We rescued a pyr from a shelter. She came from an abusive situtation and was 30 lbs undrerweight and even then she never showed a bit of aggression. So I have no doubts about the sweet temperment and disposition my pyr has always shown to my family including a 3 yr old boy and his all his friends.

Alice Ayres, Broomall, Pa, USA

Also, what person IN THIER RIGHT MIND returns for jacket after a vicious attack? Something isn't right here.

Anyone with a sense of logic and reason knows that blaming a breed for a dog's behavior is looking at the wrong end of the leash.

Alice Ayres, Broomall, PA , USA

In northern Spain, In areas where sheep, wolves and dogs have been together for many years troubles with tourist are not common, but in new wolf areas highly populated there are also problems. Perhaps with the dog there must also came a sheperd that knows the dog. Or spanish Mastin are more friendly

Nacho, Gijon, Spain

Notoriously vicious? That is the absolute insanity! I have a pair of guardian Pyrs. They guard, as they were bred to do. The male lives in my field and keep coyotes and other critters away from my goats. Before the Pyr went to work, I lost 13 goats one year alone to the coyotes.

Katy, Cartersville, United States

I own two Pyrenees, they have been well socialized and are wonderful additions to my family. We are also friends with Pyrs who are service dogs and therapy dogs...just like any breed, it's all about training and socialization. By the way, Adam Sage, since when are they "notoriously ferocious?"

Valerie, Nebraska, USA

Just when exactly did common sense fall by the wayside?
These dogs have been bred for 1000's of yrs. to do a job they are very good at!...They are not vicious...They are GUARDIANS!...They need not be feared but they certainly should be respected!
We've 4 of our own..They keep us safe as we do them.

Michelle, Oakland,

Coming across a working Pyr is not like meeting your neighbour's dog. An encounter with a Pyr protecting a flock is best handled like an encounter with a wild animal. Keep your distance, respect the animal's signals and space. Perhaps because there are no similar dangers people aren't aware of this.

Cathy Macdonald, Toronto, Canada

This breed has historically had a serious job to do long before someone decided to make money with "holiday makers". This sounds like a matter of the money makers not bothering to do their homework and thus, putting people in jeopardy. Blame the greedmongers and stupidity, not the dogs.

D. Harmon, Palisade, USA

To work effectively, Pyrs must be fenced since they perimeter patrol to protect their boundaries. As if the article says, the EU program provides for proper fencing to contain the dogs, then these tourists must be scaling fences to intrude on the dogs' property and should accept the consequences.

Barbara Mattson, Maplecrest, Greene, NY

I have a Pyrenean Mountain Dog. He is gentle, proud and docile... until you trepass on our property uninvited. Then he does his job. These brain dead tourists should beware - these dogs are doing what they've always done - looking after their flocks. My dog is a pet, and a guardian. We had a burglar

Angus McIlwraith, Barnham, UK

yep, EU subsidies gone barking mad

Chris, London, UK

The dogs are not supposed to be socialized to humans they are supposed to be able to fight wolves. That is no easy task either so if you want wolves, then you don't want recreation it is that simple. Once the sheep and dogs are gone, then recreation will be threatened by the wolves themselve

jenna, Las Cruses, USA

One sheep farmer I know became quite annoyed when I tried to befriend his dog.
"We don't want them to like people" he said.

Richard, Carcassonne, France

Tourists, in mountains, don't know how to behave with sheep & patous.
You've to be at least 300 meters from the sheep if not the patou defend its sheep.
In the mountains you've to keep away from the sheep.
Be careful about the patous and your children!

Mauvezin, Paris & Biarritz, France

shepherds dont breed their sheep as a meal for wolves The compensation is rubbing salt in the wounds Shepherds in mountain regions possibly are more at one with nature than so called ecologists Quite simply putting wolves and sheep together is incompatible resulting in this escalation

john d forster, nice, france

I was attacked by one when I was about 13. I went to my neighbors house to pick up a friend and the dog ran at me with no provocation as I was knocking on the door-it was so strong the chain it was on broke-it grabbed my elbow and bit hard. They are not pets.

patrick Smith, Stowe, USA

Considering the market-value of a sheep these days, how can we justify spending 5 million euros so that 1,200 sheep can be eaten by people instead of wolves? Personally, I'm quite happy to compensate the farmers generously for feeding the wolves - which I'm pleased to have there.

Josh, london, uk

This sounds like a problem of the dogs not being properly socialized to humans. My godfather has had several of these dogs to guard his livestock and they've always been delightful towards humans as well.

Rebecca, Huntington,