Why We Chose “Gentle Giants” as Guardian Dogs on Our Farm – Part 1 of 3

(Part 1 of 3)

As we indulgently watched our new, two boisterous Great Pyrenees puppies romp and frolick in the fresh fallen snow of our native East Tennessee a few years ago, we were forever smitten.

In an instant, we knew we had made the right choice selecting the Great Pyrenees breed to become protectors and guardians on our farm.

Referred to as the “Gentle Giants,” Great Pyrs are kind, mellow, and non-aggressive to children and cats, yet are able to deter coyotes and other persistent predators.

Bred to work alone for centuries, Great Pyrs can be difficult to train because of their independent nature. This is instinctual as their ancestors guarded sheep, goats and other livestock with little human interaction in the Pyrenees, a mountain range lying between Spain and France.

Unaccustomed to taking commands from humans, it’s easy to see how they came to see themselves as being “in charge.”

Choosing Pure-Bred Great Pyr Puppies

Because we had originally planned to breed, we chose Great Pyr puppies from two different breeders. Xena, our female, is pure white and Zeus, is white with dark “Badger” markings on his head and ears.

We selected Xena from a breeder in Ohio at 10 weeks of age. Our breeder had told us the puppy with the purple collar belonged to us.  When Rick picked Xena from a huge litter of puppies, she thought it was because she is a princess. 

And we have papers to prove it. Not much has changed. Her name means “warrior princess” and she lives up to it every day.

As you can see from the picture, Daddy and Xena took one look at each other, and it was love at first sight.On the ride home, Xena pushed aside the fluffy blanket and toys Mama thought a new puppy would need for comfort.

She realized right away Mama was a novice dog owner and probably one of  “those” cat women (how did she know?) and nestled her head on Daddy’s lap the entire ride home.

A couple of weeks later, Rick picked up Zeus from another breeder in Georgia. Mama stayed home, thinking the little guy she had picked out would be mesmerized by Daddy too.

It didn’t quite work out that way.

Instead, I received a phone call from a very frustrated hubby amidst the cries of an anxious and unsoothable Pyr puppy.

“He’s cried the entire trip. I’m exhausted,” Rick said exasperated.

When I finally heard the garage door open hours later, I could hear the whimpers coming from a distraught ball of fluff.

Rick set Zeus down on the floor, but before I could pick him up…

Enter Xena.

With tail wagging excitedly from side to side and smiling that big Great Pyr smile, Xena bounded over to him.  

First, a gentle slap to his face with her left paw, then she followed up with her right paw. 

She rocked his world.

“Hurry, shut the door to their room, and turn off the light,” Rick urged.

I wasn’t too sure, but complied.

We didn’t hear a whine or a sob that evening.

Everybody slept soundly.

The Spanish guy had met his French girl.

The Italians call it “amore.”