Re: [PyrNet-L] Pyr's That Don't Like Toys

[Charlotte & Jack Perry <pyreau@erols.com>]

It seems to me that most Pyrs don't play with toys unless they had them
as pups and even then many won't play with them when they are older.  I
wonder if this is part of the fact that the prey drive, ie. retrieving
etc., has been bred out of livestock guarding dogs so that they won't
chase or play with the livestock.  I know that we used to work at
toy-playing with pups that we hoped to train in obedience and it did
seem to help with retrieving (which does not come naturally to Pyrs).
Charlotte
 
Tracy Bassett wrote:
> 
> >     Does anyone have a Pyr that doesn't like toys? We have showered our
> >girls with endless things that I thought would be fun, but all they seem to
> >really enjoy are the edibles like rawhides and pigs ears. >
> >-Emily Hainsworth
> 
> My older girl Halley, despite being showered with toys from day one (9 weeks
> old) by me, has never really been into toys. (edible treats are another
> thing!)  Her one exception is a teddy bear - but I would not really class
> him as a 'toy'.  She has a very special little red plaid bear that I made
> for her.  This is the only toy that the other dogs (who REALLY love toys!)
> will not steal, play with, chew up, destroy etc, despite the fact that I am
> sure she would not argue with them if they took it.  They seem somehow to
> know to leave it alone (?). Halley is a consummate 'worrier' and often has
> 'fits' of separation anxiety as I leave for work.  Not every day, and not
> even every week, but when she does, she goes in to a flat spin panic.  Quite
> distressing to watch! We (she) has learnt to control these 'attacks' by
> grabbing that little red bear and holding it in her mouth (I pick it up and
> rub my scent on it and put it by the gate before I go to work each morning
> just in case she needs it - she might not touch it for days or weeks).  She
> still paces around and winges, but it is not the full out frenzy that it
> would be otherwise.  On those days when this occurs, I usually come home and
> find I have to dig up the bear from where she has buried it in her favourite
> sleeping pit!!!!  God bless this poor little battered bear! :-D
> 
> Tracy Bassett
> espinay@dynamite.com.au
> Canberra, Australia
> 
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