[PyrNet-L] Why bother with Pyrs? (was"If pyrs were easy to train")

[MagEBroD@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/7/98 6:53:53 PM Pacific Standard Time, s6.5x55@juno.com
writes:

<< The  purpose  of this post, is that all the mail I've been reading  about
 pyrs, why would anyone bother with them?         
                                                    Peter
  >>
   Keep reading!! It's not all negative!! There are many wonderful traits they
have, too:
they are so expresive, devoted and comical and entertaining, look after their
charges,  they are pretty willing workers, too. One reason I got Albert was I
wanted a large dog that I could train to carry a pack since I fell down two
stories onto a concrete floor at work and suffered irreparable damage to my
collar bone, sternum and shoulder which makes it impossible for me to ever
carry a backpack again. Yet I am a young 44 yrs. old now and have no intention
of never hiking again. So Albert carries a pack when we hike and he'll
eventually be able to carry all my stuff. Now my family carries some, too.
They are big and their size alone is a deterrent to many who may think of
causing some mischief or worse. I feel much safer with Albert on walks with me
down lonely country roads or walking at night in our town. I would consider
traveling anywhere with Albert with me to keep me company and feel pretty
safe. I don't expect him to attack anyone for me, but I think his size is a
definite deterrent. For someone that has been attacked by strangers 5 times
that's saying a lot!! Those of us who like giant breed dogs are a strange
breed. I don't know if I can explain why I like these huge dogs. I know why I
can't stand tiny breeds - I don't want an animal that is shaking all the time
and yipping all the time and that I'd be afraid I'd kill if I step on it!!
*Unless it's a cat or some small animal that would remain in a cage when not
holding it - then it can be small, but not shaking and yippy!  All I can say
for sure is they GET to you!!  As frustrated and angry and exasperated as I
can get at times at something Albert does,  he can turn those feelings into
irked and miffed and chuckling and laughing and smiling through them all in a
way I never thought possible and get me wanting to hug him instead!!! Often
with just a certain look at me!!! It is hard to explain - it's something you
have to experience to know what I mean!!  Now I can be a tough guy at times
and even like a good fight at times and have fought for many causes - yet I
fear I am a bit of a marshmallow when it comes to this pooch!!!  I'm not
saying that is good, I'm just saying he really gets to me!!  And I often fall
for it!! Just the fact that he is so often in the house with me: all our other
dogs were outdoor dogs.  He has a nice big shaded pen with a log doghouse and
yet he usually sleeps inside with us and yesterday he was laying on the couch
with me when I was down and out with back and neck injury.  Why????  I don't
think we know!!  Albert probably knows better than we do!!! I'm sure he has it
down to a fine art!! And it's a deliberate thing he does to GET to us!!

:)  &  :)```   (me grinning & Albert grinning & drooling!)

Janice Vocke
MagEBroD@aol.com
Shelton, WA.