What does bringing home a Great Pyrenees have to do with homeschooling? Well, when you’re homeschooling and you decide to add a puppy to your family it’s bound to turn into a pet unit study. Because learning happens all the time.
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Homeschooling Kids and a Dog: Bringing Home a Great Pyrenees
Our newest research project has actually been two years in the making. The children have wanted a puppy since we moved to the farm. We, however, needed to be in a bigger place to accommodate a large dog.
We moved to a larger home back in the fall and so we started seriously talking about a new addition to the family.
After much research, we decided to take a field trip to Hilltop Great Pyrenees where we got to know more about the breed…up close.
These dogs are magnificent, HUGE, and so gentle. They won over the entire family.
Bringing Home a Great Pyrenees
Meet Tanu Vanessa Graulus Belt Vincent. But we call him Tanu for short.
Can you guess who wanted the name, Vanessa? My daughter of course!
Heather at Hilltop Great Pyrenees was wonderful about sending us weekly updates on weight and lengths of each of the puppies. She also sent us pictures and videos as the puppies grew.
Also, I apologize in advance for the barrage of puppy photos you’re about to endure.
Bringing Home a Great Pyrenees – A Pet Unit Study
Our weekly updates sparked my children’s desire and interest in the growth rates of the puppies as well as the history, geography, and temperament of this wonderful breed. It was sort of an impromptu pet unit study. This included…
- math
- language arts
- geography
- history
- puppy training with consistency and all the patience that entails.
Did you know that Great Pyrenees can gain 10 pounds each month while actively growing?
Tanu is expected to reach 150 pounds when full grown…which will be in about 2 years.
Language Arts & Writing:
Every week the children wrote down some new fact they learned about the Great Pyrenees breed while also tracking Tanu’s length and weight. They did copy work from some of our Great Pyrenees books as well as dictation. In this way, they also learned new vocabulary and practiced their writing skills!
Bringing Home a Great Pyrenees – Great Pyrenees Books
Math:
The kiddos used a bag of rice to simulate Tanu’s weight each week. They weighed themselves first and then continually added rice to the bag until they suspected they had enough. Then they subtracted their weight from the total until they reached how much Tanu weighed.
From this, the children also learned how to create graphs!
The best way for us to homeschool is through hands-on life experiences.
Our First Meeting: Kids and Puppies
Love at first sight, folks!
We finally met Tanu face to face when he was 5 weeks old. He curled up in our laps and enjoyed the endless petting. He was just the most precious little “floofer” (is that even a word?) we had ever met!
You’d think that 3 1/2 hours of playing with puppies would be enough…but it wasn’t. It was, however, 3 1/2 hours of pure happiness!
He also enjoyed being held and serenaded by our daughter to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”
Bringing Home a Great Pyrenees: Gotcha Day
Our official “Gotcha Day” for Tanu was July 7th! It felt like a whirlwind of adventure. He slept the entire 3 hours home. Then, he slept all night! I think I might have been spoiled with our first night together. But if that was the worst kind of night I can expect….I’ll take it!
Oh, and he has a strong distrust of the coffee maker and coffee making process. The only time he’s barked has been while I was making coffee….we’re working on it.
Welcome, Home Tanu!
We have officially entered into a new season of our homeschool.
Bringing Home a Great Pyrenees
In case you are thinking of adding a puppy to your home, here are some of our favorite resources for helping us prepare for puppy!
Puppy Picture Books
Puppy Training Books
Puppy Supplies
Homeschooling Kids and a Dog: Bringing Home a Great Pyrenees
Want to see how Tanu is growing? Check out these photos of his awkward teenager stage! In these photos he is only a year old and around 100 pounds. He still has another year or more of growing to go. His guardian instincts are kicking in but he is still our “little” lap puppy. “If I fits, I sits.”
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Hello great post. We are a homeschool family and about to get a male Pyrenee we can not wait! What were your favorite read aloud books? Thank you so much. Did you get your boy neutered just curious?
Hi and congrats on getting a little marshmallow fur ball! You are all in for a wonderful adventure! Our favorite read alouds about Great Pyrenees were definitely White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan, Maxnificent! The Polka Dot Pyrenees by Dianne Burch, and Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp. We did get our boy neutered at around 8 months old at he was starting to exhibit some behavior issues. But the neutering and consistent training nipped that in the bud. He is about to be 2 years old now and is just the best!
I just saved a great Pyrenees, Shepard mix from the shelter she is a year and a half and weighs about 80 pounds,wish me luck she seems like a great dog but I think she’s had a tuff life.
Awe, I wish you and your new 4-legged family member the best of luck!
I rescued a Great Pyrenese/ Golden mix who is more Pyr. than Golden. Wonderful., loving extremely smart dog and a wonderful protective watch dog. He is 5 and the love of our lives. Early socialization make a world of difference. Wonderful.article.
Richie & Marybeth Fredericks
Awe, thank you! I totally agree. Early socialization and continued socialization is crucial.
My great pyrenese, Ruby, is almost 8 years old. She is the love of my life! So gentle and loves cuddles. Her favorite spot is next to mom. Great breed and can’t imagine life without her.
Tanu’s favorite spot is next to me too! He is definitely a mamas boy.
Pyrs are the greatest! My husband and I did giant breed rescue for years and at one time had four Pyrs and a St. Bernard! Full house!
Bill has since passed away, and I am so thankful for my beautiful 103# Tara! I’ll always have a Pyr!
Have fun with your fur baby!
Awe, thank you!
I absolutely love this breed but about 6 yrs ago I had a stroke & my husband denies me the pleasure of having a pryr because of there size. I conveyed the fact that they are extremely gentle. Oh well maybe some day.
Awe, I’m so sorry about your loss and your health. Yes, they are just the best dogs. We can’t imagine life without our big goofy polar bear.
As a parent and educator I wish you continued success in educating your children….and much fun with your pyr. We have owned several of the breed. As I write now I am warming my toes in the fur of our male as he snores peacefully at my feet.
Awe, thank you! Our pyr is the best and I honestly can’t imagine having another breed of dog!
We have 2 Great Pyrenees,. Doolittle and Loretta, they’re 3, brother and sister. We’re empty-nesters and they bring us daily joy. We’ve had many large dogs over the years and these two are very best, always alert and good natured with grandbabies and guests. I can’t imagine our home without them
Our “little fella” brings us daily joy as well. We can’t imagine life without his shenanigans and goofiness. I say “little fella” but he’s not so little anymore. He is now 11 months old and a whopping 90 pounds!
We just brought our new puppy home-11weeks old now. We love him so much already! The Great Pyrenees are certainly special dogs
I really enjoyed reading your blog, it was very heartwarming. 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
Congratulations on your new addition! Enjoy him while he is small and take loads of pictures. They grow up so fast. Ours is 11 months old now and 90 pounds. He is totally awesome, but I find myself looking back at the photos and wondering when he grew so big. 🙂
We love our Great Pyrenees! She turned 2 in January and is such a wonderful part of our family 🙂
Awe, love it! Our fella will be 1 in May! He has been such a blessing to our family.
OMGOODNESS! What an ADORABLE dog! <3 Your kids look so happy!
Thank you! The kids are over the moon with happiness!