[pyrnet] Any advice...?

["Celine Mauboules" <celinem@ola.ca>]

I am new to this list serve and I just want to say hello to all fellow
Great Pyrenees lovers!!  

I have a bit of a dilemma and I am hoping some of you out there may have
some advice for me. 

My Mom passed away November 27, 2001 and left behind a beautiful hobby
farm (sheep, chickens, ducks, huge garden) and two amazing Great Pyrenees
- Ukan (4 year old male) and Nuna (2 year old female).  My sister and I
have jobs in the city and neither of us are prepared to move to the farm. 
We found a family friend to house sit the farm for us shortly after Mom
died but he has now told us he is leaving.  We have found yet another
family friend that will take over.   Both know the dogs and we trust them
which has been a huge relief.

Ukan is quite temperamental and can be very aggressive.  He has even
lunged and bit my sister.  My Mom had him neutered and that has helped.
She also did obedience training with him.  He is such a wonderful dog, but
there are moments when he gets this look in his eyes and then he flips
out.  We have discovered a couple of tricks - never disturb him when he is
eating, never make a sudden movement when he is sleeping, use cookies to
bribe him and praise him like crazy when he follows your orders.  

My worry is that it is not good for the dogs to have turn over on the
farm.  Both Ukan and Nuna - but especially Ukan are working dogs - they
guard the farm and the sheep.  But our Mom spoiled them like crazy and
also provided them with lots of structure and routine.  I worry that all
the changes the dogs have had to deal with will be bad for them....   My
sister and I have also thought of taking them to the city - we would give
them as much love as Mom did.  I don't think it would be possible with
Ukan since he has never  left the farm.  Perhaps with training, it could
work with Nuna.  But then it would be unfair to the dogs - they need their
jobs of protecting the farm and the sheep.... 

So what do you think of our situation?  We are trying to find someone
permanent for the farm... but in the meantime this is the best we can do. 
We love those dogs as much as Mom and we are really worried about their
well being with all these changes.   We are also worried that Ukan might
bite someone again - what do we do then?

Any thoughts, suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Celine 
Vancouver, British Columbia Canada