PyrShep, the Dream Dog or Nightmare

I don't really consider myself to be a pyrshep expert. But since I am getting so many questions about the breed lately I decided to write a few lines. First of all I recommend to everybody who is considering getting a pyrshep to first have their head examined and secondly read these two articles by two very wise ladies:

http://www.lolabuland.com/2010/06/25/bc-vs-ps/

http://extremebraveheart.jimdo.com/english/about-pyrsheps/

Don't get me wrong, I am totally in love with these crazy little monkies and I always want to have one (or more). But most of my friends (yes, also agility friends - I don't have many non-agility friends anyway), although they love my dogs, would never get a pyrshep unless they already had one before and are, much like me, fans of the breed.

So I will just go through the most common questions that I've been getting lately. First about the size: Nobody can guarantee you that a pyrshep puppy from this or another litter will be medium. Small dogs can produce large puppies and vice versa. Pyrsheps vary in size a LOT. It's impossible to predict at 2 months how tall a puppy will be as adult. Puppies from the same litter can be really small or huge, so it's just a matter of "luck".

Healthwise pyrsheps are considered to be a healthy breed, but there are only a few breeders actually doing any health tests so it's hard to say. There should be a lot more research done in this area if you ask me. I guess it again depends on luck. Being very light and agile sure helps them to be able to move and live a happy life even if their joints and back are not perfect, but at the same time they are also quite prone to injuries. I know many pyrsheps who jumped from a balcony or window, Tani tore apart a finger (yes, entire finger, not nail, gone) when she jumped on the bed one time, and puppy Momo got rid of her milk teeth by scratching them out or smashing her head against the floor (yes, on purpose). They are EXTREMELY nervous dogs and although it looks cool and funny when you see them on a competition, you have to imagine they are like this 24/7.

Which brings me to the character, the main reason why people fall in love with the breed or decide against them in the end. None of my pyrsheps is particularly fearful, maybe because I am careful with choosing the line/puppy, maybe because I work on socialisation a LOT, like every day at least 1 new experience for the first year of life with Tani and a bit less with Momo who is even too brave for her own good. They still have some little fears, like Tani is scared of storms even though we have them every month and Momo looks miserable if somebody raises their voice in her presence, but nothing drammatic. But I know MANY pyrsheps that will go into panic mode if you only look into their direction. They are extremely attached to their human and this needy part of them can be really annoying sometimes. Personally I don't mind if they jump all over me, if I have to drink my morning coffee holding the mug above my head and if I have to keep all the food locked at all times. Of course I could be more strict with them and forbid them to do all these things, but I am 100% sure it would affect their self esteem that they need to function without fears and be able not only to give their all on agility course, but also in normal life.

So I accept their nervousness, I guess I "get" them because I also get distracted easily and mostly think of the World as a giant amusement park even if it lets me down at times. But I can easily imagine the same characteristics would be very annoying to some people so when people ask me about getting a puppy, I always suggest that they think again. If they like all this craziness and chaos then pyrsheps will not let you down. But to the people who want to get a pyrshep and then raise it into something it's not - I think they should just get another, more "normal" breed. It's more fair to the dog and has a much better chance of working out.