Really git me upset all about a great pyrenees

So The ranch were the herd was killed is a working farm for people with mental heath issues. I went to visit again with Molly because there is a young group that comes out in Tuesdays and they really love to run and play with Molly. Well my friend who works there mentioned that they were considering getting a great pyrenees to train to protect a new herd of either goats or sheep to come after the fence is fixed.

I went ape shit about how cruel that would be for the dog. They are not well suited to heat. I am so upset over it that if this happens at her suggestion i would no longer be able to be friends with this person. We get well into over 110 degrees wth feels like 130 and this type of breed would not do well.

Do you think I am over reacting. Also after my vent I hope it no longer bothers me.

I think your friend needs to do more research into herding breeds before getting a protector. I agree with you that the GP would not be a good dog to watch over the herds. :image017:

Maybe you can offer some suggestions of guard dogs that are more appropriate in hot weather areas. They may not realize that the coat holds in the warmth. Maybe an Anatolian Shepherd would be a better idea.

Llamas and donkeys are used for herd protection. I wonder if a donkey, in particular, would be more heat tolerant. I am not sure if they just sound an alarm or do they charge a predator? Well, charge I guess, for Llamas, because aren't they silent?

A Donkey would be a great idea

You might be over reacting a little bit. I wouldn't ruin a perfectly good friendship over this, because it may actually be doable, and Pys are Great dogs, especially with kids and guarding livestock.

Great Pyrenees have a double coat, like Labradors, and since they are white, can tolerate hot weather if they are acclimated to it. And, no one shaves them during hot weather. That thick coat can insulate against cold and hot weather both, as long as the dog is groomed regularly to remove the undercoat when they shed.

AKC had a spotlight on Pyrs, busting the top 5 "myths" about them, and heat intolerance was one of the myths they busted, I found it on a quick Google search, when i read this thread, because people say the same things about a thick coated Labrador not doing well in hot climates.

Breed Spotlight: Busting Five Myths About the Great Pyrenees - American Kennel Club

MYTH #3: “HOW CAN THEY LIVE THROUGH A HOT SUMMER WITH ALL THAT HAIR? YOU SHOULD SHAVE IT OFF.”

No, please don’t. The Pyr has a double coat. There is an insulating undercoat of fluff, with harsh guard hairs on the outside. In warm weather the undercoat is shed, leaving the protective outer coat. This coat is at least mostly white and reflects the sun. It traps a layer of air that is not a good conductor of heat to protect the dog underneath. In the winter, the dogs who come from the colder climates do have a beauty advantage in the show ring, as they grow their massive undercoats to keep them warm, but the dogs from the warmer climes are just as comfortable with their smaller coats."

I have had people look at me with disgust like I was abusing Bailey when I refused to shave him down in the summer - he was a newfy/fcr mix a big hairy guy. A GP is a good suggestion for guarding the herd and playing with the kids, and as already suggested the dog would have to be groomed and the coat maintained, not shaved.