Hello Everyone. My name is Dona and I believe my husband, Michael, is already a member since he sent me the link to your site. We are proud parents to Ollie, a Pyr who was rescued in Janesville and we adopted in March, 2007 through the rescue club.

Ollie is about 1-1/2 years old, and is just a bundle of love, as all of you owners know. He is constantly wanting to be petted. And he is a wonderful walker - loose leash. Although there are some other creatures which he doesn't have too much patience for. This week he has discovered he can chase the rabbits which, stupidly, end up in our fenced in yard. Never saw Ollie run so fast! And the rabbit too!

I just wanted to ask a couple of things. Is there a good way to get your dog to limit his/her barking? It seems that Ollie likes to bark at thin air sometimes! Also, I know that Pyrs are very clean. However, is there are problem with having him get a bath now and then? I don't think a bath every 3-6 months is too often.

I hope to hear from any of you and will enjoy sharing tidbits about Ollie from time to time.

Hi Dona,

Welcome to the board. I havnt been a pyr owner for very long but I have learnt so much from this forum.

In response the the barking situation, the method I use with Monty is quite strange. He barks alot when he hears noises and its usually to warn people that he is there. And it seems like he wants to tell us that he has heard something.

When he barks I go to him and I praise him, something simple like 'okay good boy'. Once we have acknowleded that we have heard him he usually stops barking.

If he doesnt stop (this doesnt happen often) I bring him indoors, to teach him that if he doesnt stop then he will be shut indoors which he doesnt like.

Not sure whether this will work for you, but its worth a try :D :D

I tend to bath Monty every month or so. He has had skin probs lately though so I had to bath him more.

Hope this helps and looking forward to seeing some pics of your new addition. :D

Hi and welcome.

Re barking: obviously pyreneans are natural barkers and do something which is called "territorial barking". This is basically barking at thin air as you call it just to let everyone know that they are there and on guard. :D

I do the same as rachel... say thank you, find out why they bark and then tell them quiet now! That normally works...

Re bath: we have had Troy for 5 1/2 years and he has only ever had one bath (for medical reasons). His coat is beautiful, self cleaning and smelling very nice like clean cotton! He just gets a good brush once or twice a week and that does the trick. :)

Vera

Thank you for Vera and Rachel for your response to my questions. I will try to determine when Ollie barks most frequently. Of course, any time someone walks by outside, but inside is just the most irritating. He is also had a low growl lately when he is lying around. It's as if he is trying to talk to us. <_<

I would love to post a photo, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet.
Can you please show me how, on the site, to add a photo? I only have one as of now, but would like to post more as we take some.

Love the forum and keep up the interesting postings! :D