The Great Pyrenees is a medium-sized dog that is slightly longer than tall. The Great Pyrenees’ life objective is to guard sheep, goats, animals, people, children, grass, flowers, the moon, yard furniture, bird feeders, and any other real or imagined predators that may intrude on your personal space.
The Pyrenees, or Pyr, is an endearing gentle giant who is fiercely loyal to its family and gets along swimmingly with youngsters.
They have a calm and gentle demeanor and would make an excellent family dog. Because of their size, it’s critical that these dogs have lots of room to run around and play.
Contents Overview
History of Great Pyrenees
The Pyr has a long and illustrious history that dates back to the 18th century B.C. The breed appears to have evolved from many years of alpine sheepdogs in Central Asia. Between 1800 and 1000 BC, the Pyrenees were introduced to the Pyrenees mountain area in southern France.
The Basque people of that region developed the breed as a guardian of sheep and the home. It was embraced by French kings and nobles in the 17th century.
The Great Pyrenees was brought to the U.S. by General Lafayette in 1824. The Great Pyrenees were first recognized by the AKC in 1933. In Europe, it is known as the Pyrenean mountain dog, and it is still a hard worker.
Great Pyrenees Personality
The Great Pyrenees is a serious, quiet dog recognized for his unwavering devotion to his family, which includes well-behaved children. These dogs are docile and friendly, yet they will not hesitate to defend their family and territory if the need arises.
They are a guardian breed that was developed to protect a flock of sheep, and they get along well with children of all ages.
The Great Pyrenees is an excellent family dog because of these characteristics. They can be playful, making them an excellent companion for children.
The Great Pyrenees were raised to be left alone in mountain valleys to guard sheep, thus they are naturally self-sufficient. Because of their independence, obedience training can be more difficult than with other breeds.
Great Pyrenees Temperament
The Great Pyrenees has a tolerant and affectionate demeanor. They are highly intelligent and quiet. The Great Pyrenees is an excellent family dog because of these characteristics. They can be playful, making them an excellent companion for children.
The Pyrenees is a formidable and capable protector. These canines will fare best with small children if they are socialized and given the chance to engage with them from a young age.
Great Pyrenees bark a lot because they were raised to be mountain dogs to guard sheep. If a stranger approaches, they will bark loudly to alarm their owners. If left alone, the Great Pyrenees can be destructive, therefore crate training is essential.
Size and Appearance of Great Pyrenees
How big is a Great Pyr?
This dog belongs to the big breeds. In this breed, the males are slightly bigger than the ladies. The great Pyrenees stand 27 to 32 inches tall and weigh 100 to 120 pounds. Females are typically 25 to 29 inches tall and weigh 85 to 100 pounds.
Puppy weights range from 29 to 40 pounds at three months of age. Puppies usually weigh between 54 and 74 pounds when they reach six months of age. At the age of 19 months, these puppies will be completely grown. Because of their size, these dogs require a lot of room to run and play.
Appearance of Great Pyrenees
The Great Pyrenees is a huge, powerful dog with a double coat. The undercoat is fine, velvety, and thick, and the outside coat is long, coarse, and straight or slightly wavy. Hair will be short and fine around the ears and face.
The dazzling white coats and big muscular bodies of the Great Pyrenees stop people in their tracks. Their coats are plain white, white with pale yellow, tan, or grey spots. The eyes are dark brown, and the nose is black.
A Great Pyrenees dog features a rounded head, intelligent brown eyes with a peaceful stare, long, flowing fur, and a feathery tail. The tail is long and plumed, reaching to the dog’s hocks at the very least. The ears are triangular and flop downward.
Great Pyrenees Health & Problems
The Great Pyrenees’ lifespan is lengthy for a large dog. They are susceptible to minor health issues like entropion, osteosarcoma, Osteochondrosis Dissecans, skin issues, cataracts, chondrodysplasia, and panosteitis, as well as major issues such as canine hip dysplasia and patellar luxation.
Spinal muscular atrophy, stomach torsion, and otitis externa are among conditions that might affect the breed. A veterinarian may prescribe that the dogs have regular hip, knee, and eye checks to detect some of these problems.
Great Pyr Lifespan
The Great Pyrenees, also known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog in some countries, is a huge dog with a 10- to 12-year lifespan. They are calm and friendly around youngsters, as well as other animals.
Like many other purebred dogs, the Great Pyrenees is a rather healthy dog breed. As a result, it’s critical that you engage with a reputable breeder who will do everything possible to create healthy puppies.
How To Take Care of Great Pyrenees
Exercise requirements
Pyrs, despite their low energy level, requires a moderate quantity of exercise on a regular basis. Expect to walk your Pyr for 30 to 40 minutes every day, but it’s versatile and can tolerate up to two hours of exercise.
This breed’s exercise needs can be met through daily walks or time spent running around in a fenced-in backyard. The great Pyrenees also excel at obedience trials and cart-pulling competitions.
When exercising your Pyr, be careful not to expose him to extremely hot temperatures, as the breed is prone to overheating. They, on the other hand, excel at exercising in the cold.
A Visit to the Vet
It is an important and valuable way to taking care of your Great Pyrenees Dog. Like all dog breeds, This breed needs to go to the vet once per year for a checkup.
Generally, a complete physical examination of a particular dog is needed at least once a year. It involves getting your dog’s temperature, checking heart, lungs, weighing, stomach, eyes, teeth, ears, skin, and coat.
Vaccinating your pet has long been regarded as one of the most straightforward approaches to assist him to live a long, healthy life. Puppies are typically vaccinated at 8 and 10 weeks; your young Great Pyr should then be given a booster 12 months after their first vaccination because it’s beneficial to take care of any pets.
Grooming & Bruising
The white fur of the Great Pyrenees is long and thick. During the spring, they will shed a lot of fur from their undercoat. Brushing your dog with a slicker brush or a pin brush once a week, or even more regularly, can help them shed less hair.
The nails of the Pyr should be cut on a regular basis, as long nails can cause discomfort in the dog. Clean the Pyr’s ears, trim his nails, and bathe him when he’s soiled. Brushing the teeth with toothpaste intended for dogs should be done on a regular basis.
Providing a high-quality dog food
Each dog is individual and, therefore, will need a particular diet. Since the Great Pyrenees is inclined to hip and elbow dysplasia, provide him food enriched with fish oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin. It is necessary to evade over feeding your dog as it can only exasperate health obstacles such as elbow and hip dysplasia. Your most essential purpose should be to provide your pet companion properly.
The Great Pyrenees is a big dog, so going for the best big breed dry dog food may be the correct choice. If, upon all benefits, your dog turned out small, search for one of the greatest dry dog food for small dogs and see if they like it!
Here we list out some of the best good dog food for Great Pyr.
Best dog food for Great Pyrenees 2021
- Orijen Original Formula Dry Dog Food.
- Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Fish.
- Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food.
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free.
- Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food (Small Bites)
Avoid unhealthy and digestive system-damaging foods similar to soy, wheat, and corns.
Remember that some of the smallest breeds have the most refined taste. Even though your Great Pyrenees is big, we’re sure your puppy won’t mind taking a bite of these best dry dog food brands for Pugs!
How To Train Great Pyr
Training of the Great Pyrenees might be difficult. They were bred to be quite independent, and they don’t always obey directions right away.
The Pyr will thrive in the hands of competent dog owners who understand how to train a dog. If you try to outsmart this intelligent dog, you may end up with an obstinate dog.
Pyrs were developed to be intelligent but independent flock watchdogs, and teaching them may be challenging. They need consistency and are best suited to owners with prior dog training experience.
The Great Pyrenees’ big size and independent nature might make training difficult, but with the appropriate technique, training your Great Pyrenees will be a breeze.
Potty Training
It’s a fantastic time when you buy a new puppy in your home, but a new puppy also comes with many challenges. The first and most significant challenge that you may face is that of potty training.
If your dog decides to go with an indoor potty, so placement is essential. Find a space in your home where messes won’t interfere with your life.
Potty training your Great Pyrenees puppy can take a lot of time, patience, and attention, but luckily, one tool can make a huge difference: a potty training pad.
Some dog experts recommend that you begin house training your puppy when they are between 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. At that time, they have ample control of their bladder and bowel movements to learn to hold them.
Crate Training
If you’re planning on crate training, your puppy should be placed to bed every night in its crate. However, you may require thinking of the best place for that crate at the beginning.
Correctly done crate training is also a highly effective management technique that dog owners can be a lifesaver.
Using a crate is essential to keep your dog from getting into a riot when you can’t supervise them directly.
Crate training is suitable for hunting dogs because it keeps them comfortable during hunts and on the road.
Socialization
Great Pyrenees puppy might produce aggressive behaviors and severe anxiety if you do not enforce the early socialization. In the method of early socialization, you will present the puppy to different objects, people, and areas as advanced as possible.
There are two stages of this process. The first one initiates as early as 2 and 1/2 weeks. From this period of time up to four weeks of age, the buyers will hold the dog in a listed amount of time. The second stage of socialization begins from four weeks of age to 16 weeks of age. You will let the dog become familiar with neighboring formations and smells.
This training activity aims to form the puppy into a fearless and incredible adult dog. The dog will appear at ease with interacting with people and different dogs, providing to their potential in becoming therapy dogs, service dogs, or herders.
How much do Great Pyr cost?
The cost of purchasing the Great Pyrenees from a shelter is around $600. A show-quality dog, on the other hand, may cost from $1,400 to $5,000. If you adopt a Pyr from a shelter or rescue organization, vaccines and the adoption fee will most likely cost a few hundred dollars.
You should budget at least $1,000 for the first year, although it could be higher. After that, you should set aside $500 to $1,000 each year to cover veterinarian costs, food, and anything else your dog may require.
Great Pyrenees puppies for sale
Finding a dependable and trustworthy source for the dog you want can be difficult and time-consuming. However, if you want to make this process go more smoothly, you should consider adoption.
You are not only acquiring your preferred canine from a reliable and authentic source when you adopt a dog, but you are also assisting animals in need.
You’re also protecting yourself from unscrupulous breeders looking to make a quick buck. You can adopt the dog of your dreams from one of the many adoption houses located across the country.
Great Pyrenees breeders
A respectable breeder may be difficult to discover depending on where you reside. However, they are concentrating on producing healthy puppies rather than a large number of them. The American Kennel Club’s breeder list is a good place to start.
Always look for a breeder who will meet you at their house and show you around the litter and its mother. They should be able to supply you with health certificates and be approachable and friendly.
If you have a negative impression of them or if they try to buy a puppy in any way. If the price is far lower than the norm, this is still another red flag that they are a low-quality breeder. Engage with a high-quality breeder if you want a happy and healthy puppy.
Advantage and disadvantages of Great Pyrenees
Pros of Great Pyr
- Calm and affectionate
- Loyal and protective
- They are excellent family dogs.
- Gets along well with children and most other pets
Cons of Great Pyr
- High shedding rate and needs frequent grooming
- Training can be challenging
- They can be very territorial and will bark loudly at strangers.
- High affinity for warning barking, especially at night
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Reference: AKC