Newfoundland versus Great Pyrenees?

I own an AKC registered Great Pyrenees. And I love him to death. But I love Newfoundlands too. They are both good dogs. Great Pyrenees need a lot of space and are protective. Newfoundlands love water and space and can be protective as well. But Great Pyrenees have been used for years to protect livestock. Newfoundlands have been used for years on water rescue missions. They are both sweet dogs. So that is a hard choice. I would have a hard time choosing which of the two breeds because of my love for both breeds. But if you have a pool and want a swimming companion I would go with the Newfoundland. Good luck in choosing a new family member.

This is the problem when two different breeds are bred haphazardly. This dog won't work because when the breeder mixed the newf with the pyr. The pyr work drive was bred out. But unfortunately the protective nature and aloofness of the pyr was left. So this dog may not be any more than it is. The fact that a pyr is possessive and protective and barks a lot combined with the fact that it was not socialized as a pup, could be hart to undue. They also do not get along well with other dogs either sometimes, so these are all things you should consider when making your decision. Not that this has anything to do with you, but this is the result of poor breeding, and breeding mixes. This poor dog may have to suffer the consequences. If you decided not to take him, suggest that he at least go to a no kill shelter. I don't know where you live but there is a rescue organization in NV that takes mixes like this. You can contact me if you want more information.

My preference would be a Newfie....no reason. I have just always liked them a lot.

*edit...honestly in my opinion, I think any breed of dog can live in an apartment or small house, provided that the apartment is a "normal size" and not a 300sf manhattan apartment. It is all in the exercise that you can provide for your dog, meaning walks and runs, etc. I live in an apartment, granted it is fairly large, 3 1/2 bedrooms and I have 3 large dogs (including an old english mastiff!) and we all do just fine. They get out a bunch of times during the day for walks, jogs, catch in the park. I hate when people and books and websites say that certain dogs are not good for apartments. Sorry, a little off subject, but I had to get that off my chest!*

*edit 2 - yes that's true about the barking, but I think it's all in the training. Again, this is just my opinion, but dog's should give a couple of warning barks if someone is at the door, or they are alarmed by a noise and then enough's enough. It is really the owners responsibility that the dog be properly trained and exercised and act appropriately. A tired, well exercised, well trained dog is a dog who does not bark very much whether the owner is home or not. Plus there are always apartments out there for people who are not dog people, so they don't have to live near barking dogs if the chose not to.*

Great Pyrenees Great Dane Mix

Get a Newfoundland/Great Pyrenees Mix. I have a 14 month old, and he is awesome.

Cons:

A lot of drool, a lot of shedding, a loud bark, everything costs more because of the size (food, vet bills, meds...), knocks a lot of things over with his tail, not good with our cat, a few times he has licked his paws raw to the point of having to wear a cone of shame.

Pros:

Security System, Super Fluffy, Lap Dog tendencies, docile, calm, friendly, happy go lucky, listens well, great with other people and dogs, easy to walk, laid back, people pleaser, loves giving kisses, likes baths and water, nobody will mess with you with this dog around, CHEAPER than a pure bred and generally more healthy.

Stats:

- 14 months old - 134 pounds - 38 inches tall - still growing

Other things of note:

- Because of his size and fluff, he looks closer to 44" tall and 170 pounds. He literally stops traffic when I walk him because of his mass. He dwarfs my friend's Rottweiler, parent's Airedale, and neighbor's Rhodesian ridgeback. Several people have compared his size to a Great Dane. I believe the mix of these breeds tends to be bigger than the individual pure breeds.

- Many people will mumble "that's the biggest f?$&ing dog I've ever seen" when you walk by.

- He has swallowed and passed a razor blade, cotton ball of nail polish remover, numerous stuffed animals, art supplies, and squeakers.

- Amazing dog overall...super obedient, friendly, and loyal.

Many people love the idea of owning a dog but one thing that they have to keep in mind often times, is that the dog needs to be trained. Learn here http://onlinedogtraining.enle.info/?vwtW

While the pet may look heart-breakingly cute when it's in a shelter or at the pound, picking out the dog is only the first part of the relationship between dog owner and the animal. Many people don't understand that they have to put time and effort into socializing the dog.

An unsocialized dog will intimidate others, tear up the home, and will create an environment that can become so bad that the it will have to be returned. Many times when dogs have to be returned to shelters or to other resources, it will end up euthanized, which is very heartbreaking. All of this can be spared if a person learns the various techniques in order to socialize the dog.

One thing that they have to understand is that the he wants to be told what to do. It's in the canine nature to follow a leader. The dog will be more than willing to obey the leadership of its master. Here's a look at some common techniques that are used in dog training:

"Dog Whispering"

This is a technique that has been around for a while, but gained national notoriety over the last 10 years. Some people might hear this term and wonder how in the world whispering to a dog can train it! Whispering isn't meant to be taken literally in this case. As trainers have shown, whispering is a term that refers to connecting with a being or an entity on a very deep and almost spiritual level. When it comes to dog training techniques, dog whispering involves careful observation of the dog's behavior and actions.

It literally entails getting inside the mind and the behavior system of the canine. When a person uses dog whispering techniques, they interact with the dog on the canine level. Again, one the most common mistakes that people make is treating the dog like a small human being.

"Reward Training"

Reward training is very simple and it's one of the older tricks that works. This is a simple method of training the dog by positive reinforcement. Once he does what it is told to do, it receives a treat. How this works is that the dog owner must entice the dog towards the treat. Once the canine develops awareness for the treat, it develops a strong desire for it. When the desire for it is extremely strong, the dog owner pulls back. Then the dog receives a command and when the dog obeys the command, it receives the treat. The object is to make the dog associate a treat with the command.

"Clicker Training"

Other dog training techniques include one that is similar to reward training, which is called clicker training. How this works is that the clicker is incorporated to get the dog's attention. The clicker is clicked as a form of communication with the dog. It learns that there is a command or reward associated in conjunction with the clicker. Many people claim that this is fun, and they actually make a game with the dog by using the clicker for their dog training tasks.

"Ultrasonic Whistle"

Last, a relatively new form of dog training technique is called the ultrasonic whistle. This works because the ultrasonic sound is only heard by the dog. When the owner is trying to communicate a command, or stop the dog from barking, they will blow on their whistle when they want to communicate a command to the dog. The benefit of this is that the humans can't hear this noise, but the dog can hear it, and they will learn to associate the sound with a command.

Dog training techniques aren't hard to incorporate, but they are something that absolutely must be incorporated from the time a dog owner brings their new dog home. No matter how old or how young the dog is, they will need training. Once they are trained properly, they will be a wonderful addition to one's family.

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If the man stated this 6 year old newfie/pyr was supposed to herd goats, he's using the dog incorrectly. Neither the Newfie nor the pyr are herding dogs. Herding dogs move the herd upon command, if properly trained. Newfies and pyrs are guardian dogs. They are to keep you safe, not to herd your livestock. A Newfie is a water guardian who will save you from drowning. A pyr is a livestock guardian. They usually don't just get tired of their job at the age of 6. While the dog might have arthritis or something that makes it hard to work, it just doesn't one day get tired of working. I suspect you're not being told the entire story. Unless you're a really experienced dog owner, this is a high risk adoption for you to consider. The farmer did something I totally disapprove of. He didn't socialize her. Many farmers mistakenly believe you should put a pyr in with the livestock and never touch it. This is the WRONG thing to do. It didn't make her a better guardian, but it DID make her very unsocial, almost wild, and hard to handle. I agree with you that this is mean, but it's a common misconception that uneducated farmers continue to pass on to newcomers to the pyr world. With guidance of a canine behaviorist, you may be able to turn her around and socialize her, but if you choose to do this, it WILL be a very difficult, slow job. I have a friend who rescued such a deprived pyr and she loves him dearly, but he's been a real heartburn at times. He doesn't get along at all with one of her other dogs, so she has him as house guardian and the other male as pasture guardian. I have another friend who believed that hogwash and learned how bad a choice it is to not interact with your pyr pup. She's now a pyr breeder and she socializes all her livestock guardian pyrs. Pyrs are smart and learn well. You could well succeed, but she might or might not get along with all your other dogs, and she'll be aloof to you for quite a while. It's hard to tell how long it might take to get her to let you pet her. You'd need good fencing around your yard, or pasture that she'd be in. A hot fence is highly recommended. You'd also need to talk to your local rescue to see if they'd take her if you cannot handle her. You need a "plan B" if you take her. Get in touch with a really good canine behaviorist in your area and discuss this + see if you can get help in dealing with her from a professional. If I knew where you are maybe I could help you find one. I recommend you join a good pyr group to discuss this, even before you get the dog. Ask for Chelle to give you advice. She's good but she doesn't come to Y!A If you've rescued before, you know they come with emotional "baggage". There are things you can do to encourage her to let you pet her. Keep in mind, she probably hasn't had her shots since he can't handle her. Also, you need to know if she's intact or spayed. If you wish to keep her as a house or family guardian, you can possibly put her in a kennel with running room, but you'd need to make sure she can't escape. This would help you do some hand feeding to get her used to being close to you and help you have a better chance to pet her. Rule: He who controls the food is alpha. Please join the group and discuss this with other pyr owners. You'll need the daily support, especially if you chose to rescue her. I commend you for what you wish to do. It can be done, but I don't know you well enough personally to know if you can succeed There is a group I've seen on National Geographic Channel that rescues dogs that no other rescue can handle. If you try and can't deal with the dog, this is the group you'd want to turn her over to. They do have the professionals and resources to reclaim for her a normal life. Dog Town has a great reputation for rehabilitation, and if you take the dog and can't get her healed, you, as the new owner, would have the right to turn her over to them. Their website is below. Watch their show. They are the rescue of last resort. They don't kill. They rehabilitate. They try to find them homes once rehabilitated. As difficult as your job will be, I think they'd accept this dog if you can't rehabilitate her once you told them her background. -!-