Re: [pyrnet] Barking

[Katie Allison Granju <kgranju@yahoo.com>]

--- Hansen <greatpyrenees@att.net> wrote:
> Perhaps the breeders of pyrs aren't making  a big
> enough point to the
> potential owners  that these dogs bark and were bred
> to bark

This is definitely an important point to be made about
Pyrs and one that I don't believe is made strongly
enough in general. Whenever anyone asks me about Leo
when we are out walking, I always tell them about
Pyrs' propensity to bark. 

But I do not believe that your analogy with giving the
Chinese Crested dogs holds up, although it was
entertaining :-) The fact is that companion dogs today
have to live in close proximity to people -- for
better or for worse. If a pet Pyr's barking cannot be
lessened to an acceptable level after training and
owner education, and the only other choice is for the
dog to be given away, then I believe "debarking" may
be a humane alternative. 

Pyrs' popularity as pets appears to be exploding in
the U.S., and I do think that breeders and friends of
the breed should give some careful thought to how to
deal with the issue of educating potential owners of
Pyrs' tendency to bark "excessively" in urban and
suburban environments.

Katie

=====
Katie Allison Granju
http://www.attachmentparent.com/
kgranju@yahoo.com
865.558.9159

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