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With the arrival of our baby Avonlee Rose almost here we are racing to finish up some projects, making last minute preparations, & looking forward to meeting our new little princess. So, it was an unexpected blessing to add another member to our family so close to her due date.

On Sunday just before church a cowboy stopped us in the lobby. He told us he had the perfect watch dog for our farm (I had almost forgotten that I mentioned to someone at a church gathering that we needed a watchdog). We were very surprised, but we told him we were interested.

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My birthday is coming up and I had been asking Michael for a calf or a pony as my gift. He is the practical one in our family. So he kept gently reminding me that we had a lot going on – a new baby coming, renovating the farmhouse, a tight budget, and our pasture fencing is a wreck. As soon as we sat down I whispered that this dog could be my birthday present, since a Great Pyrenees is as big as a calf or pony.

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As soon as we met beautiful Lacy we all were smitten. She is ¾ Great Pyrenees and ¼ Anatolian Shepherd. This big white fluff-ball is only 2 years old, yet she is so calm and gentle. She just loves to snuggle and get belly rubs all day. At the working farm where Lacy lived with her mother Lily they only needed one watch dog and were looking for a good home for the pup. She is already fixed, has all her shots, and has been trained to sit. Lacy’s job was keeping the hawks away from their free range chickens, protecting livestock, and the family. All this made her perfect for our little farm.

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Our 5 pound Yorkie Bella is good at barking when something is amiss, but she just doesn’t put man or beast on the run. Bella spends most of her time indoors sleeping. When the weather is nice she does like to play outside, but hawks are as much a threat to Bella as they are to our chickens.

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Cami Grace thinks all Lacy’s loving licks tickle and she get a little scared at times. But Cami talks about “Wacy” nonstop and says it is her puppy, so we know they will be close friends soon. Bella has the same reaction to Lacy as Cami Grace does. She likes Lacy but is not sure about having such a large friend. Thankfully Lacy is patient with all of us.

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We already feel safer having our new guard on duty.

Here are some fun facts about Great Pyrenees:

  • History credits the first pair to be brought to the United States by General Lafayette for his friend J. S. Skinner in 1824.
  • The Great Pyrenees was recognized by the American Kennel Club in February of 1933.
  • They were bred to defend sheep against bears and wolves on the slopes of the Great Pyrenees Mountains in France and Spain.
  • They score a 10 out of 10 for protective instincts making them fierce against foes, but they are also known for their gentle care of small children and pets.

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