Re: [PyrNet-L] If Pyrs were easy to train...

[David Wong <dkw02@gnofn.org>]

On Thu, 5 Nov 1998, Cathryn Lundberg wrote:

> As I mentioned in a previous post, I don't think Pyrs are hard animals to
> live with. Whether or not they are hard to train is a matter of what you
> are training and what your expectations are. I don't believe saying Pyrs
> are intelligent, stubborn and independant should deter anyone from trying
> to train them. I think it is a way of bypassing any and all frustration
> when their Pyr doesn't do his sits and turns as fast as the goldens and
> labs and border collies. 
> 
> If you don't think a Pyr is hard to train, please explain to me why we only
> have a handful of CD each year, and (I don't think) the number of CDXs for
> the history of the breed exceeds 75. Compare to the retrievers....

I also agree with Cathryn.  Training a dog to have manners at home and
training a dog to do well in obedience are two totally different tasks. 
Although it isn't very difficult to train an average pyr to have good
manners, it's another thing altogether to bring a dog (pyr included) to a
level that he/she can perform in a strange environment (dogs and people),
with distractions everywhere, and without the help of additional commands
and limited amount of reinforcement. 

While I believe most dogs can qualify for a CD, all other things being
equal, for some breeds it means more time and dedication to training. I've
half-jokingly asked instructors who have trained dogs to the OTCH level
(the obedience champion title) why they wouldn't train a breed such as a
pyr.  The answers are nearly identical.  They aren't interested in
devoting the additional time necessary to get such a breed to perform in
obedience to that level of training.  I know that these trainers and
instructors could do it--they've instructed many students with
non-traditional obedience dogs.  As long as the students have the time and
the drive to succeed, it can be done. 

You can count the number of pyrs with UD (highest obedience class) titles
with two hands.  And to date, there isn't an American OTCH, an obedience
title first introduced several years ago.  I think a few of us will change
that soon and have fun spending time communicating with our dogs in the
process. :)

David
  & Dixie, Chowmix (U-CD Dixie Over the Top, CGC)
    & Summer, Great Pyrenees 

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"Life is a journey, not a destination."