Ranch Pyr/Colorado Mountain Dog Update:
Unfortunately the family and the ranch have had a bad year and so far there is no end in site. Two funerals only 12 days apart, some bad health, a car accident. Most of the sheep herd had to be sold, inflation forced us to experiment with different dog and livestock diets, more winter than this area has had since 1917, etc. All of these things affected the Pyrs to the point that we have not had a litter born in over a year now. We thought we were getting close a couple of times only to discover it was a false pregnancy. I believe we have found a diet that works for the Pyrs. But if we do not have a litter by this summer we will start refunding advance deposits in the order that they were received. We will stop taking advance deposits for the Pyrs and simply notify people when there are puppies available. My apologies to everyone who has been waiting so patiently.
Unfortunately the family and the ranch have had a bad year and so far there is no end in site. Two funerals only 12 days apart, some bad health, a car accident. Most of the sheep herd had to be sold, inflation forced us to experiment with different dog and livestock diets, more winter than this area has had since 1917, etc. All of these things affected the Pyrs to the point that we have not had a litter born in over a year now. We thought we were getting close a couple of times only to discover it was a false pregnancy. I believe we have found a diet that works for the Pyrs. But if we do not have a litter by this summer we will start refunding advance deposits in the order that they were received. We will stop taking advance deposits for the Pyrs and simply notify people when there are puppies available. My apologies to everyone who has been waiting so patiently.
Ranch Pyrs: (Colorado Mountain Dogs) Can be good for your soul and good for your sheep!
Some of our bloodline pictured below: Please click on a picture if the caption does not show up.
And why are some of my Pyrs tied up in the pictures? To control breeding pairs I rotate which adults are loose and on predator patrol.
Pregnant Tawney Gyspy keeps strangers away Gypsy Tawney
Anatolian Shepherd/Turkish Kangal likes to be close to the stock pregnant and still perching!
And why are some of my Pyrs tied up in the pictures? To control breeding pairs I rotate which adults are loose and on predator patrol.
Pregnant Tawney Gyspy keeps strangers away Gypsy Tawney
Anatolian Shepherd/Turkish Kangal likes to be close to the stock pregnant and still perching!
My Ranch Pyrs: I keep a few dogs to protect the ranch stock- horses, sheep, goats and poultry. My Ranch Pyrs are about 85% Great Pyrenees with some Anatolian, Akbash and a touch of Saint Bernard behind them. My bloodline is not registered or papered. I breed for original instincts, personality and strong, healthy body structure. I keep them for their livestock instincts and they are great at protecting the ranch. They are also happy to play with my kids. Some of my adults are happy to greet visitors when I am home. Other adults will watch you from a distance. When I am not home please do not get to close to the house or barn. Delivery personnel that they have been introduced to are allowed when I am not home. My adults are raised to be brushed, walk on a leash, and come in the house or travel in a vehicle if necessary. The adults shed out in the spring very well on their own. I brush them just to help them get through it faster. My original stock was chosen for their ability to get along with my children yet still be able to do their ranch and livestock guadian job. My first female was from southern Colorado. I am now in my third generation of Ranch Pyrs.
Compared to registered Pyrenees- my bloodline have large heads and are more "dry mouth" with less drooling. My dogs shed very well on their own with little if any brushing or matting. I have not had any bone cancer reports from any of my puppies. Many ranchers have reported good, strong livestock instincts and also the instinct to keep hawks away. One livestock started pup that was not sold until she was 5 months old saved the chickens and a teenage girl from a snarling stray dog. This family bought the 5 month old because something had gotten through the chicken wire twice in one week and killed chickens. I told them to tie this pup up outside the chicken yard so it would start bonding to the hens without being able to chase or play with them. And once or twice a day take the pup on leash around the perimeter of the area to encourage her patrol instinct. 3 days after this pup arrived an aggressive German Shepherd somehow got in the yard and started snarling at their teenager. The girl ran to the closest building, the hen house. The young Pyr tied up there was at the end of her chain trying to eat the German Shepherd. Someone fired a shot from the house and the shepherd disappeared. After the teenager calmed down they took their young Pyr for one of her perimeter walks around the fenced yard, well they tried too. Instead the pup drug them to a corner of the fenced yard where the shepherd had dug a hole under their fence and bushes. There was also a blood trail from the shot fired. To date: chickens and teenager are happy and safe. Pyr is very happy with her job. Shepherd never returned!
I have also had some great reports from my pet families. A half grown pup in town will not let a toddler walk through an open gate out into the street. The Pyr just stands across the gateway and won't move. A few of my Pyr puppies have become therapy and mobility assistance dogs since it blends perfectly with their need to "take care of somebody". Laddie, one of my foundation males is still going strong at 10 years old. Running, jumping, guarding, chasing off wolves and coyotes, playing with my kids and still spending the entire Wyoming winter outside. Laddie is also the boy who has been walking beside me so I can lean on him going up and down the hill to the corral. He started doing this when I had a knee surgery years ago and he never stopped! Most of my Pyrs do have the double dewclaws that are so sought after in the registered Pyrenees.
2016: We started the spring with coyotes, then wolves, now back to coyotes. The adults are doing a great job. No losses!
Birds of Prey: are a constant- but again, I have never had a lamb, goat kid or hen carried off. Since I acquired my first Pyr in 2005 I haven't had any predator losses.
I have not had any thefts from humans either. The Pyrs are as friendly as I am with visitors.
The puppies we produce are flexible. How they are raised greatly influences how they develop. We have had good reports from folks who have raised them strictly for Livestock Guardians and families who have raised them as house pets. A few have become therapy dogs. Some pups have also been shown in 4H by their families. All puppy personalities are evaluated as they develop. Puppies can be started with pet handling or for livestock guards- your choice.
Compared to registered Pyrenees- my bloodline have large heads and are more "dry mouth" with less drooling. My dogs shed very well on their own with little if any brushing or matting. I have not had any bone cancer reports from any of my puppies. Many ranchers have reported good, strong livestock instincts and also the instinct to keep hawks away. One livestock started pup that was not sold until she was 5 months old saved the chickens and a teenage girl from a snarling stray dog. This family bought the 5 month old because something had gotten through the chicken wire twice in one week and killed chickens. I told them to tie this pup up outside the chicken yard so it would start bonding to the hens without being able to chase or play with them. And once or twice a day take the pup on leash around the perimeter of the area to encourage her patrol instinct. 3 days after this pup arrived an aggressive German Shepherd somehow got in the yard and started snarling at their teenager. The girl ran to the closest building, the hen house. The young Pyr tied up there was at the end of her chain trying to eat the German Shepherd. Someone fired a shot from the house and the shepherd disappeared. After the teenager calmed down they took their young Pyr for one of her perimeter walks around the fenced yard, well they tried too. Instead the pup drug them to a corner of the fenced yard where the shepherd had dug a hole under their fence and bushes. There was also a blood trail from the shot fired. To date: chickens and teenager are happy and safe. Pyr is very happy with her job. Shepherd never returned!
I have also had some great reports from my pet families. A half grown pup in town will not let a toddler walk through an open gate out into the street. The Pyr just stands across the gateway and won't move. A few of my Pyr puppies have become therapy and mobility assistance dogs since it blends perfectly with their need to "take care of somebody". Laddie, one of my foundation males is still going strong at 10 years old. Running, jumping, guarding, chasing off wolves and coyotes, playing with my kids and still spending the entire Wyoming winter outside. Laddie is also the boy who has been walking beside me so I can lean on him going up and down the hill to the corral. He started doing this when I had a knee surgery years ago and he never stopped! Most of my Pyrs do have the double dewclaws that are so sought after in the registered Pyrenees.
2016: We started the spring with coyotes, then wolves, now back to coyotes. The adults are doing a great job. No losses!
Birds of Prey: are a constant- but again, I have never had a lamb, goat kid or hen carried off. Since I acquired my first Pyr in 2005 I haven't had any predator losses.
I have not had any thefts from humans either. The Pyrs are as friendly as I am with visitors.
The puppies we produce are flexible. How they are raised greatly influences how they develop. We have had good reports from folks who have raised them strictly for Livestock Guardians and families who have raised them as house pets. A few have become therapy dogs. Some pups have also been shown in 4H by their families. All puppy personalities are evaluated as they develop. Puppies can be started with pet handling or for livestock guards- your choice.
Sage Stud Fee $350 Booking Fee $50
Our largest boy at 32 inches at the shoulder with the most bone. He is good with his family
and well on his way to being a great ranch guard. Sage is sired by Laddie and out of Holly
who is out of Pearl. Laddie was born in Fremont County and Pearl was born in Southern
Colorado.
This is Sage at 15 months in his winter coat.
Our largest boy at 32 inches at the shoulder with the most bone. He is good with his family
and well on his way to being a great ranch guard. Sage is sired by Laddie and out of Holly
who is out of Pearl. Laddie was born in Fremont County and Pearl was born in Southern
Colorado.
This is Sage at 15 months in his winter coat.
Hawk
Our smallest boy at 28 inches tall but not a small dog to be sure. He has Anatolian behind
him and the strongest instincts. He is the least people oriented but good with the family
that he knows. Hawk is sired by purebred but not papered Moe who was born in Casper,
WY. He is out of Fern who is sired by Scout. Scout was a half Anatolian/half Pyrenees
born in Southern Colorado. Together Hawk and Laddie have chased off a pack of wolves
without even getting into a fight because the wolves wouldn't get that close.
Laddie
Laddie is our "medium" size boy at 30 inches tall who is still running, jumping and
siring litters at 10 years old! He is good with his family and excellent against coyotes
and wolves. Laddie is happy to greet visitors but don't try to barrow the water truck
when I'm not home! He has sired many Livestock Guardians and happy pets over
the years.
This is Laddie in the winter of 2017. No training here- he is doing the "Pyrenees
Perch" so he can keep an eye on things from a higher vantage point. I just
happened to catch him at it!
Laddie is our "medium" size boy at 30 inches tall who is still running, jumping and
siring litters at 10 years old! He is good with his family and excellent against coyotes
and wolves. Laddie is happy to greet visitors but don't try to barrow the water truck
when I'm not home! He has sired many Livestock Guardians and happy pets over
the years.
This is Laddie in the winter of 2017. No training here- he is doing the "Pyrenees
Perch" so he can keep an eye on things from a higher vantage point. I just
happened to catch him at it!