[PyrNet-L] A Pyr is a Pyr is a Dog

[Carol Brescher Boyle <carol@NaturalDogFood.com>]

Cindy,

You are not alone in your desire to have each incident of
dog bite judged on an individual basis. The dog should be
"made safe" until the truth and the reality be sorted out.
And this truth and reality cannot be decided on a list
where everyone is remote from the animal and not privvy to
the full story of the incident.
> 
> Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 11:05:51 -0600
> From: clhenke@juno.com
> Subject: Re: [PyrNet-L] Flock Guardian Pyr Problem
> 
> Joe, it is obvious that I stand among the few that defend any dogs right
> to a fair trial. 
//snip//

> I do not believe that all dog bites deserve death.  Obviously the
> majority of you do, so you should be quite comfortable knowing that your
> in the majority.  You all sound ( ? ) as  if you think those of us who
> disagree with automatic death, have dogs running around taking hunks out
> of folks.  

And before anyone jumps on me, I think almost 30 years in the
breed entitles me to an opinion. (Unfortunately this list
is not exactly user friendly these days so I am putting on
my flame proof attire anyway).

I go back to the days where a dog was entitled to "one free bite."
Not the real world today. But again, neither will I accept
instant, no questions asked, euthanasia as some on this list
are calling for.

Great Pyrenees are dogs first. As dogs they are mute, and can't
verbalize. Yet they can communicate and we know that they do.
They body posture, they sometimes bump and nudge, they
bark and good grief sometimes they may be heard to growl. A sound
trustworthy Pyr may exhibit any and all of these modes of
communication. And when warnings go unheeded, they may be forced 
to bite to protect his perceived pack. Should an individual
dog that has exhibited these normal canine behaviors be 
euthanized with no questions asked? Some on this list seem to 
think so. I for one do not.  

Cindy you are not alone. I, like you, would insist on a fair
evaluation of the dog. By someone who knows the breed.

There are too many people who may own the breed, but really do
not know the breed. The Pyr is not the dog for everyone. When
I used to breed Pyrs, I frequently told potential puppy buyers
to consider another breed. Especially so, if they came with children
that wound up hanging from my chandelier or swinging on my
fence gates, and these incidents went unnoticed by their parents.
If the parents couldn't control their kids, they certainly
would never manage a Pyr. They always left without one of my
puppies.

Pyrs are not angels, although they may look like one. They are
not fur babies, or mush faces to strangers. To their owners,
yes, but the last two bites raged over on the list did not
happen to family or even close friends of the owner. These bites
were to strangers. 

Pyrs are good, solid, working dogs, and when basically sound
temperamentally, they are totally trustworthy. They are pack
animals, and when they perceive that one of their pack is
threatened, they should be expected to respond in an 
appropriate manner, as mild or as harsh as the situation 
required in their judgement. I would be mortified to find
an intruder in my home, have this stranger threaten me, and
have Cajun sit idly by - "ho hum, think I will watch this."
I would expect some immediate action, a growl, a body block,
and if I am threatened, certainly a solid bite.      

If and when a Pyr does bite, he should be examined in relation to
his environment and the situation that triggered the bite.
What is this dog's history, where was he from, who was there,
what were the circumstances of the incident. Is the person
relating the incident the "victim" or an uninterested by-stander.
And guess what, people lie. CYA is at all levels. 

Lots of questions need to be asked, and honest answers unearthed.
Euthanasia may be the result, but only as a final solution. It
is irreversible.

Many many years ago when Saints became too popular too fast
there was a NY Times cover story of a Saint attacking and mauling
a 10 yr old boy in the dog's back yard. Even though the
kid was trespassing, Saints took a top of the news bad rap
on this. This dog had literally gone mad, and if I remember
correctly was shot on the spot.  

Three days later, somewhere around page 60, a second write-up
on this matter appeared - the result of the necropsy. A broken
off pencil was found pushed in the dogs ear and had entered
the brain. This however was not news, and was relegated to 
the back pages.

So before you say "Any dog that bites should be euthanized"
think again. There are circumstances that one bite should
be forgiven.

And unfortunately we live in a world where there are more horses
"patooties" that horses. It becomes your responsibility as
a Pyr owner to protect your dog from some of these idiots.
We temperment test our dogs, does anyone do that to the people
who invite themselves into our homes. In the end, our Pyrs
become the true victims. 
 
My two cents worth.   

Now I have to get ready for Christmas. Happy holidays
everyone.

-- 
  Carol
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