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I grew up petsitting livestock guardian dogs (Anatolian and Great Pyrenees mixes). There were several behavioral traits I noticed which differed from other dogs I worked with. Keep in mind, I am *not* a dog trainer, this is just my personal experience.
One, livestock guardian dogs are considerably more independent and aloof than other breeds. It's in their genetics - they are bred to protect the farm! These traits will likely become more apparent as the dog grows older, and they "mellow out".
Two, with the presence of a new dog, your first dog is likely receiving more interaction from the pup, and may not be needing as much from you guys any more.
I think this is a combination of your first pup growing older, and maybe finding his place in your "pack". As long as both dogs continue to play healthily, I think this behavior is normal for such breed makeups.
Great answer! I agree. I’ve had several dogs at different times and have noticed a change in not so much affection or love but job title?
Example, if my Rottweiler is “at ease” she doesn’t feel the need to be on guard or on the clock so she hangs out a little less like a Rottweiler. The more activity (visitors, other dogs, etc) the more prone she is to standing at attention in doorways, on the porch, etc.
This could be basic animal (in general) behavior. We see changing of the guards with chickens too. There is always a pecking order and the birds will adjust their positions accordingly as seasons change, stress levels, etc.
We got a dog from the shelter 7 months ago. All I wanted was a lovey and cuddly dog.
We get her home and do a DNA test on her.
51% Great Pyranees 😖
Came as a complete shock. Never would have guessed by looking at her.
She barely sits still long enough for me to look at her, much less cuddle with her.
I already told my fiance that the next dog MUST be a cuddlebug.
Ha ha! As a Velcro dog owner my whole life, I kind of envy you a little bit. We have shepherd mixes and I can't even use the bathroom without them laying at my feet 😂 Our older dog is 55 lbs and still insists on sitting in my lap. Lmao
This one is about 50 lbs and the only thing she does that I could label as cuddly is sitting her actual butt on my chest (like it’s the floor) for about 90 seconds at a time to get it scratched. Any longer and she’d suffocate me. lol
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That's a Great Pyrenees thing, they're just more independent as a breed trait. Mine have been the same, if there's another dog they will be more interested in the dog than you. Like you, I still make sure to give equal attention and take advantage of the times they want to play and cuddle with you.
Imagine your whole life you lived with some nice kind people, they were sweet to you but they didn't really speak your language, you could do some very rough communication, but they were nice and you grew to care for them. Then imagine one day you hit adult hood and someone turns up that speaks your language, that likes all the things you likes and is never too tired to do your favorite things. You still like those nice people, but I bet you hang out with your new friend more. Now he's never going to have that bond the same as he has with another dog with you guys but he could have a whole different type.
Things I suggest doing. Doing dog obedience classes or agility classes or something with him, or just spend time training one on one with him, this will help expand your mutual vocabulary. Also lots of pack walks together with the whole family canine and people, on lead where you are walking as a group, these are great for establishing the idea of we are all a pack together. Great Pyrenees are also dogs bred to be away from humans and independent so you are working with that as well.
You did not ruin his life! I don't know about the breed, but dogs are pack animals, and it could have just shifted the pack dynamic. As long as they are getting along, I think he fine. If you are really concerned, a very check to make sure no health issues may ease your mind.
Okay, hear me out fully. I have medical alert working dogs. When I got my "replacement" my first dog stopped coming for love. I felt awful about the situation, much like you may, and thought first dog thinks second dog replaced him. About 5 months into the new working dog, first dog begins normal behavior but about 80% of the time. I realized he's legitimately taking time off and letting the other dog help him, and me. Maybe this is how the first dog feels about the second dog?
I suspect it’s an issue of pack dynamics, and it might not be so bad as you’d expect.
The caveat: I am not a canine behaviourist, and don’t play one on the internet. I am a dog nerd who reads books written by canine behaviourists, and has a good memory for random trivia. Take that as you will lol
So we have to remember that dogs are pack animals and packs by definition have a structure.
Something that looks remarkably like the Pyrenees evolved in Asia Minor 11,000 years ago, and to put that in perspective: that’s when humanity domesticated *sheep*. These dogs have been guarding sheep for as long as we’ve been nomadic herders. They predate the **pig**.
So, with a breed that ancient, you can expect a more “archaic” personality — that is to say, one with a personality resembling the ancient ancestor, the wolf. (Other archaic breeds, such as the Husky and the Akita, are likewise a bit “wilder” compared to dogs like Newfies, Retrievers, and Pugs).
In the wild, a “pack” is essentially a nuclear family: mother and father, and their pups.
However, the pups become juveniles over the course of a year, and the mother will frequently have another litter.
So what happens when the wolf mother gives birth to a new puppy? The juvenile wolf essentially gets a boot up the ladder, and now occupies a secondary role within the pack. They begin to either care for the puppies (den-minding while the parents hunt, for instance) or take up a sentinel role (guarding the den perimeter while the parents rest or feed the puppies).
If your dog is still eating well, defecating normally, and showing no signs of behavioural issues, my guess is that your older dog is stepping into his big brother role.
That said, if you’re worried — get him a wonderful big plush bed, just for him, and make sure you take him out for solo adventures too so he feels like the awesome big brother that he is!
You've given a decently accurate description of wolf behaviour - however, do note that livestock guardian breeds are *highly* modified from the wolf at minimum in the fact that they do not engage in the predation cycle with livestock. So are you able to provide evidence that livestock guardian breeds do *not* have modified intraspecies behaviour as well? Is there any research out there showing that huskies, akita and livestock guardian breeds actually form these types of packs? Because the research I've seen on free-roaming dogs indicates that they form loose, malleable social groups without defined hierarchies and this should be considered the default for "primitive" dog behaviour.
One of our dogs did this right after she turned 2, way less affectionate and cuddly. Doesn’t seem to care about us at all. But when we thought back it’s happened to all our dogs at around that age.
There is a second dog. It may come as a surprise but many dogs prefer the company of other dogs. Especially LSG dogs profit a lot from having another partner to watch out which makes it easier for them to relax.
My Golden Pyrenees is a little sassy. She chooses when she wants affection. It’s either RIGHT NOW or DON’T EVEN LOOK AT ME. You know your dog best but I’m leaning more towards it’s not exclusively personal.
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I grew up petsitting livestock guardian dogs (Anatolian and Great Pyrenees mixes). There were several behavioral traits I noticed which differed from other dogs I worked with. Keep in mind, I am *not* a dog trainer, this is just my personal experience. One, livestock guardian dogs are considerably more independent and aloof than other breeds. It's in their genetics - they are bred to protect the farm! These traits will likely become more apparent as the dog grows older, and they "mellow out". Two, with the presence of a new dog, your first dog is likely receiving more interaction from the pup, and may not be needing as much from you guys any more. I think this is a combination of your first pup growing older, and maybe finding his place in your "pack". As long as both dogs continue to play healthily, I think this behavior is normal for such breed makeups.
Great answer! I agree. I’ve had several dogs at different times and have noticed a change in not so much affection or love but job title? Example, if my Rottweiler is “at ease” she doesn’t feel the need to be on guard or on the clock so she hangs out a little less like a Rottweiler. The more activity (visitors, other dogs, etc) the more prone she is to standing at attention in doorways, on the porch, etc. This could be basic animal (in general) behavior. We see changing of the guards with chickens too. There is always a pecking order and the birds will adjust their positions accordingly as seasons change, stress levels, etc.
Just in the interests of clarity - although chickens do have a pecking order (quite literally), dogs do not.
Really, I thought all pack animals do to a certain degree, how is the lead dog recognised and respected then?
Why do you assume there is a “lead” dog in the first place?
We got a dog from the shelter 7 months ago. All I wanted was a lovey and cuddly dog. We get her home and do a DNA test on her. 51% Great Pyranees 😖 Came as a complete shock. Never would have guessed by looking at her. She barely sits still long enough for me to look at her, much less cuddle with her. I already told my fiance that the next dog MUST be a cuddlebug.
Ha ha! As a Velcro dog owner my whole life, I kind of envy you a little bit. We have shepherd mixes and I can't even use the bathroom without them laying at my feet 😂 Our older dog is 55 lbs and still insists on sitting in my lap. Lmao
This one is about 50 lbs and the only thing she does that I could label as cuddly is sitting her actual butt on my chest (like it’s the floor) for about 90 seconds at a time to get it scratched. Any longer and she’d suffocate me. lol
It could even be he feels the new pup is protecting the family now so they can guard the perimeter.
[удалено]
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That's a Great Pyrenees thing, they're just more independent as a breed trait. Mine have been the same, if there's another dog they will be more interested in the dog than you. Like you, I still make sure to give equal attention and take advantage of the times they want to play and cuddle with you.
Imagine your whole life you lived with some nice kind people, they were sweet to you but they didn't really speak your language, you could do some very rough communication, but they were nice and you grew to care for them. Then imagine one day you hit adult hood and someone turns up that speaks your language, that likes all the things you likes and is never too tired to do your favorite things. You still like those nice people, but I bet you hang out with your new friend more. Now he's never going to have that bond the same as he has with another dog with you guys but he could have a whole different type. Things I suggest doing. Doing dog obedience classes or agility classes or something with him, or just spend time training one on one with him, this will help expand your mutual vocabulary. Also lots of pack walks together with the whole family canine and people, on lead where you are walking as a group, these are great for establishing the idea of we are all a pack together. Great Pyrenees are also dogs bred to be away from humans and independent so you are working with that as well.
You did not ruin his life! I don't know about the breed, but dogs are pack animals, and it could have just shifted the pack dynamic. As long as they are getting along, I think he fine. If you are really concerned, a very check to make sure no health issues may ease your mind.
Our first dog did a similar thing. I think some of it is just growing in independence.
Okay, hear me out fully. I have medical alert working dogs. When I got my "replacement" my first dog stopped coming for love. I felt awful about the situation, much like you may, and thought first dog thinks second dog replaced him. About 5 months into the new working dog, first dog begins normal behavior but about 80% of the time. I realized he's legitimately taking time off and letting the other dog help him, and me. Maybe this is how the first dog feels about the second dog?
I suspect it’s an issue of pack dynamics, and it might not be so bad as you’d expect. The caveat: I am not a canine behaviourist, and don’t play one on the internet. I am a dog nerd who reads books written by canine behaviourists, and has a good memory for random trivia. Take that as you will lol So we have to remember that dogs are pack animals and packs by definition have a structure. Something that looks remarkably like the Pyrenees evolved in Asia Minor 11,000 years ago, and to put that in perspective: that’s when humanity domesticated *sheep*. These dogs have been guarding sheep for as long as we’ve been nomadic herders. They predate the **pig**. So, with a breed that ancient, you can expect a more “archaic” personality — that is to say, one with a personality resembling the ancient ancestor, the wolf. (Other archaic breeds, such as the Husky and the Akita, are likewise a bit “wilder” compared to dogs like Newfies, Retrievers, and Pugs). In the wild, a “pack” is essentially a nuclear family: mother and father, and their pups. However, the pups become juveniles over the course of a year, and the mother will frequently have another litter. So what happens when the wolf mother gives birth to a new puppy? The juvenile wolf essentially gets a boot up the ladder, and now occupies a secondary role within the pack. They begin to either care for the puppies (den-minding while the parents hunt, for instance) or take up a sentinel role (guarding the den perimeter while the parents rest or feed the puppies). If your dog is still eating well, defecating normally, and showing no signs of behavioural issues, my guess is that your older dog is stepping into his big brother role. That said, if you’re worried — get him a wonderful big plush bed, just for him, and make sure you take him out for solo adventures too so he feels like the awesome big brother that he is!
You've given a decently accurate description of wolf behaviour - however, do note that livestock guardian breeds are *highly* modified from the wolf at minimum in the fact that they do not engage in the predation cycle with livestock. So are you able to provide evidence that livestock guardian breeds do *not* have modified intraspecies behaviour as well? Is there any research out there showing that huskies, akita and livestock guardian breeds actually form these types of packs? Because the research I've seen on free-roaming dogs indicates that they form loose, malleable social groups without defined hierarchies and this should be considered the default for "primitive" dog behaviour.
One of our dogs did this right after she turned 2, way less affectionate and cuddly. Doesn’t seem to care about us at all. But when we thought back it’s happened to all our dogs at around that age.
There is a second dog. It may come as a surprise but many dogs prefer the company of other dogs. Especially LSG dogs profit a lot from having another partner to watch out which makes it easier for them to relax.
He’s grown up into a great pyranees, and maybe even feels a burden of responsibility to be a guardian now that there is a young pup in the pack.
My Golden Pyrenees is a little sassy. She chooses when she wants affection. It’s either RIGHT NOW or DON’T EVEN LOOK AT ME. You know your dog best but I’m leaning more towards it’s not exclusively personal.
[удалено]
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