Re: [pyrnet] Behavior: Pyrs and children

[JGentzel@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/23/01 2:51:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
kemske@wi.mit.edu writes:


> Our Pyr Travis, raised in a childless household, seems to judge children
> by their size and behavior.  He will surround an infant with his own
> body, turning himself into a life preserver.  It the infant crawls, he
> will follow it with his nose pressed into its skin until it stops long
> enough for him to surround it again. Toddlers he will sniff, wag at, and
> mostly leave alone. But if older children of four and five rough-house
> and run around screaming, he reacts differently.  If he can, he leaves
> the room.  If they trap him, I have seen him swing his big head and
> knock them aside.  He doesn't bite - at seven, he's never bitten anyone
> - but his muzzle is hard and the kids have certainly looked surprised.
> I've heard bitches do this when exasperated with their pups.


You will hear some variation of this story over and over.  Pyrs have no prey 
drive. They do have an overwhelming instinct to protect the small and 
helpless of any species. 

Joe