Re: [pyrnet] Jumping in with both paws!

[Mplwy14@wmconnect.com]

Hi Frank,

Here's a link to our Pyr Info page.

http://www.zyworld.com/mapleway/Pyr%20Info.htm

Scroll down on that page for several links to information on the breed, nutrition, etc.  If you go to the Official Standard, Illustrated Standard, History, etc. you will learn a lot about why they look/act the way they do and what to expect.  {smile  :) }

Chrissy


>>>>Hi everyone, 
My name is Frank and I live in Delaware.  My family just adopted a Great Pyrenees puppy from a rescue advertised through www.Petfinders.org.,  about 3 and a half weeks ago.  He turned 10 weeks old Tuesday, July 8th.  We have named him Beauregard.
I haven't owned a dog since my 13 year old German Shepherd died in his sleep 17 years ago.  My 10 year old daughter has been begging me for a puppy from the time she learned to talk.  I promised her that we would get a dog when we had the time and the space to devote to such a large responsibility.  Up until now, we have been appeasing her with various reptiles and fish, which have always lived in an aquarium type setting.  Christina and I also have a little boy whom is almost 4 years old, so when we made the decision to get a dog, we wanted to be sure we chose a breed that would be good with children.  Christina wanted to get an English Mastiff, and my first choice was a German Shepherd, due to my previous positive experience with one.  Kelsey, our 10 year old wanted a Dalmatian, and could give you 101 reasons why.  
My Dad suggested we consider getting a dog from a rescue, which he had done when he adopted his Flat Coated Retriever years ago.  His advice and the prohibitive cost of a purebred puppy, led us to Petfinders and many hours and several weeks of looking for the right fit for our family.  During my research I decided to learn more about this big, furry, white dog that reminded me of a white version of a Newfoundland, a breed I had always admired since a childhood friend had owned one decades ago.  The more I learned, the more I was intrigued.  That left the challenge of selling the breed on the rest of the household.  I was determined to get a young puppy, due to my joyful memories of previous puppies I had experienced growing up.  I wanted our children to be able to be a part of this wonderful time in a dog's development.  When I first saw the two week old listing for the 4 week old purebred Great Pyrenees puppies, my recent experiences told me they would be long gone.  I decided to call anyway, and was told that all 9 of the puppies had all long since been promised for adoption until a phone call that day from one of the adopters backing out due to having second thoughts.  We arranged to go meet the puppy and his mother.  
I too, thought these dogs were all white, but found out the next day when we visited the rescue that Beau had a mask similar to a raccoon's, that started out almost black around his eyes, and became a lighter brown until it ended on his ears.  The mask was divided by a strip of white between his eyes that widens on his muzzle to all white, with a few black freckles.  He has a brownish gray stripe about one inch thick at the base of his tail, that at a glance looks like a piece of electrical tape holding his tail on.  The woman at the rescue claims she rescued the all white mother from a woman in Virginia, before she was sure of the pregnancy.  She described the father as a "Landseer Great Pyrenees," but assured us the father too, was a purebred Great Pyrenees.  We have all fallen in love with the precocious little fellow, so other than for curiosity's sake, his bloodlines aren't critical.  He reminds me of a cross between a bear and a raccoon, and uses his paws like a cat.  He also has the dew claws, but only one of his hind legs has the double dew claw.  I guess he won't be winning any shows, but he has already won our heart.  To keep a long story from going on forever, I will stop babbling on like a proud parent.
I have enjoyed reading the many emails I have gotten since signing up several days ago, and all the knowledge and information shared by everyone.  My heart and prayers go out to Zuni and family.
Sorry for my long windedness.  I guess this has been building over the past few weeks as we have enjoyed our newest addition.  I'm looking forward to the road ahead, and am sure having a resource like this one will make it much easier to navigate.
Frank, and the rest of Beau's family. <<<<