[pyrnet] New to list, lotta questions :)

[Lady Mezzaluna <moonlight@silent-running.com>]

Greetings :)

Many years ago, quite by accident, I found myself owning a Great 
Pyrenees.  I had been looking for a companion for my young children and 
found a beautiful white dog at the local pound.  He was identified as a 
young, but full-grown, "white German Shepherd".  He was gentle and 
oh-so-mellow, so I took him home and he quickly became one of the kids.  Of 
course, he kept growing and growing and growing .. and GROWING!  It was a 
couple of years before his breed was properly identified, but I never 
really did any research even after I knew what he was, because all that 
mattered was K'hemo was family, and was absolutely the most magnificent 
animal I have ever known.

At the time, I was a stay-at-home mom with 3 children on a very large piece 
of property, in a remote area.  K'hemo bonded closely with the kids, and I 
did notice his tendency to "herd" them - when they were all out wandering 
around the property, he seemed to gently keep them all together, rounding 
up the youngest one when she lagged behind with endless patience.  I also 
noticed that, while never aggressive or threatening, K'hemo always put 
himself between his flock and any outsiders.  In fact, almost every picture 
I have of my children from that time is essentially the same tableau - 
K'hemo standing in front lengthwise, with the kids behind him and their 
hands lined up on his back :)

We had him for almost seven years before I had to put him down for hip 
dysplacia.  We grieved him as we would have any family member :(  I haven't 
had another dog since.  No other dog has ever measured up to my beautiful 
Great Pyrenees, and before the Internet, I had found no one else that even 
knew what such an animal was.

My circumstances have changed considerably since K'Hemo.  My children are 
young adults now, but still living in my home.  I also have a 5 year old 
grandson in my home.  I no longer live in the remote area, nor do I have 10 
acres.  But I am ready for another dog, and it must be a Pyr.

This time, I am making a conscious decision :)

I realize that owning a giant breed dog is a huge commitment.  It was 
serendipity with K'hemo, that he was the right dog and we were the right 
family.  It certainly wasn't that I knew what I had or what I was doing 
:)  So, here come the questions :)

I never had the slightest problem with K'hemo barking or digging.  From the 
research I am now doing into the breed, I assume this is because he was 
never more than a few feet from at least one of his people.  He slept 
inside at night, and went out with the kids during the day.  Or was I just 
really lucky?  As for wandering, the only time he staged an escape was when 
I forgot to bring him inside when the kids went to school.  Then he would 
get out, walk to school, and refuse to leave without his flock.

In my current situation, my husband, myself and my adult children all work, 
but somewhat staggered schedules, which would leave the pet home alone 
about 5 hours a day a couple of times a week.  Is this too long for a Pyr 
to be alone?  I'd rather that he stayed in the house while we are all 
out.  Can a mature Pyr last that long inside without discomfort?

Our home sits on 3/4 acre in a quiet neighborhood. One of our neighbors has 
a wooden fence on the other side of our chain link, and our back fence is 
covered with honeysuckle so it is also "blind".  The third side is open 
chain link, which I realize I will have to cover in some way to prevent the 
Pyr from seeing that yard as his territory.  The neighbors with the wooden 
fence have a pair of rather loud and aggressive Rottweilers.  Will this 
distress the Pyr even though he won't be able to see them?  He will rarely 
be outside alone.

My home is quite large, and Mr Pyr will have his own bedroom to retreat to 
when he needs it.  Do I still need to concern myself with "crating"?

I really don't want a puppy, I'd prefer to adopt a rescue Pyr at 1-3 years 
old.  We haven't the time to properly raise a puppy, but are quite willing 
to take an older animal and pay for, and participate in,  whatever training 
he needs.  My concern with adopting rather than going to a breeder is 
health.  I couldn't bear to put down another otherwise healthy Pyr, for hip 
dysplacia.  I have been watching the thread about the breeder's 
responsibility when a dog shows up at Rescue with interest, as it seems to 
suggest that Rescue can somehow identify where the dog came from.  If so, 
then I assume that Rescue can identify the lineage and potential health 
problems.  Is this true?  I'm not concerned about papers, etc, as I am not 
looking for a show animal, I want a healthy family member.

Whoa, this is way too long :)  I'll save the rest of my questions for later :)

Thanks in advance

Linda

P.S.  K'hemo is an Indian word that means "white".  Remember Tonto and the 
Lone Ranger?  K'hemosabe means "white man" :)