RE: [pyrnet] How do working LGD's cue in on predator activity

[Jeanne Bravin <gypsyunltd@yahoo.com>]

My two are suburban pyrs, and it seems like the two of them have different shifts. 

When it was just Gypsy, she was on duty 24 hours a day and watching everything and everyone that appeared to be a threat. She deterred the neighborhood thugs that hung out on the street corner, barked at the local possums, and generally protected everything - inside or out, day or night. 

Once Jack came along, she spend a good deal of time teaching him that most of the people coming near the property shouldn't be there (true enough) and letting him know what else he needed to be on alert for. After a while, she started directing him for minor threats: 2 sharp barks meant 'get off your butt and go to work'. At first it was funny because he would jump up and start barking, and you could see the look of confusion as he tried to figure out just what he was supposed to be barking at! Gypsy would watch to see if he was handling it right, and if not, she would jump up and show him how it should be done. If it was anything major (like those garbage men stealing our garbage) she would make sure to help him out.  

Eventually she became more confidant in his abilities to do his job properly, and started to let him handle different situations without interfering. Now, he has the "day shift" and she has the "night shift", with a slight overlap during the busy part of the evening. At about 4AM, he's the one that rushes out the door to present the announcement that he is awake and on duty. He barks for a couple of minutes, then comes back in very pleased to have done his job. He stays on alert all day protecting the house and yard while Gypsy kicks back. She'll still join him if it's something serious - otherwise she's content to sleep in the house and let him handle it. Around 4:30pm (when the high traffic volume begins in our neighborhood) she jumps into action. They patrol the perimeter of the yard together and really work as a team. Then around 6pm, Jack is off duty. He begs to come in the house, and will spend the rest of the evening inside just relaxing. Gypsy,
 in the meantime, is outside on high alert until her curfew time when I make her come in. Once she's in, she's still on alert all night. She'll make Jack go check something out if she hears anything - still using those 2 sharp barks - but she's the one that is paying attention. Then come 4AM, and the routine starts all over again.

Jeanne Bravin
Mastic, NY
GypsyunLTD@yahoo.com