whitestavern Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 We are adopting two dogs, one is a 6 yo male Great Pyrenees mix. The other is a 5 yo female Australian Shepherd Vizsla mix. We have met them both and they are both in excellent health and well behaved dogs. We are adopting them from a family that is moving out of the country. What can you tell me about these breeds, good and bad? Any info would be appreciated. We haven't had dogs in many years, and aren't familiar with these breeds at all. TIA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 These are both dogs that are not the easiest to manage if you don't understand their needs. Mixes can be difficult to predict behaviorally. What does the current family say about them? Are they inside or outside? Is their current home similar to what they will experience in your home? We have a 3 year old female Pyr. These are livestock guardians, which come with a whole set of needs/behaviors. Our home is not ideal for her, honestly, but she was a stray who came to our yard full of fleas, ticks, and unspayed so we took her in and cared for her. Pyrs need a fenced yard. Their instinct is to bolt and roam. Pyrs live about 10 or so years, do not have major health problems, and tend to make good family pets as long as the family understands their breed-specific behaviors and needs. It is great of you to take these dogs and to seek out information about their breeds prior to this. Aussies are herders so you have a livestock guardian and a herder. ETA: Look up the "pyr paw" and the "pyr nose bump". :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 These are both dogs that are not the easiest to manage if you don't understand their needs. Mixes can be difficult to predict behaviorally. What does the current family say about them? Are they inside or outside? Is their current home similar to what they will experience in your home? We have a 3 year old female Pyr. These are livestock guardians, which come with a whole set of needs/behaviors. Our home is not ideal for her, honestly, but she was a stray who came to our yard full of fleas, ticks, and unspayed so we took her in and cared for her. Pyrs need a fenced yard. Their instinct is to bolt and roam. Pyrs live about 10 or so years, do not have major health problems, and tend to make good family pets as long as the family understands their breed-specific behaviors and needs. It is great of you to take these dogs and to seek out information about their breeds prior to this. Aussies are herders so you have a livestock guardian and a herder. ETA: Look up the "pyr paw" and the "pyr nose bump". :) Thanks! Great information. They come from a family that let them come and go as they pleased; they are indoor primarily but use a dog door. We do not, but we are considering putting one in. We do have a fenced in area, as we have a pool, but they are used to the electric underground wire, so we are looking at that as well. The family has two boys, and the dogs are great with kids. They are also used to chickens, which we also have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weaver_67579 Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Australian Shepherds are herding breeds and can get bored easily, herd people and be destructive if not entertained enough. Viszlas have one of the highest exercise requirements of any breed-they were bred to hunt all day long. They can also tend to get bored easily. As mentioned above Pyrs are guardian breeds, so tend to be one family type dogs and standoffish with others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 I have a Vizsla. Weaver's characterization of Vizslas having one of the highest exercise requirements of any breed is spot-on. They really are made to go all day. Great dogs, but not happy couch potatoes. They are also very demanding in their emotional needs. They are extremely affectionate, and very needy. They do not like to be alone. Vizslas also have high training needs. Not a breed that is well suited to "casual" dog owners. Very high maintenance (except in the grooming department). No offense, but I cringe at the thought of crossing a specialized gundog with an Australian Shepard. What were people thinking? Anyway, might be a lovely dog. But the V side may bring big time demands. I have no idea what will come out in the cross. Good luck, Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Probably lots of exercise needs. We LOVE our australian shepherd mix (likely with border collie). She is very loyal, rarely to never barks, and has never once messed in the house (we got her as a 3 year old rescue who had never been inside before. That said, when she was younger she loved to run a lot. We have a small hobby farm so she is never fenced in and only very rarely on a leash. She runs around our farm, sits on a small rise and watches her "flock" (chickens or horses), goes along with us on horseback rides (was 3-5 miles at a time), etc. She has been great with kids but since she was not raised with very young ones, I watch her super closely and give her a way to get away from them. She is VERY much MY dog and wants to be very close to me (basically underfoot) most of the time. She loves car rides as that often means we are going for a walk or horseback ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 I have a Vizsla. Weaver's characterization of Vizslas having one of the highest exercise requirements of any breed is spot-on. They really are made to go all day. Great dogs, but not happy couch potatoes. They are also very demanding in their emotional needs. They are extremely affectionate, and very needy. They do not like to be alone. Vizslas also have high training needs. Not a breed that is well suited to "casual" dog owners. Very high maintenance (except in the grooming department). No offense, but I cringe at the thought of crossing a specialized gundog with an Australian Shepard. What were people thinking? Anyway, might be a lovely dog. But the V side may bring big time demands. I have no idea what will come out in the cross. Good luck, Bill I doubt the people were thinking anything. It was probably more along the lines of being the romantic tale of two lonely dogs in the neighborhood... Their eyes met across a chain link fence and it was love at first sight (and sniff.) One of them dug a hole under the fence and the next thing anyone knew... PUPPIES! :D 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 So the Vizsla-mix will keep one busy all day, and the GP will keep one awake all night? :D Bill 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 We crate our Pyr at night in the living room, and she is very, very happy (and quiet) there. She feels safe and secure. I tried to move her crate at one point to a kid room, but she insisted that her crate belonged in the spot she was used to and circled around looking for it. She is very smart, knows some commands and is slow to obey them, in typical Pyr fashion. She does prefer to be outside patrolling the yard and saving us from squirrels and elderly neighbors. She is very friendly and sweet to all, but I do think she would step in if she thought one of us was being menaced by a person or a dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/302796774925620579/ So much truth to this. I save my dog's fur for a friend who spins it into yarn. It is unimaginable the amount of fur these dogs shed even when they are not blowing their coats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 The one easy thing about a Vizsla? No undercoat. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted November 2, 2015 Author Share Posted November 2, 2015 I have to say, you all kind of scared me with your posts. I don't know what the other breeds are in the mixes, but so far the dogs are super. The Viszla Shepherd mix is quite docile, not high energy at all. When she's outside she runs a lot, but once she's in, she's pretty mellow. The Great Pyr mix is about the same, though a little less active. He growled to both my kids the first day, though done while his tail was wagging, and he has brought his toys to them so that they can play with him. He is fine while they are playing. Since then he's been okay. We have friends that work at shelters and they said this is in the realm of normal behavior in this situation. It's something I will be carefully watching. They are used to food being left out and they appear to be fine taking what they want when they want. They do not overeat. Thank goodness because their food is very expensive :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Sounds like they are doing well. You are a good person to take them in. :) Pyrs are not huge eaters. They are fairly inactive so their calorie needs are low for dogs their size. Most Pyrs are not food-motivated, though some are. Mine is not. We need a picture of them. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Glad to hear it's working out well so far! :hurray: But texasmama is right. We need pictures! :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 I'd love to post photos, but I've never been able to. It always "fails". Any tips for attaching a photo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 I use photobucket to host my photos because it is free. Then I copy the direct link and paste it in the "image" box on the second row of the header of the post. Easy peasy. And I am not very techie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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