Jasper — Day 13

He has settled in nicely and is getting used to the routine. He doesn't have to follow us everytime we get up.

If I didn't already have two dogs and had more time, wow, this cutie patootie would be staying with me.

We keep him upstairs with us at night so he doesn't get into mischief. He's a 115 pound puppy who is now getting to live his puppyhood. He loves to throw his toys around and play with balls. He gets into all sorts if there is something for him to get into. He is very good with his nose and can open garbage lids, doors and gates if required. The counter is still the beholder of interesting things for him but as I sit here, he is upstairs and all is quiet. We have small breakthroughs everyday.

He made friends with some neighbours and spent his time on his back looking for belly rubs. There was also an 18-year old Golden Retriever with whom he wanted to play. The old guy sure wanted to play and is in great shape for his age but big boy is just a little too big and full of beans for him.

He isn't big on the post person and it was all I could do to hang onto him in the dark of the evening. Whereas Zeetie loves the post person since our former one (our neighbour) used to give every dog she saw treats. I'm going to find out if she has anything leftover that might make her look like the post person and do some training.

He still needs to be watched when he sees people. I take his collar  (leverage is too difficult with the leash) in my hand loosely and talk to him and keep him moving. I haven't had issues for the last couple of days (except for the post person which was not pretty). He will look and move on. We do not want to set this guy up for failure.

He needs someone who will take him on long walks everywhere and anywhere to adjust to the business of the world and anything deemed new to him. He requires continued socialization with strangers. And, getting to play with other dogs will be just perfect for him.

We have had no peeing in the house. We continue to crate him when we are away for his safety. He is crated no more than four hours at a time. He hasn't had to go out in the middle of the wee hours to pee except for last night. I forgot to take the water up after our evening walk.

He will howl when we leave the house for at least five minutes. As a Pyr, he is a big barker at all things deemed unknown out there.

I never thought I'd say this of Zeetie but she has been a good mentor for him regarding reaction to people. She loves people and he isn't sure about them on the streets.

We are heading out for a walk. We need a bigger entrance with this boy in the house.

Zeetie Accepts Jasper (to some degree)

He is turning out to be quite a sweetie. Not a mean bone in his body. The first day and already Zeetie played with him...well for a few minutes, anyway. Jasper is at least 30 pounds bigger than her and quite rambunctious. It got a little much for her.

Zeetie wasn't happy after I landed (carefully) on her to stop her beating up on Jasper since I couldn't get her collar.
She stayed like this for at least 1.5 minutes. This used to be done to her  as 'submissive roll'  (when she went after other dogs) to her by her former dog walker. That was before I knew better about negative reinforcement type training.

Jasper is in Town

The initial greeting of Chrystal, our transport person, by Jasper was a huge lunge at her. That wasn't a good start after he was brought out of the basement by his people. He did settle in the car and was good with her young son so that kind of made up for a bad start.

When he arrived here, we met each other. He is very wary of hands coming at him from the front. He moves away from the hand as if shy but it's not shyness. If you use a loud voice to say 'off' the counter, he cowers.

You don't know the dog's reaction to anything so you are always careful especially after the lunge at Chrystal.

We know he is very itchy and his oder was unpleasant. He had scratched his face to blood on one side. I couldn't find any flea casings so I'll presume it's the food he was on. He is now on raw.

I cut out some huge mats from behind his ears. And, then, off to Canine Water Wellness to give him a bath. He was such a star. Emily, the owner, said fosters are free. I think she is crazy. I am grateful but she'll lose her shirt.

We've gone there for some years to give our dogs baths so this was such a bonus. Towels, shampoo, blower, dog cookies, brushes and even a grooming stand are for your use. I used to take Clara for water therapy after her ACL surgery.

He was such a good boy.

We pushed it by using the blower. He wasn't so happy about that and mouthed Don gently to let him know
it was freaking him out. We let him out of the tub. I then started feeding him treats slowly as
Don blew from afar and that worked for awhile and then, he had just had enough. Fair enough!

This was after his bath. You can see the rawness

from scratching his face. It looked worse before.

Hello Ramona

ADOPTED
She went to the perfect family. She goes on daily hikes through the bush and fields with her family and the neighbours and neighbour's dog. Life couldn't get better for her.

This sweetheart has been shifted a few times for various reasons and here she is with us. She was supposed to go off to the West Carleton Dog Boarding Kennels in Kinburn. Robert generously offered to board her for free for a week since I didn't think I wanted to foster this girl just because of time. But, I couldn't do it to her.

Zeetie has settled down. Moe is hanging out in the kitchen not sure what is happening to her. I did think about taking her to the kennel simply because tomorrow is going to be chaos with deliveries being made here. However, Moe made it clear she was not getting into another car to be delivered to yet another home. Decision made by Moe.

If you are looking for a big white fluffy, Moe might be the girl for you. She is mostly Maremma, however. Farmers breed these their dogs for one pup. They mix in Maremma (not companion dogs) with a Pyr to give some edge to guard their livestock. Then, they 'sell' the pups to unsuspecting public. Luckily, she has turned out to be a lovely girl. Read more about her on the Southern Ontario Great Pyrenees Rescue website.

Meet Shaman

This sweetie was surrendered by her family due to unfortunate circumstances. She is a two-year old full Pyr. We have her here overnight and she will continue onto her foster home tomorrow. She is proving, as her guardians said, to be a real sweetie. She is a well-adjusted girl.

Zeetie didn't put up too much of a fuss when Sham went into the house. Zeetie just stayed outside. Of course, when they looked at each other through the glass, my Ziti lived up to her reputation.

Sham ran around the yard and played like a silly one. She loves her cuddles and pets. I even groomed her a little. She is moulting!

She is fine boned and smaller than some Pyrs. She does need to put weight on but that will happen in time. A raw diet will benefit her greatly.

She loves people, children and will be a great dog for the right family. Her former family had three young children.

If you are interested in adopting this girl, please contact Dr. Carol Graham at (519) 855-6439 and leave a message. She will return your call.

Smudge

The newest surrender turned out to be a Pyr/Golden cross whom I have renamed Smudge. He has a single dew claw per back leg, a lovely head and, at first glance, a beautiful personality. There, obviously, is a lot of stress once a dog is surrendered. Transferred from car to car, and from person to person. He was a good boy, though.

He comes from an abusive home where he was apparently kicked and punched. He had to fight another dog for his food, little water, never exercised or allowed outside. He was going to be dumped on a country road when a neighbour stepped up, took him in and contacted us.

He’s only a year old and seems to have taken his previous life in better stride than a full Pyr might. Some Pyrs don’t handle being treated badly very well and will become aggressive. Not Smudge. The cross might have saved him. Smudge is nervous when you approach him and will walk away, constantly looking back. He wants to trust but it will take some time and patience. He’s going to make someone a lovely companion because he really is a sweetheart.

He met Zeetie and bounced around, desperately wanting to play with her. Not for the short time you were here would that have ever happened, young man.

It was a very uneventful night. Smudge safely settled into Zeetie’s summer spot in the dining room. I pretended the couch in the living room was comfortable and had some sleep. Zeetie and Max were tucked away upstairs. I will make it my goal to sleep in my own bed for the next overnighter. The dogs aren't going to be any less stressed if I'm there with them.

He left in the morning on transport to Hillsburgh for the beginning of a life he deserves. First up on the agenda–the neuter. Once he's had a bath, a groom and a check-up, he'll go to his foster. They will then find out the true personality of Smudge so he can be matched to the right family.

If you are interested in adopting a Pyr, or even this boy, please contact us at:

Great Pyrenees Club of Southern Ontario-Adopt

A Pyr is not for everyone. Make sure you do your research on any breed that you decide to adopt.

Look Who Came for a Sleepover!

Meet Angus (previously Buster but he is just too beautiful inside and out for that name), a diamond in the rough. I would say he is about five years old. It can be a hit and miss with Pyrs because if they aren't socialized properly, it can be a problem. However, Angus seems to be a huge sweetie and just gorgeous!  He has a lovely colour of eyes. I can't wait to see him in a few months. He will be an absolute stunner.

He was here for a sleepover before he made his trek to Guelph (Great Pyr Club of Southern Ontario is based there). This fella spent much of his life on the end of a chain outside and due to ill-health, the owner could no longer care for him. Once he gets to Guelph, he'll be neutered and checked out to make sure he is in good health.

I thought Wilson was in bad shape. Well, I don't think Angus has seen a brush or soap in awhile. He reeks, his coat is really matted, and his ears are infected. He was going berserk shaking his head and rubbing his head against the crate. He let me clean yellow liquid out of them and he settled down. I would have loved to clean him up but there was no time.

He was okay in the crate until bedtime. He couldn't settle and panted over the threshold. I tried sleeping on the couch with him on the end of a leash but he was as bad plus he kept trying to pee on everything. I gave in and tied him outside, and he settled right down, of course. That is all he knows. He slept on a bed I put out for him, but he ended up sleeping on the snow. He'll be fine to transition to the indoors once he is comfortable. It was all a very stressful time for this boy. He hasn't seen this much action in years.

Thankfully, he loves car rides. He doesn't know how to walk on a leash but with some time and work, he'll get there. I love this guy and Zeetie didn't even make that big a fuss. They were sniffing each other within minutes outside and she never reacted. She barked from a distance but her barking was more fear-based. Intact dogs seem to have that effecct on her and he never reacted to her. I think she was sweet on him.

His ears are infected but he let me clean them out as much as I could.

Pyrs are not for everyone. They bark, shed and dig holes in your garden. They are big. They need a fenced yard in which they can hang out and a single-family dwelling is a must due to the barking. They were bred to be guardian livestock dogs and, therefore, are independent thinkers—read don't listen well. They should remain on-leash when walked. They need regular grooming to keep their coats matt-free and nails, including dewclaws, trimmed. They do protect their families so all people must be introduced properly.

A huge thanks to Daniel and Chrystal for getting this boy to Guelph.

If you think a Pyr is the breed for you check out these big whites on the Great Pyr Club of Southern Ontario. See them on facebook, too. Angus will be available for adoption soon.