Re: [pyrnet] New Puppy (was Rescue Me- poem)

["Robyn Allwright" <ziffanyrobyn@earthlink.net>]

I certainly second Barb's comments about getting the pup at 4 weeks of age.
Our first Pyr came to us at that age!  The breeder (whom we now know as one
of the major BYB of Pyrs here in the upstate) felt we could handle a young
pup with it's special needs.  We did ok with the health issues -- Kes is
quite healthy -- but when it came to socialisation, that was something we
couldn't give.  She is very much the alpha dog around here, and while very
attached to people, is very intolerant of other dogs.  We are fortunate
that she can coexist with Baron, Tanuki and Zoe.  While she doesn't seem to
give Zoe a hard time, if Baron so much as opens his mouth to bark, she's on
him like a ton of bricks!  (and believe me, she weighs about as much as a
half ton of bricks <G>.)  Last night we were trying to integrate her with
our new foster, Snowy.  We had them together the day before, and all seemed
fine.  Last night, they started out fine, but Kes, in a dominance mode,
tried to mount Snowy.  Where as Zoe and Baron would see it as a game, and
just roll over, and it would be over, Snowy, while not challenging Kes,
just stood there.  For one thing, it's difficult for Snowy to lay down
because of her hind legs, and with Kes draped over her back it was even
more difficult.  Snowy just stood there, while Kes snarled and barred her
teeth.  Kes never attempted to bite Snowy, and when David went to pull Kes
off of Snowy, Kes made no attempt of staying on Snowy or attacking David.

--- Robyn Allwright
--- ziffanyrobyn@earthlink.net
--- Ziffany Great Pyrenees