented with raw and cooked meats, raw jersey and goat milk (that has been tested clear of disease and is therefore safe for raw milk drinking), raw eggs from free range chickens, and salmon oil. Our mamas get extra spoiled and are fed deluxe raw meatballs in addition. Our adult dogs each get to spend time in the house to bond with us as a puppy first, and if they are also to be a guardian of the animals, will take them along as we do chores to begin training with them. They all have average 1/2 acre and much larger areas to run and play, and are always either with our livestock or spending time with us. |
Why Purchase a Puppy From a Registered Great Pyrenees Pair?
This is a topic that many do not realize is important information to know and consider, especially with those who are new to the breed and/or to LGDs overall (livestock guardian dogs). LGD breeds, like all dogs, are breed for specific purposes and are alike in some ways within that large group, but separately can be still be significantly distinct from each other and being aware of this can be crucial in picking the right dog for you.
Our experience with these differences began, many years ago, with a trip to visit a large and successful farm in Massachusetts to bring home some of our first goats. The owner gave us great information about her dogs, which were Great Pyrenees and also GP/Anatolian mix. She stressed to us that Anatolians are not meant for families, with their serious nature and behavior with which she was experienced. Keeping this in mind, we avoided that breed. While our first dog Merida was not registered, we were fortunate that she was a great dog for us. Later on, we acquired another “purebred” Great Pyrenees, and unbeknownst to us but in hindsight seeing clues that supported this in both behavior and appearance, it was likely the dog had an Anatolian grandparent. After 2 years of loving and caring for the dog, it became increasingly different in temperament - finally to the point where it was immediately re-homed to a sheep farm, where it would be patrolling full time as a working dog. It was a devastating experience, and one that we have since found has unfortunately been repeated to many people new to LGDs and Great Pyrenees.
The factors in play is that we take for granted that when someone says purebred, we believe them - most often because that’s what those people were originally told as well, and so the cycle perpetuates - no one means any intentional harm, but both people and dogs are affected as a result. This can happen easily in grade/unregistered livestock dog breedings, where a dog is brought in to stud or a female is purchased for whelping a litter, without taking into consideration or understanding the importance of knowing the family lines - especially in a guardian breed. The issue with this is that even 1/8 of another guardian breed temperament can come through in a puppy as if it were 100%!
While many people have wonderful mixed farm dogs that are perfect and are a blessing for their family, we believe that mixed dog breedings can and do produce dogs with temperament issues, which contributes to some of the numbers of dogs being surrendered to shelters (because of unexpected and uncontrollable outcomes). It is simply a matter of having the wrong dog temperament/traits that are contrary to the role that as a dog owner, were expecting to have when you brought home your puppy. By sharing this story, we hope to at least inspire people to be more selective and aware when choosing a puppy. It is the standard that Great Pyrenees are to be a guardian while being equally wonderful for families, and is what we desire for our dogs - with consistency. We will not breed, let alone own, a dog that we cannot trust to be safe with our family, friends, and visitors.
Our experience with these differences began, many years ago, with a trip to visit a large and successful farm in Massachusetts to bring home some of our first goats. The owner gave us great information about her dogs, which were Great Pyrenees and also GP/Anatolian mix. She stressed to us that Anatolians are not meant for families, with their serious nature and behavior with which she was experienced. Keeping this in mind, we avoided that breed. While our first dog Merida was not registered, we were fortunate that she was a great dog for us. Later on, we acquired another “purebred” Great Pyrenees, and unbeknownst to us but in hindsight seeing clues that supported this in both behavior and appearance, it was likely the dog had an Anatolian grandparent. After 2 years of loving and caring for the dog, it became increasingly different in temperament - finally to the point where it was immediately re-homed to a sheep farm, where it would be patrolling full time as a working dog. It was a devastating experience, and one that we have since found has unfortunately been repeated to many people new to LGDs and Great Pyrenees.
The factors in play is that we take for granted that when someone says purebred, we believe them - most often because that’s what those people were originally told as well, and so the cycle perpetuates - no one means any intentional harm, but both people and dogs are affected as a result. This can happen easily in grade/unregistered livestock dog breedings, where a dog is brought in to stud or a female is purchased for whelping a litter, without taking into consideration or understanding the importance of knowing the family lines - especially in a guardian breed. The issue with this is that even 1/8 of another guardian breed temperament can come through in a puppy as if it were 100%!
While many people have wonderful mixed farm dogs that are perfect and are a blessing for their family, we believe that mixed dog breedings can and do produce dogs with temperament issues, which contributes to some of the numbers of dogs being surrendered to shelters (because of unexpected and uncontrollable outcomes). It is simply a matter of having the wrong dog temperament/traits that are contrary to the role that as a dog owner, were expecting to have when you brought home your puppy. By sharing this story, we hope to at least inspire people to be more selective and aware when choosing a puppy. It is the standard that Great Pyrenees are to be a guardian while being equally wonderful for families, and is what we desire for our dogs - with consistency. We will not breed, let alone own, a dog that we cannot trust to be safe with our family, friends, and visitors.
Why Do We Require a Spay/Neuter Contract?
This goes in hand with the section above, of why it is important to choose registered dogs with consistent lines. We do not want to contribute to that situation by allowing our puppies, as adults, to be bred in unknown situations. Ultimately, by requiring owners to spay and neuter the puppies we sell before the age of 2 and not permit any breeding, is how we can make a difference to preserve this beautiful and majestic dog that is the Great Pyrenees.