Our Guard Dog: the UNTOLD STORY

Several months have passed since getting our dog, and we've been documenting our adjustment as we struggle to find her place on the farm.

[SunshineValley]

She was trying to tell you guys this whole time what her calling was. Such a beautiful outcome #FreeWinnie lol
✌🏻♥️🇨🇦

[gkiferonhs]

Routine trips with the kids around your property line will firmly establish what is and what isn't her territory. I think you have a much better solution for your farm. Just the sheep area isn't enough to entertain a dog like Winnie. Once she knows firmly what territory is hers, I think she'll be a great farm dog.

[donnamays]

Letting her be the guardian of the entire property is gonna make her a very happy girl…she’s so smart, your blessed to have her! As time goes by she will prove to be one of your homesteads biggest assets, I’m sure of it! It’s obvious she loves the family as well. Winnie is a rock star. ❤️🙏

[Shonnasstuff]

She was used to having other pups to play with, now she's trying to play with the sheep. Fence around the outside of everything, for her to protect everything. Too close of quarters. Keep walking her boundaries with her, she won't leave her boundaries, but will watch it all.

[patriotmama]

Great Pyrenees love to roam. We had one and she was all over our property. She guarded everything including our kids and we NEVER had a predator come on the farm. She was a great guard dog. She not only guarded the goats, steers, chickens and kept critters out of the garden, she watched the kids when they were little and kept them from going in the road. We watched her. LOL. It's better if you get them as pups. A little older dogs have a harder time. Her barking is natural. Most of them bark most of the night. That is a good thing. She is letting any predator know that she will come after any of the animals she would have none of it. Sheep are naturally afraid of dogs. Unless you have a small pup that grows up with them, they will run every time they see her. She is doing just what she is supposed to do.

[lararabb]

This is probably the better solution for her. Her job is to guard. Now she can guard everybody freely which she was meant to do. It is also better because she can freely mark her territory to announce her presence to all predators.

[LydieBaillie]

She's found a role she can embrace, guarding her people and their stuff and your farm gets the surveillance you require. It's a win. God bless Winnie

[N-A-uwfp]

It sounds like you finally figured out how your dog works rather than you making your dog work the way you think. So glad to see you figured it all out and she will now be a happy dog and will not be digging for freedom

[AB-oluz]

Pyrs are pleasers while being so independent. They are incredibly sensitive to criticism (will pout, etc.) but respond quickly to positive training. I've been relieved in the past few weeks when your vlogs showed she was not being penned up anymore. They are bred to cover large areas and work better in pairs long-term. I hope that you will consider getting a Pyr puppy that Winnie can help train now that she's more confident in her role. I was really concerned when you picked her initially because she showed such submissive behavior/wanting affection and to please, etc. as some pyrs are more people driven then animal driven. But now that she's living in a way that supports both aspects, she'll be a great asset and a great trainer of her partner in crime. A single pyr can defend itself well against a predator, and possibly even against a couple of predators at one time but they need a partner to ward off a larger predator pack.

[radza]

you didnt get what you wanted, you got what you needed. protection. god bless!

[bethsands]

I am glad that you tried out many options in her favor and for the best outcome for a great family and farm guard dog. Everyone looks happier now, thankfully.

[tracybruring]

your son is smart; this is a great thing. I sleep like a baby when my LGD is barking.

[maltipoosoffgrid]

You finally figured it out. We have 6 pyrenees/ komondors that roam our property. We live offgrid in the woods and not only do they protect against animal predators, but also human ones. When we get something new like a vehicle tractor or side by side part of them will stay up in our parking area when they hear anyone driving by the property, slowing down or stopping. My only suggestion to make your situation better with your dog is to get another when she is about 2 years old. They will work much more effectively as a pair and get a male. That can make all the difference if there's a pack of coyotes.

[jillyd]

Every time I saw her on your videos I knew she wasn’t happy and I was sad for her! So pleased to see she’s living her best life. Another ingenious solution from Jonah! Perfect! 🐶👏👏👏

[Lucas_Terry]

We need a Winnie cam! It would be interesting to see what she does daily.

[michaeldavis]

There's an old song lyric, "You can't always get what you want... but if you try sometimes, you get what you need." Seems like your farm needed a general guard dog and Winnie stepped up to the job. Win-Win for all.

[Mothman.]

Often LGDs are kept in pairs for team work, but also let’s them play without using the sheep to play and they are more likely to stick around

[veronicajean]

Never understood the confinement to a small sheep herd. Small area. I mentioned she needed to guard the entire perimeter of the farm. And now her dreams come tru

[JessLane]

So glad that wood and chain thing didn't work out... its like putting a muzzle on a sheep and not letting them eat grass... dogs are designed to run. You found a way to let her thrive by protecting you all 🙌🙌🙌 it's just beautiful to see her with the kids too. 💖

[andrewwhitman]

We have a dog similar to Winnie. He will not be penned. He escaped a 6-foot-tall chain link fence. He will protect us, our farm, and our animals. But he does not like small areas. He has to have wide open areas to roam and protect. You guys have shown a lot of understanding and compassion to her. Keeping her in a confined area will stress her and cause her to stress the other animals around her.