Great Pyrenees: Characteristics, Health, Care And Breed Information

The Great Pyrenees (nicknamed Pyr) also known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog in France, is the largest of the breeds used for guarding flocks against wolves and other predators. Originating in the eastern or French side of the Pyrenees Mountains, the Pyr has guarded and kept both shepherds and flocks safe for thousands of years.

Louis XIV is said to have called the Pyr the Royal Dog of France and the breed's appearance does bear a look of nobility.

Great Pyrenees Quick Verdict: The Great Pyrenees is an excellent choice for families seeking a calm, devoted, and naturally protective companion. While this gentle giant is affectionate and patient, prospective owners should be prepared for heavy shedding, frequent barking, and an independent personality that benefits from consistent training and early socialization.

great pyrenees dog, head and shoulders portrait against a green rural background

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While details of the Pyr's development remain unclear, existence of the breed have been found in fossil remains in Bronze Age deposits and Babylonian paintings have portrayed the likeness of this gentle giant.

The American Kennel Club accorded the Great Pyrenees official recognition in February, 1933, and beginning April, 1933, separate classification began for the breed at licensed shows.

Characteristics of the Great Pyrenees

The Great Pyrenees is a working dog as well as an affectionate and friendly family companion. As trusted and beloved members in homes, some still function as livestock guardians on farms and ranches.

Even though the Pyr spent lots of time outside as a flock guardian, he's a very people-oriented dog. Once he becomes a member of your family, he will be very unhappy if you leave him outside. He'd really like to be your lap dog, he's that affectionate! Pyrs enjoy social interaction and get along extremely well with other animals in the home.

The Great Pyrenees is also a versatile breed able to use their quiet protective traits in therapy settings, as well as proven to be very capable in rescue operations.

Pyrs worked at night when guarding flocks and this has made them a very alert night owl. This trait along with excellent hearing, enables them to hear a pin drop - or a burglar and will alert you with some serious woofs.

Not everyone likes to be awakened at night, so this might be something to keep in mind. However, there are training techniques that can be started during socialization to work around this natural instinct. Train your puppy using positive reward-based reinforcement and keep sessions short, varied and consistent for the best results. Because Pyrs are big and powerful, as well as late bloomers, socialization with people, places, and situations, has to be an ongoing part of their training.

Pyrenees must also be taught how to identify and distinguish predators or unwelcome intruders. To avoid over-protectiveness, their human must show which “intruders” are welcome, which are accepted under conditions, and those that are not welcome. This is an important part of their training and will take some effort due to the Pyr's independent nature born out of years when he had to make all the decisions.

Pyrs are charming but not for everyone - they can be high maintenance when it comes to grooming and training. Be sure to do lots of research if you are interested in acquiring a Pyrenees, attend dog shows and talk with breeders, and owners if you can.

Famous owners that have enjoyed the Pyr include Queen Victoria, Mark Twain, Yul Brenner, Betty White and Janis Joplin to name a few.

Great Pyrenees puppy licking his lips while looking out over a wood plank

Appearance and Grooming

Height: 27-32 inches (male), 25-29 inches (female)
Weight: 100 pounds and up (male), 85 pounds and up (female)
Coat Color: White, with markings of shades of gray, tan, reddish-brown, or badger.

The Great Pyrenees has an abundant coat with a woolly undercoat. It is medium-long, slightly coarse, undulating, and cold weather resistant. It does shed year round and quite heavily. A pet hair removal tool comes in very handy.

Regular brushing at least twice a week and will help keep your home from an abundance of hair. Use a high quality pin brush and a coarse tooth buttercomb to remove loose hair and any accumulation of debris from outdoor activities.

This will smooth out the top coat and help prevent matting and tangling. Increase brushing to daily during shedding season.

An excellent tool to deal with periods of heavy shedding is the FURminator.

Inspect your dog’s skin, ears, and paws for any signs of problems.

Brush your dog's teeth a daily or at least a couple of times per week with a dog-safe toothpaste.
Check inside the ears for dirt, wax buildup, or signs of infection and clean weekly using a cotton ball and good ear cleaner intended for dogs.
Once a week, or when you hear them clicking on the floor, trim or grind the nails with clippers or a dremel to keep them short.

Great Pyrenees dog standing next to the base of a tree trunk in a wooded area

HeartSpoon, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Great Pyrenees Health

There are some health issues for pet parents to be aware of that are associated with the breed. Diseases that may affect your Pyrenees include:

Hip Dysplasia: A genetic joint disease that results from the malformation of the hips and is characterized by joint weakness, stiffness, and pain caused. In some cases, a veterinarian may advise pain medication or surgery.
Elbow Dysplasia: A common cause of front leg lameness. More specifically, an abnormal development of the elbow joint in young, large, rapidly growing dogs. Signs of elbow dysplasia appear in puppies 4 to 10 months of age.
Addison's Disease: A disorder resulting from an insufficient production of hormones by the adrenal cortex. It is recognized by signs of muscle weakness, lethargy, slow heart rate, weight loss and gastro-intestinal upsets.
Eye Conditions including:
Entropion: A condition in dogs where the eyelid rolls inward, causing the eyelashes and fur to rub against the cornea, leading to irritation and potential corneal damage. It is often hereditary.
Canine multifocal retinopathy: An inherited eye disease in dogs characterized by areas of retinal detachment.
Cataracts: A condition of the eye where the lens appears opaque. Some forms of cataracts do not interfere with a dog's eyesight.
Osteochondrosis: A disease of the growing dog characterized by abnormal thickness of the cartilage and a failure to convert the older cartilage layers into new bone.
Bloat: Otherwise known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is a life-threatening condition affecting large breed dogs where the stomach fills up with food or air and twists.
Patella Luxation aka Slipping Kneecap: As the name implies, this involves a dislocation of the kneecap to varying degrees and is usually an inherited defect and more common in toy or smaller breeds.

Responsible breeders will test for some of these diseases and results/certificates should be provided to prospective buyers.

With the benefit of good care, premium nutrition, exercise and regular veterinary oversight, pet parents can expect to enjoy their Pyr for 10-12 years.

Activity Level

Though the Pyr comes from a working lifestyle, he is not highly energetic. That said, he should receive 30 to 45 minutes of walking time twice a day, and some may need a bit more.

While the Pyr likes to roam about independently, he should be kept on a leash while being exercised. A home with a significant fenced yard where he can spend short periods of time is ideal, but he does not enjoy being separated from family too long.

When the weather is hot and in light of the Pyr's heavy coat, aim for the coolest part of the day for his walks as he can easily overheat.

Space Needs

The great Pyrenees does best in a home with a significant yard and plenty of room to patrol and guard the homestead.

This large breed needs space and can be a night barker - for these reasons apartment living would not be ideal for him or close neighbors.

Great Pyrenees With Children?

Great Pyrenees have an affinity with children, especially when they're properly socialized and raised together from a young age, as they are known for their gentle and protective nature.

An important part of socializing your Pyr with children is to teach kids how to safely approach and interact with this gentle giant to promote a positive relationship.

However, because children and dogs can be unpredictable, adult supervision is always recommended ensure safe interactions.

Great Pyrenees With Seniors Or Less Active Families?

Great Pyrenees dogs can do well with seniors and sedentary families as they are generally calm and low-energy, as long as someone is available to provide a couple of thirty minute walks each day. They are affectionate and can provide companionship, making them suitable for such households.

Ideally the home would have an outside area of sufficient size where the Pyr could spend some time patrolling each day as is his nature. But in general they are not dogs to be left outside.

Where to Buy Or Rescue a Great Pyrenees

The Great Pyrenees Club of America has a breeder referral list and information about the breed that will help you decide if the Pyr is right for you.

American Kennel Club Marketplace is another reliable venue for gathering information about the Pyrenees as well as where you can find puppies from reputable breeders offering 100% AKC-Registered litters.

Rescue groups include:
The National Pyr Rescue
Great Pyrenees Rescue Society
Appalachian Great Pyrenees Rescue

Rescued dogs range in age from puppies to seniors.

When purchasing a purebred Pyrenees puppy from reputable breeder, expect to pay between $1,500 and $4,000 depending on several factors, such as health testing, pedigree, show potential, reputation of the breeder and your location.

It is recommended to avoid casual (or backyard) breeders, since these breeders may not prioritize the health of the puppies or perform proper health testing on the parents.

FAQ

Are Great Pyrenees good family dogs?

Yes. Great Pyrenees are known for being gentle, patient, and devoted to their families. They often do very well with children when properly socialized and supervised, making them excellent family companions.

Do Great Pyrenees shed a lot?

Yes. Great Pyrenees have a thick double coat that sheds year-round and heavily during spring and fall. Weekly brushing helps control loose hair, while more frequent grooming is recommended during seasonal shedding.

Are Great Pyrenees easy to train?

They are intelligent but highly independent. Because they were bred to make decisions on their own while guarding livestock, they may not always be eager to obey commands. Positive reinforcement, consistency, and patience produce the best results.

Do Great Pyrenees bark a lot?

Yes. Barking is a natural trait for this breed. Great Pyrenees were bred to alert livestock owners to predators, so they often bark at unfamiliar sights, sounds, or perceived threats, particularly at night.

Are Great Pyrenees good with other pets?

Generally, yes. When raised with other dogs and household pets, Great Pyrenees are typically calm and accepting. Their strong guardian instincts often extend to protecting other animals in the home.

Do Great Pyrenees need a fenced yard?

A securely fenced yard is strongly recommended. Great Pyrenees are known to patrol large areas and may wander if allowed to roam freely.

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