Taking Your Puppy Home

It is advisable to plan well in advance when you want a puppy as the last thing a new puppy needs is to arrive at its new home just prior to Christmas (responsible breeders will not allow puppies to leave them at this time) or when a family holiday is planned which could disrupt the puppy's routine as a critical time in its development. Your pups breeder may insist on delivering it as this will enable them to see where the puppy is to spend its life, but if you are to collect it then plan the journey so that you don't have to stop on the way home if the puppy is not old enough to have been fully inoculated, as contact with other dogs or land on which they have been, must be avoided at all costs. Take with you plenty of newspapers or old towels because even though older dogs are usually enthusiastic car travellers this is not always the case with puppies and several short journeys may be necessary to acclimatise your pup to travelling. A large box placed on the back seat next to a passenger, if possible, with some interesting "toys" for the puppy, is useful on a long journey. This gives the puppy a feeling of security, more so than being held for a long time unable to move about. Let the breeder know in advance of the time that you plan to collect the puppy and request that it is not fed for four or five hours beforehand and that its drinking is kept to a minimum. Experienced breeders will do this automatically but if you are buying from someone with their first litter they may not have thought of this.

Arriving Home

This can be a very traumatic time for a puppy as, having possibly just undertaken its first car journey and arriving in new surroundings, it will also be the first time it will have been away from its litter brothers and sisters. Take the puppy to the area of the garden you would prefer him to use for relieving himself and put him down gently. It can't be stressed enough that at this age despite seeming quite substantial, all the weight is supported by muscles, tendons and very soft pliable bone so care must be taken to avoid and sudden pressure on the joints as this can cause irreparable damage. Next, offer him a drink which he may well be ready for and a light meal which he may refuse. Before introducing him to his sleeping quarters, take him to the "toilet area" as it is important part of a puppy's early training that it learns to relieve himself after every meal especially if he is to live in the house. If there are children in the house then make sure they realise how important it is to the puppy that he is left to sleep peacefully when he wants to. A tired puppy can be just as irritable as a tired child!

Provide your new puppy with a quiet place of its own. The puppy should have a place to go when it wants to be left alone-he needs lots of sleep. And remember, at this age the puppy is just a baby. Children must learn not tease or handle the puppy roughly. It is unwise to leave a puppy alone and free in a home. He will likely become bored and lonely and in that mood look for mischief to get into, such as chewing up sofa pillows, working on rugs or furniture. Always confine him in an area or pen or crate until you return. Leave him toys to play with, some puppy biscuits to chew on, and fresh water. It is worthwhile buying a cuddly teddy for their bed too so they feel like they still have somebody there as it is quite daunting leaving your mum and siblings,Give your puppy lots of love and attention to help ease this transition.

Toys are very important for your puppy. Large hard rubber balls and toys are good, as well as good-quality commercial dog chew bones and old knotted socks. Do not let a puppy chew old shoes, clothing or bits of paper or this taste will be carried over to your good shoes, clothing or a daily newspaper.

Housebreaking will be an immediate concern. The Pyrenean Mountain Dog is easily housebroken if you persist in simple rules, such as always taking the puppy out the same door to relieve himself. Observe your puppy carefully for signs of restlessness until he learns to communicate his needs. Put your puppy out the first thing in the morning, after each meal and nap, the last thing at night, and at any other time when he appears to be restless. When the puppy is very young, you will probably have to get up with him once during the night as a baby cannot be expected to be continent throughout the night. Persistence and adherence to the same procedure, day after day, will housebreak the puppy in a short period of time. Your puppy will be quick to learn, as Pyrs are naturally clean.

Your puppies temperament

It will be as sociable as you allow it to be once vacinated take your puppy to different places to socialise them with members of the public and other dogs just allow plenty of time as everyone loves to meet a pyr puppy and you may find your little bundle of joy being the centrepeice wherever you go!!
Although Pyrenean Mountain Dogs may mature slowly, your puppy grows fast and needs wholesome, nourishing food. Nothing takes the place of a good quality balanced dog food, or puppy food for young dogs. Dogs prefer consistency.
Give dog biscuits (the hard, chewing kind); they are good for cleaning the teeth. Do not give bones for these can splinter and thus be dangerous.

Insurance

Some breeders take out insurance on their puppies which remains in force for the first six weeks they are in their new home. This means the new owner needs to have the puppy examined by a vet within 24 hours of arriving home (where possible have this done at home rather than at the vet's surgery as at this time the puppy is usually going to be too young to have had its injections) a certificate of health is then signed by the vet and returned to the breeder. Even when there is no such insurance policy in force it is good advice to have your puppy examined in this way for your own peace of mind because if you wait, even for a week, before doing this it makes the resolving of any problems more difficult as there may be no way of telling whether or not the ailment or infection was present at the time of purchase. Having Insurance on your Pyr is a valid thing as vets will prescribe on weight , this can be hugely costly without insurance.

Training & Socialising

While your Pyrenean is still a puppy you must teach him how you expect him to behave as an adult. All training should follow the principle of praising his good deeds rather than punishing his mistakes and if it is necessary to reprimand him never call the dog to you to do this. Try, where possible, to stick to routines in all your dealings with your dog. Never give a command that you can't enforce and always remember the Pyrenean is very independent minded so it is pointless to expect the sort of instant obedience you might see from German Shepherds etc. Always discourage "jumping up" in a Pyrenean puppy as this can cause obvious problems in adult dogs. If a puppy does this then turn away and make a fuss of him when he is standing on all fours or sitting down.
Never scold severely if you return after leaving him alone for an hour or two to find he has chewed something he shouldn't have. The puppy will not know why he is being reprimanded. Any chastisement must be IMMEDIATE for it to be effective. From the first day you should be able to give your dog his food then take it away without any dissent as this helps to make the dog look up to you as his "pack leader". If he growls when you try to take his food away then scold him, until he readily accepts the action and then praise him lavishly.

Leash breaking should be undertaken when you get your puppy. Again, use kindness and patience. Fit a collar on the puppy's neck, attach a long lead, and for the first couple of lessons, follow the puppy, letting him lead you. After this, kindly and gently coax the puppy to walk beside you, being lavish in your praise and encouragement. Pet the pup frequently and keep the session short. The puppy will want to please you and will soon enjoy these walks. Don't use a chain or choke collar in teaching a puppy to lead. But for an older dog, a nylon choke collar is preferable-it does not wear down the coat.
There are puppy classes for very young puppies often run by your vets and are very good for socialising. But formal obedience training is not recommended before six months of age. Informal obedience training may be started soon after you take your puppy home. Simple
commands such as "Sit", "Down", "Come", "No", etc. are useful for everyday life, indoors and out. From the start, show your puppy who is master (for he may well try to be his own!) and once a command is given, insist on its being performed. Again, use kindness and firmness. A displeased tone of voice uttered as a reprimand is usually sufficient discipline. Do not lose your temper and strike a puppy or rub its nose in a soiled patch as it does not understand what it has done wrong and pyreneans are very sensitive and do try to naturally please, repetition is key here!

Pyrs are quick learners, but they bore easily. Once the
basics of an exercise are learned, the average Pyr can get very turned off by repetition. Vary your lessons as you work for precision and avoid "drilling" or pattern training. Throw in new lessons to pique your dog's interest. Keep lessons short - a few minutes once or twice a day.