Great Pyrenees are traditionally livestock guardian dogs....they are intended to live in a field, protecting goats or chickens from predators such as coyotes and wolves. My Bella is a Great Pyr, but not a livestock guardian...just a "house dog". However, it is interesting when her instincts take over. We witnessed one of these today, when we took her to a dog park by my in-law's house. When all the other normal dogs were sniffing each other, chasing balls, playing, greeting people, etc, my Bella took it upon herself to dig an enormous hole in the soft dirt in the park. This is a common pyr behavior - they are called "pyr pits". Apparently livestock guardian pyrs like to dig big holes and lay in them, so they can watch their chickens and be incognito to predators.
Bella seriously dug a foot in a few seconds, her feet were flying, she was growling the entire time, dirt spraying everywhere. Then she laid down in her hole, and if any other dog came near her, she chased them off. Of course, she did allow her brother Bear to lay down next to her.
I found this entire scene hilarious, although I am slightly afraid of what she could do to our backyard if left to her own devices. Tonight, she is tired and sprawled out on the carpet......like a good house dog!
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