Rosco
01-21-2007, 02:13 PM
I am new to the site. My Pyr, Rosco the Great, is 18 months. I got him at 9 weeks from a stranger who came up to me and said "I have a dog you need". I said "Is that a big white dog?" So you see I didnt do much research, as I took Rosco home 4 hours later. I traded a stuffed wild turkey, stuffed canada goose and two live turkeys I kept at my small 20 acre farm 5 miles from my house. The stuffed birds came from a renter of a mobile home who skipped town in the middle of the night without paying the rent. I figure it is fate that the renter, the stuffed birds, and the total stranger came together to give me Rosco.
I am writing mainly because Rosco's situation is a little different. He lives in my house and has not spent one night outside since I brought him home. I dont even have a fenced yard. I live alone,am retired military, and am able to spend as much time as I like with the big boy. I though I would share some lessons and perhaps ask a few questions of my own to help promote the breed.
1. House Breaking. At 9 weeks he would stop in the house and do whatever pleased him. For about 2 weeks I watched him like a hawk. As I caught him in the act I would holler NO and take him thru the front door on a leash. After two weeks he was trained. This is just to point out that they are easily housebroken. My saving grace during this phase was my heavy duty carpet cleaning machine, which was always on standby. Even a Pyr pup can discharge quite a torrent. As a sidenote, at 6 months I had to leave him in the house for 15 hours during a family medical emergency. I was amazed to come home to a spotless house. I think Rosco went into hibernation that day and woke up when I came home, as the water and feed bowls were still full.
2. Exercise. Rosco doesn't need much. I walk him a half mile first thing in the morning, then again during the afternoon, plus trips to the farm. He is never off leash. He plays catch/fetch in the living room, and chases after his toys and shakes them back and forth. He can gather some speed as he gallups thru the house, but has not broken anything yet.
3. Chewing. When very young he pulled the skirt off my couch and chewed a wooden window sill. Since then no problem. He likes his toys and a daily leather chew. For some reason he will take cloth pot holders from my coounter top, but will not attempt to steal anything else. He chews up paper towels into tiny pieces.
4. Shedding. Roscoe sheds a lot. However I tell everone that my house is much cleaner now that I vacuum every other day. The hair come out in little tufts, and does not float around in the air like some other breeds.
I am running out of forum space, so will continue later. Please comment or ask any questions you have. Just trying to tell you how it is to actually live with one of these wonderful creatures.
I am writing mainly because Rosco's situation is a little different. He lives in my house and has not spent one night outside since I brought him home. I dont even have a fenced yard. I live alone,am retired military, and am able to spend as much time as I like with the big boy. I though I would share some lessons and perhaps ask a few questions of my own to help promote the breed.
1. House Breaking. At 9 weeks he would stop in the house and do whatever pleased him. For about 2 weeks I watched him like a hawk. As I caught him in the act I would holler NO and take him thru the front door on a leash. After two weeks he was trained. This is just to point out that they are easily housebroken. My saving grace during this phase was my heavy duty carpet cleaning machine, which was always on standby. Even a Pyr pup can discharge quite a torrent. As a sidenote, at 6 months I had to leave him in the house for 15 hours during a family medical emergency. I was amazed to come home to a spotless house. I think Rosco went into hibernation that day and woke up when I came home, as the water and feed bowls were still full.
2. Exercise. Rosco doesn't need much. I walk him a half mile first thing in the morning, then again during the afternoon, plus trips to the farm. He is never off leash. He plays catch/fetch in the living room, and chases after his toys and shakes them back and forth. He can gather some speed as he gallups thru the house, but has not broken anything yet.
3. Chewing. When very young he pulled the skirt off my couch and chewed a wooden window sill. Since then no problem. He likes his toys and a daily leather chew. For some reason he will take cloth pot holders from my coounter top, but will not attempt to steal anything else. He chews up paper towels into tiny pieces.
4. Shedding. Roscoe sheds a lot. However I tell everone that my house is much cleaner now that I vacuum every other day. The hair come out in little tufts, and does not float around in the air like some other breeds.
I am running out of forum space, so will continue later. Please comment or ask any questions you have. Just trying to tell you how it is to actually live with one of these wonderful creatures.