My sweet Leroy stands out in the rain and snow and barks and does not seek shelter

by Kathy
(Salt Spring Island, B.C. Canada)

We adopted an 8 year old boy Leroy 9 months ago now. He is 150 pounds. He was severely neglected but is a lovely boy and gives and gets much love now. He prefers to sleep outside and rarely comes in. He has a dog house, two covered areas with a raised platform and blankets. He is quite scared of a lot of things but we have noticed lately that whenever it rains or snows he starts barking and stands out in either getting completely wet. When the weather is nice he is under cover or in one of his holes. He seems quite distressed about the weather but he did grow up on the West coast of BC where he lives now so not sure why he is doing this. We are wondering why he will not seek cover and barks each time. The other night he even tried to escape. We have a fenced and gated yard. He gets 2 to 3 long walks per day as well as play time when he wants to play (and he does let us know when that is :)). Any ideas re: this behaviour and what to do to help him?

Comments for My sweet Leroy stands out in the rain and snow and barks and does not seek shelter

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Jan 10, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		Shelter
by: Donna

It's not unusual for Pyrs to want to go wandering so endeavour to 'escape'. That's why they must have secure fencing.

Man bred them to be independent thinkers who could withstand the elements and wander with and watch over their livestock without human intervention.

Without knowing his background, it's hard to say why he does what he does with the weather. Pyrs have double coats and, therefore, can endure rain and snow. They are tough and some just don't want cover. I wouldn't worry about it. He has the option of taking cover if he decides to.

He may be barking because he hears things when the rain and snow fall. Pyrs do bark. That is one of the tools of the trade to keep away predators. It's also a common reason for city dwellers to give them up.

I hope this helps. Perhaps someone else has some ideas.
Jan 10, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Vet might help
by: Anonymous

I think pyrs are sensitive souls. The slightest change affects them. I couldn't figure out why our rescue wouldn't eat of his new dog dish. Someone suggested a glass or ceramic and now he eats. Our vet suggested Prozac and it worked miracles . I think moving to new home is very stressful for pyrs. The stuff is cheap at Walgreens pet plan. Takes a while to kick in but the anxious behavior is much better. One day, I hope to take him off it but he is on very low dose.
Oct 22, 2020
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starstarstarstarstar 		Weather elements
by: Anonymous

Someone dumped Rona at our little farmL.... starved and terrified. We fed her. She has here for about seven months. She will not go into shelter when the weather is bad .. I worry about her but she is still very hesitant about going into our shed where she had her puppies. I have given all shots and had her spayed. She loves to be brushed and loved on but refuses to go inside.
Dec 16, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		My dog Gigi does the same
by: India

My German Shepherd does this as well and it makes me so sad. She has a dog house that’s well insulated and dry to keep her warm but she always chooses to stand in the snowy rain. No matter how cold it gets she would rather be outside eating snow and being alert than inside her house where it’s safer.
Jan 09, 2022
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starstarstarstarstar 		Why Sad
by: AnJA

I have two 7 mo puppies and they were miserable in the Tennessee summer heat in their double fur coats. I built them a pool which they loved. I see them sleeping out in the snow and rain when shelter is 3 ft away.

They gravitate toward tall damp grass or mud. Also every morning they look brand new and white?? All that was said above is true. Don't be sad they are as comfortable as they will be all year. If you don't have wide open spaces gift the animal. What is truely sad for this breed is to not have acres to play and wander. To not have a job to do or to be kept at "human" temperatures indoors.

Not sure why some things are underlined?
JA
Mar 31, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Sleeps in rain
by: Izzy

Why does my Pyrenees sleep in the rain and won’t get under his shelter ?
May 25, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Our Roxy
by: Anonymous

Our neighbor has a 1 year old Pyrenees and I thought she was neglected cause she is soaking wet and muddy at times. They do not have fence , we do and we all live in an acreage in Texas. One day I was petting her (she wandered)and gave her some treats and since then she comes and visits us (I kept an opening in our gate everyday now) she does not take shelter when it is raining and she does not mind soaked though she hates bath. She stayed in her own place during the night and the owner said she bark all night cause she guards the chickens. Then she comes to my place muddy and wet and sleep under our Rv or trucks but never come inside the house. Sometimes she takes shelter in our metal building garage when it is too hot. She lives to wander and does not mind rain and winter here. She is very protective but friendly. I still feel that she needs to be sheltered but that is not how their breed are…..

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