The Great
Pyrenee is a large, beautiful, white dog with a natural tendency to protect and
give unconditional love. It is sad to me that such an affectionate, intelligent
breed that bonds so well with humans should spend his life with sheep day in,
day out. But it is one of their roles in this world. The pups
are introduced to the sheep early on and come to understand that it is their job
to use their protective instincts to guard the less capable, less intelligent
sheep. It is a labor of love that this big-hearted, gentle breed takes
seriously. And while the sheep certainly benefit—they’re protected from
predators—it’s also true that the dogs give more love than they get most of the time. Great
Pyrenees make wonderful pets, but because they are independent-minded and
fiercely protective, they need training and socialization. I would get one in a
heartbeat if I could.
