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This is about my dog Lukka, a Pyrenean Shepherd or Labrit. Lukka is an Icelandic mare name signifying 'lucky'. Pyrenean Shepherds are working dogs from, guess where, the French Pyrenees, after thousand of years still shepherd's companions able to guard up to 800 sheep. And they look like Boomer, the smart and gentle little bastard dog from that Eighties show. And, according to an old legend, there was one accompanying Bernadette when she saw the Virgin Mary at Lourdes. Which in my view is very improbable, knowing the breed by now the dog would have barked the Holy Mary back to Heaven, and Lourdes would still be a nice quite place in the mountains.

Pyrenean Shepherds are not Boomer. They look cute, but are they really? If you ever consider owning one, just imagine the following situation: you take your 9 months old puppy to the book store. At dog school they tell you socialization is important and very consequently you have introduced the puppy as of the moment you got her to all kinds of different people. As it is your first dog, you believe that any dog can be made to love everyone, and that dogs that bark at strangers are badly raised by definition. But while socializing, you forgot to introduce her to old ladies. And colored people. And people in wheelchairs. Up till nine months you believe you had a nice dog. And guess what: you are in this book store and there's this sweet old lady (or colored person or person in a wheelchair) seeing your cute little dog, wanting a cuddle. And there she starts barking in a rage right from hell. Old lady looks at you like you must hit and abuse that dear little doggie everyday. Embarrassment all over the place.
So that's 9 months: old ladies, people in wheelchairs and colored people. And the cable guy. Quite embarrassing. But then again, she is only 9 months isn't she? So you continue socializing her. Take her with you to pubs, restaurants, camping in Corsica.

At one year there is a turning point. As of now, people fall in three categories:

1) People she knows from when she was still young and innocent. These people she loves truly and unconditionally. Memory like an elephant: people she only saw once in her puppy life months ago are greeted with the most abundant love.
2) People she doesn't know but is willing to accept when properly introduced. That's 95% of the people. They have to kneel down and wait till her curiosity takes the better hand. Then they are allowed to stroke her over the hip and eventually over the head and then they are friends forever. However, this friendship has to be earned: she will still bark like hell during the first few minutes of the introduction. Although she never bites and is an altogether nice dog, earning her respect is not for the faint at heart. They are indeed not Boomer.
3) People she dislikes and wishes they had never been born. The cable guy. If you happen ever to meet my Lukka and you fall in this third category, don't worry, she is very inconsistent in her likings, and as of yet I have not seen any proof that these people are unpleasant people to humans alike. The cable guy was actually quite nice. And after all she never bites.

Pyrenean Shepherds are great watch dogs. Has nothing to do with the category the intruder is in: everyone, except us (cat, husband,me ) who comes at our door is greeted with her watch dog bark: whoowhoowhoooooooooooooo. She will decide after the intruder is let in if it is a 1 a 2 or a 3. Don't know whether a real burglar would be scared away by the dog, as they are rather small and cute looking, and have only little teeth but guarding she does. Fortunately Lukka never bites.

They don't like strangers. Not a bit. Strangers have to become non-strangers first and that can take quite some time. But this general misanthropy is greatly compensated by the love she has for her pack mates. Which is us, including our grumpy middle-aged cat. Lukka can't bear to be separated from us. She sleeps in a bench in our bed room, sleeps in the couch next to me right now, goes upstairs to work on the computer goes downstairs to put the laundry in the washing machine. Looks at me, smiling and with anticipation, when I am peeling potatoes. Looks at me, smiling and with anticipation, when I happen to use the bathroom. Hates it to be alone. Doesn't touch her water or food when she is alone, just sits there waiting for us to come back. Breaks your heart. Difficult when you have a full time job, but luckily there is work-from-home and if not possible, just drive home during lunch break. Maybe not too good for your career but who needs a career if you have a Lukka.
No vacation without her, which means no Ireland or no Iceland. The former we have been to twice in pre-dog times but the latter we haven't been to yet. Dear government of Iceland; make an exception for us and let us come visit you with our dog! Oh and apparently no Sweden and Norway either. We'll do New England this spring.

They are the size of a cocker spaniel and cute, friendly-looking. People I show her picture to think she is some kind of a lap dog and cannot believe the epithethon 'Shepherd'. In fact a Pyrenean Shepherd is a lot of dog. With a lot of energy. Forget the archetypical picture of a dog (mostly a lab) snoozing happily in its basket in front of the fireside. It just won't do. People we visit or people who visit us get nervous of her walking up and down the room all evening (Q: 'can't you tell her to lie down', A: 'no sorry been there tried that it just won't do, she prefers herding us'). Fortunately we don't get nervous ourselves, and whoever doesn't like Lukka and her strange ways. just isn't worth our friendship. Sometimes misanthropy is contagious.
We gave up on walking her when she was 1 year old and able to run alongside a bicycle. There just weren't enough hours available a day to do sufficient walking for her to be content. There is this bicycle thing called a springer with which you can attach your dog with some mechanism to your bicycle. The comments I had about that cycling 'poor doggie', 'that's dog abuse'. As if it is my sport not hers, as if I had not rather jumped into my car and drove to town... Not altogether legal in this country but thanks to the inventor, he/she saved our lives. And then again walking your dog off-leash is not legal in Belgium either, which is the only valid way of walking her: she'll do ten times the actual distance just by walking to and fro and try to herd her people. Which leads me to the following thought: are such dogs that did valuable work for all these centuries not more and more an anachronism in these days and age. Dogs are commodities, milking cows for unconditional love but preferably not exhibiting too much dog-ness. Dogs are OK as long as they keep there mouth shut at all time, are kept on a very short leash everywhere, don't sniffle at strangers or strange dogs. Children nowadays are raised to have an unnatural fright of all dogs. There have been a number of times when a little child spontaneously started crying when seeing my (little, cute looking at that time being a good dog) Lukka.
So here comes the final question. Why did you buy such a dog and do you regret having her. Well answering the first question will shock every true dog lover: I had seen them in the Pyrenees and though them cute. Neglected everything I read and thought I could make mine the nicest and most outgoing dog in the world. And I always wanted a dog, preferably an Irish Wolfhound, the largest one possible. My partner (and quite possibly also my cat), didn't want a dog. So I took the medium size dog I knew from vacation, the Pyrenean Shepherd or Labrit. Neglecting everything I read about them screaming at me 'this is not a dog for you'. The fact that they need a lot of exercise (me I don't like sports at all), that they can't be left alone (me the career woman I am), that this dog is so intelligent it will play tricks on you if you are not consistent (just smile at me and I will melt at your naughtiness).
Acquisition of Lukka was easy, raising her was difficult, but what a dog you get! Their sweet smile, their pixie face, their eagerness to learn and an intelligence even beyond understanding of most humans. And of course their unconditional love and devotion to the people they like. And although it is true that you should get a dog that suits you, sometimes you will end up suiting your dog. I walk, I cycle, I go to dog school.
There is no dog like my Lukka. <<Top