How old can a Pyr protect against coyotes?

by Devin
(San Marcos, CA)

At what age can a Pyr start protecting against coyotes? Ours is just 8 weeks. We are wondering when it is safe to let him have free range of an acre, all night. We have many coyoyes that come onto the property. Is he too young to defend himself?

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Dec 28, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Pup
by: Donna

Pyrs keep them away because they stand their ground and will bark and growl in order to drive them away. If they have too, they'll start to attack at which point, the coyote(s) should recede.

Yes. He is way too young. They'll eat him.

Your pup isn't ready until about 1.5 years old.

You will want to get a second dog, maybe an older one and female to help with the task (and allow the other dog to have a rest but will always jump into action as required). She would also be a mentor for pup.

You might consider adopting a Pyr. The National Pyr Rescue should be able to point you in the right direction. Google rescues in your area, as well.

Depending on how that goes, you may consider another Pyr if that many coyotes keep coming around.

Ensure you neuter your male at about 2 two years old. Make sure he doesn't make pups in the meantime. Intact dogs will wander. An adopted dog will come already spayed.

If a pack of coyotes come around, one dog cannot keep them all at bay.

I hope this helps.
Jan 20, 2020
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starstarstarstarstar 		Need at least adult teeth.
by: Anonymous

I tried to adopt a Great Pyrenees through the rescue, but as soon as I told them, I wanted to use him to protect my animals they refused my application. Interested in what rescue your talking about? I need a LGD, since I live in the backwoods and have coyotes, panthers, bears, among other wild animals. Now I have a Pyrenees puppy, still has his baby teeth, but didn’t know it’s going to take months before he’s able to protect my animals. The only hope is that my inside pit bull would hear the commotion of an intruder and scare a coyote away.
May 21, 2022
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starstarstarstarstar 		Coyote encounter
by: Anonymous

My pyr mix is 1.2 years and had his first coyote encounter this morning at 5am. The coyote kept coming back, engaging him and trying to get him to follow. My pyr mix engaged, nonaggressively, like a dance with a lot of space between the partners, back and forth. Eventually, the coyote left and my pyr mix stayed. I wish my dog would have listened, but he was like "I got this, just watch," and he did.
Sep 26, 2023
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starstarstarstarstar 		How old a Pyrenees needs to be before protecting against coyotes.
by: Angelia Butler

[Comment from GPCSO: A year-and-a-half would be safer depending on the dog. Dogs mature at different rates. You will know when a dog is ready to be left to do the job.]

After one year I would say. I own a Great Pyrenees that will be 2 on halloween. He lives inside but will take coyotes down in a heart beat. I have chosen not to let him be a working livestock guard dog. Look up Casper the Great Pyrenees in Georgia he killed 8 coyotes out of 11 and had to have his tail removed from the fights that night. Some Great Pyrenees are able to take on more than a pack at a time. I don't want to see it.
Nov 07, 2023
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starstarstarstarstar 		Learn the breed before getting one
by: Anonymous

The person who said they wished their pyr mix would have listened when letting a coyote know it was on their territory isn't very smart or knowledgeable on the breed. This breed has been around for thousands of years and is one of the oldest breeds known to date. They are not like a lab or chihuahua, these dogs have been bred to think and make decisions on their own. They will not obey every command. They will respect you. But you also need to respect the breed, and what they were made for. But in order to do that you need to do real digging and research. These dogs are not for beginners they are for people who understand them, their needs and capabilities and what they have bred for. You refusing tolet them do what thei know that is their main instinct is not going to help

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