[PyrNet-L] BEHAVIOR, CARE/Texas

[judith diamond <pyrenees@gwi.net>]

> Dear Friends:  Remember the discussion about when to separate pups
> from
> the litter; 6-8 weeks, or 9, or 12?

Hi Jimmy & Dee Dee,    I remember that discussion. It was a good one so
it's hard to forget. <G>

> I wanted to tell you what many of
> you have already observed with your litters, but many who have
> neutered/spayed rescues will not have the privilege of witnessing.
>
> Our pups were 7 weeks last Monday.  We put them outside with mom and
> dad
> at 5 weeks.  Titus daddy is a true patroller.

My Jonah is too. Jonah is quite proud of the fact that he is the
neighborhoods best policeman. < BG>

>     She has turned into his shadow.  She has
> learned to run the fence, bark at *nothing*, and jump up at the
> slightest sound, alert and scanning.  All this at only 7 weeks.  We
> are
> convinced that all the time spent with mom and dad and the fam is
> having
> immeasurable benefits for each of them.

 Thanks for posting that because the arguments on both side of this
topic can be convincing and sound good. As, an initial pyr puppy buyer
in '83, I thought that when I got my Tess, at 8-9 wks. old that was
grand! I figured in my inexperienced way, " That  I would be able to
*bond* more with her. She would love me more, because she needed me
more. We would be like Timmy was to Lassie, Tess & I yes we would!  Tess

was 'wonderful' with Lee & I, and at such a very young age. That was the

way that it should and always be. Etc., etc., etc." Tess was smart,
elegant, pretty and a Great Pyrenees toboot. She had one problem though.

She never, hardly ever would even try to get along with other dog's. She

was 'most' dog aggressive. She would've dared a pack of wolves to fight
if the occasion had risen and had fought to her death. <BG>   As my pyr
Mom & general dog knowledge grew, I would wonder if Tess would have been

that way if she had her family of origin combined with her pyr people
family for a longer time. I still wonder today. About one year ago,
there came into our hearts Lexi. A fully confident, exploitative, brave
and loving pyr girl puppy of 13-14 weeks old. Very much I think, like
your Titus's 'shadow'. She had come from a breeder's home where both the

people pyr parent's breed and they had a wonderful rambunctious boy
child that loved to play with Lexi, so that when I took Lexi to be mine,

I think that I saw him cry. Or at least protest rather loudly. <g>
Lexington had also been with her littermates and the Mom of pyreness
family until then. She by and large likes and sometimes quickly loves
other canines that she meets. I frankly do not know if the differences
lies with Lex & Tess's nature, bloodlines, or if the age that they came
to me made a difference.  Or even if the better behavior that Lexi
displays is due in part to me being a far more experienced ( but still
learning ) pyr Mom. Perhaps it doesn't matter. Or does it?
I have always been blessed with fabulous breeder's. So one thing I
doubt, as a relatively lay pyr Mom is that it was in the blood. Given
that with bloodlines there are always unknowns. Right?
If I ever would consider rescuing a puppy or purchasing a pyr puppy from

a so called kennel, or kennel only  rather then a kennel/home I would
want to be able to take the pup home with me at 8-9 weeks old. Only
because I would guess that the extra human contact it would get from me
and pyr/pack contact from Jonah & Lexi, might make the better
difference. I don't know.
I am compelled at this point to tell you all that my dear and departed
Contessa, was by far the best mother pyr or person that I had ever seen.

Her greatest gift to me was her daughter Nana or Nanochka, who I did see

be born.
Nana & Tess still await me at Rainbow Bridge.
Well, so much for that.<BG>
Take good care.  Judith, Jonah & Lexi
God spelled backwards is dog.












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