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Posted on March 8, 2017 by Kristy by Kristy

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Hey there, I’m Kristy!

@kristyandpatronus

One thing nobody actually tells you before you dec

One thing nobody actually tells you before you decide to get a really big dog is that you can’t go anywhere without people stopping you to ask questions or want to pet your dog. I get asked how much Patronus and Naga eat, if they shed, which breed they are, how much they weigh, and what their lifespan is almost every time we leave the house. Sometimes I get really awkward comments, like “I would never get a dog like that, that’s way too expensive” or “Are you walking him or is he walking you?!” (as Patronus is walking calmly beside me), or even, “My kid could ride that thing!”. Sometimes people will turn to their own dog and say something like, “That thing will eat you!” as we pass by. One thing I almost NEVER get asked or approached about, however, is training. I think in general, people assume that because a Pyr looks like a Golden Retriever, they must be easy to train. Or, they just assume that because Patronus is very chill and pretty lazy overall, he just magically walks on a loose leash, or does what I ask in a distracting environment, or naps peacefully under the table when we’re visiting a dog friendly brewery. The truth is, Pyrs were bred to protect and care for livestock, so they’re designed to be independent thinkers (read: STUBBORN), love to bark at night, are often slow to obey commands, and can be aloof around strangers. (Naga is definitely an exception to the naturally aloof rule, though.) While Pyrs are naturally very affectionate, caring, and loyal, they require very consistent leadership and usually need to be given a “job” to do. This doesn’t mean that they can’t make great companion dogs, but it does mean that a dog’s behavior isn’t 100% dependent on his/her personality. Regular training and accountability are definitely a must. People (even friends) often think it’s ridiculous to spend that much time and effort on dog training, but at the end of the day, Luke and I love spending quality time with Patronus and Naga, and it makes us feel significantly less stressed taking them places since we can predict how they will behave in a particular situation. For us, taking the time to train consistently is just worth it.

Just hanging around with my bestest girl. 🐶 •

Just hanging around with my bestest girl. 🐶
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#kristyandnaga #greatpyrenees #timeoutside #adventuredog #hikingwithdogs #dogsthathike #greatpyreneespuppy #happydog #dogsthatexplore #puremichiganders #mistateparks #puremichigan #redheads #hikefromhome #giantbreedlovers #mittenstate

Early morning wake up calls aren’t quite so bad

Early morning wake up calls aren’t quite so bad when I get to face them with my favorite hiking buddy in the whole wide world. ❤️
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#kristyandpatronus #greatpyrenees #hikerbabesorg100 #journeyto100 (83/100) #hikefromhome #hikingwithdogs #adventuredog #mistateparks #ruffwear #mydogismy #waterboy #happydog #dogsthathike #greatpyreneesofinstagram #ilovemydog #majesticfloof

Gave Patronus the day off and brought Naga along f

Gave Patronus the day off and brought Naga along for a hike on this gorgeous, sunny, breezy day. This was her first time actually hiking with her backpack on, and she handled it so well that we decided to tack a couple extra miles on, giving her a mileage PR to boot! (More in my stories today if you want to see some cute videos of her prancing along the trail. She’s always so happy!) 🐶
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#kristyandnaga #greatpyrenees #adventuredog #mistateparks #michiganoutdoors #hikingdog #sunflare #hikingdogsofinstagram #ruffwear #mydogismy #rayofsunshine #puremichiganders #letshike #greatpyreneesofinstagram #hikerbabesorg100 #journeyto100 (82/100) #hikefromhome #greatpyreneespuppy

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the pas

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past few years, it’s that you don’t actually have to know what to say. I think a lot of us tend to avoid having difficult conversations, dismiss one another’s struggles in an effort to “be positive”, or even ghost out of relationships when someone we know is going through a hardship because we don’t know what to say and that’s uncomfortable. The thing is though, it’s okay to take that pressure off yourself and realize that you’re not actually expected to know everything. If you don’t know the right thing to say, just listen. Approach other people with genuine curiosity. If you don’t understand, ask. If you feel the need to say something, say something kind and encouraging. If talking is difficult for you, DO something kind instead. Treat someone to lunch or coffee. Spend quality time together. Pay somebody a compliment. If a person seems overwhelmed, take one small obligation off their plate. If you’re feeling powerless about a larger issue, do something about it. Read a book about a topic you don’t understand. Donate to a charity. Volunteer your time. The next time you order takeout, support a restaurant owned by someone in your local community. Go vote. Nobody expects you to know everything or have the perfect words to remedy every situation. You’re one person, and that’s okay. ❤️ ( 📸: @meggs1012 )

This morning Patronus and I got up earlier than ei

This morning Patronus and I got up earlier than either of us wanted to (I’ll admit, we’re both nocturnal), loaded up the car, and drove out to our nearby trail to do a bit of much needed hiking. The crisp morning air felt chilly on my skin as we made our way through the shaded trail system, but to be honest, it was completely exhilarating. Patronus had a HUGE smile on his face the entire time, and I could tell that he missed our weekly trail time as much as I did. I snapped this photo as we sat beside the pond, enjoying our breakfast after a job well done. It may not be much, but for us, enjoying these moments together feels like a mini vacation. ❤️
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#kristyandpatronus #hikefromhome #hikerbabesorg100 #journeyto100 (81/100) #greatpyrenees #dogsthathike #adventuredog #giantbreed #greatpyreneesofinstagram #majesticfloof #puremichigan #mistateparks #ilovemydog #trailchat #exploremichigan #agirlandherdog #hikingwithdogs #bigdog

Dreaming of another trail adventure. 🐾 • •

Dreaming of another trail adventure. 🐾
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#kristyandpatronus #greatpyrenees #adventuredog #dogsthathike @ospreypacks #ohiostateparks #ilovemydog #optoutside #giantbreedlovers #hikingdogsofinstagram #greatpyreneesofinstagram #hikingwithdogs #dogsthattravel #tailsontrails #hikingdogsofinstagram #agirlandherdog #ohiofindithere

This weekend we decided to hop on the whole backya

This weekend we decided to hop on the whole backyard camping bandwagon, and I’ve gotta admit, it ended up being a lot more fun than I’d expected. We took the dogs for a walk around our neighborhood, put up our comfiest tent, built a fire, and stayed up late watching scary movies outside. 👻 Also, this was Naga’s first time in a tent and she handled it like a pro! 🏆 As a compulsive list-maker, one of the best things about backyard camping was that I didn’t have to worry about forgetting anything. One of the other best things was that we didn’t have to sit in Memorial Day weekend traffic or be exposed to other people’s germs. Also, backyard camping is the perfect time to test out any camping or backpacking gear BEFORE you head out to a campground or hit the trail. 🏕
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#nagaandpatronus #hikefromhome #goforthefunofit #campingwithdogs #greatpyrenees #dogsthatadventure #stayhome #optoutside #happycamper #greatpyreneesofinstagram

This time last year, I was backpacking along the s

This time last year, I was backpacking along the shores of Lake Superior, exploring the Pictured Rocks with friends. Because of the whole quarantine thing, this year’s spring adventures have looked a bit different. That said, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from backpacking is that you can’t plan for everything. It’s good to plan, and it’s smart to be prepared, but sometimes shit just happens and you’ve gotta roll with the punches. 🏕
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#sharePIRO #lakesuperior #906 #exploremichigan #michiganview #campandhikemichigan #northcountrytrail #greatlakesproud #greatlakesstate #putemichiganders

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