RE: [pyrnet] Challenging LGD Prospect

["WHITE, Jeff" <jwhite@teksid-taf.com>]

She came from a lady who has a working pair and breeds them occasionally.
She was close and the price was reasonable.  She's been supportive and
understanding, but really not a lot of help.  She said "her mother was with
chickens" as if that ensured we would have no problems.

My wife does regularly hand feed the ducks with Sophie nearby, so she should
have the message pretty clear that they're "family" too.  I'll try the
"letting her sniff without harming them" tactic.  That makes my wife
nervous, so she hasn't allowed it.  The chickens will let her sniff, but the
ducks are too nervous...I'm sure they'd flee unless held.

Like you said, she doesn't seem at all to me to have the killer instinct,
i.e., looking for something to kill just for the fun of it.  I watched her
once follow one of the chickens around the chicken yard, then when it
stopped, she started to gently pick it up with her mouth (I stopped her of
course)...but it seems more curiosity/play than killer instinct.  I'm hoping
that with the introduction of the sheep to our flock, she'll see an animal
about her size that needs her protection...obviously not a chew toy like the
fowl might appear to be to her puppy eyes!

Thanks,
Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: HLE [mailto:levoy@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2003 11:20 AM
To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
Subject: Re: [pyrnet] Challenging LGD Prospect


Jeff
First I'm curious where she came from and have you talked to the 
breeder.  The Petrovich's (Pyr breeders) are fairly close to you  in 
Columbia, TN and I believe they have other animals on the property.

I'm not a trainer by trade and quite a few would disagree with my 
tactics but I would suggest getting the point across to her that the 
fowl is family.  If possible: hand feeding the birds where she can see 
you, handling them, letting her sniff without harming them, etc.  And a 
stern  "No" to inappropriate behavior near them.  She may not be 
"attacking" but rather "playing" too rough.  This will pass.

My six year old Neesa would occasionally charge across the yard, catch a 
wild bird, and make her own snack regardless of how well fed she was. 
 But she never seemed to behave like another type dog I once had (won't 
list the breed because somebody will be offended) who seemed to chase 
and kill stuff just for the fun of it.

My three year old Peaches will chase wild birds and occasionally bump 
one with her nose but she seems to have no desire to grab one.  When we 
first got her, she wanted to eat the my wife's cat.  But with some of 
the "conditioning listed above, she's become friends with it.  Although 
a little jealous of the cat being petted, she is protective of it when 
she doesn't know we are around.

HLE


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