killing of sheep

by G. Grossi
(Sdbury,Ont.)

My Pyrenees was caught EATING a sheep. Is this a normal behaviour for this breed? Are they not bred to protect their flock?

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Aug 10, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Eating a sheep
by: Donna

How old is your dog?

Is s/he a guardian livestock dog? If she isn't, and the sheep is already dead, it's food for the dog.

Did s/he kill the sheep? If s/he did and she is a already trained to be with her sheep, then there is a problem.

Has she been worked with to know how to be with the animals?

These dogs need to have a mentor in another working dog or else be trained by the human. Yes, they know how to be guardians but they need to get used to the animals first.

Is she a full-bred Pyr (two dew claws on each hind leg?)

Your dog should be kept in a securely-fenced, minimum 5-foot fenced yard if she is a companion animal so s/he cannot be on the loose at the risk of being hit by a car or shot by a farmer or even poisoned.
Aug 10, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Surprised
by: Ed A from NJ

I am surprised all three of my pyrenees were natural protectors. I got big Beau at eight months old and he naturally proceted every small animal and child in his life. Same with buttercup who i adopted at 5 and now maximoose is doing the same.They all protected the puppies that come in and out of the rescue the children on our block and even the stray cats,and kittens. Taking on foxes, a coyote and Big Beau ever faced off a small black bear (about all we got in NJ). I don't really know what it is like with flocks but it seems almost ingrained in them. Go figure?
Mar 14, 2022
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starstarstarstarstar 		Great Pyrenees
by: Anonymous

I have a male and a female he killed all ready 2 newborn sheep I noticed because he was full of blood and also we have a small female daughter of him and they were both full of blood but the female mother didn’t even add a drop of blood and it looks to me that this is the second sheep he kills and eat
Mar 14, 2022
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starstarstarstarstar 		Killing Sheep
by: Donna

You need to take that male out of there. How old is he? If he is young, it sounds like he is not ready to be alone with the animals. His genetics may play a role in this.

Take the dogs out of there when the sheep are giving birth, I would think.
Jan 31, 2025
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starstarstarstarstar 		Great Pyrenees
by: Jie

My neighbors Great Pyrenees has been known to eat one of the twin sheep born. My neighbor kept thinking his sheep were birthing one at a time,when in reality the dog was eating one and leaving one.
Feb 03, 2025
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starstarstarstarstar 		Separate
by: Anon

Separate the dog(s) from the sheep at birthing time and keep them separate for a bit. When you let them back in, leash them to ensure they won't try to kill the babies. If they seem like they will, separate them again and repeat until things are okay. I would also recommend the Trust Technique.

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