Great Pyrenees
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General Description
(Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées) The Great Pyrenees is a beautiful, majestic dog with an overall appearance that denotes elegance, grace, and intelligence. The breed’s regal, kindly expression and sound, coordinated movements distinctly show the dog’s capability to be both a companion and a flock guard. While the coat of the Great Pyrenees implies a larger build, these dogs are actually of medium substance. Their body is well-proportioned and balanced, with the height of the withers being somewhat less than the length of the body from the shoulders to the buttocks. The angulations of the front and rear are balanced, and these proportions create the dog’s rectangular shape. Their muscular neck is of medium length and their topline is level. The chest is comparatively broad, and the rib cage is well-sprung, oval-shaped, and long enough to reach the elbows. The loin is strongly coupled and moderately tucked up, and the croup is gently sloping. Tails of this breed are plumed and are carried low when the dog is in repose. Their shoulders are muscular, well laid back, and lie close to the body. The length of the shoulder blades and the length of the upper arm are approximately the same. Their forelegs are well-boned and muscular enough to balance well with the rest of the dog’s frame. When perceived from the side, the forelegs are located directly under the withers. They have round, close-cupped feet that are thickly padded and feature a set of well-arched toes. Thighs of this breed are strong, brawny, and extend from the pelvis at right angles. The head of the Great Pyrenees is not heavy in proportion to the dog’s size. It is wedge-shaped and has a slightly rounded crown. The muzzle is approximately equal in length to the back of the skull. They have flat cheeks and a slight furrow between the eyes. They have medium-sized, almond-shaped eyes that are dark brown in color. Their small ears are V-shaped and have rounded tips, and their teeth close in a scissors or level bite. The weather resistant, double coat of the Great Pyrenees consists of a thick, flat, long outer coat of coarse, straight or slightly wavy hair that lies over a fine, dense, woolly undercoat. The hair is more profuse around the neck and shoulders, where it forms a ruff which is more pronounced in males of this breed. Coat colors for this breed include white or white with markings of badger, gray, reddish brown, or varying shades of tan.Know something we don't? Add it here
Character
The Great Pyrenees is devoted, loyal, and even-tempered. They are calm unless provoked. They are natural guardians, and they are often used to guard livestock. This breed is leery of strangers and dogs it does not know. They are courageous, obedient, and affectionate with the people they love. They are very gentle with children. Because they are independent and somewhat stubborn by nature, they require a dominant owner who is self-assured in the dog’s presence. They are independent and hard-working, and they are sometimes difficult to train. Males of this breed are sometimes aggressive towards other dogs. They usually get along well with cats and other types of non-canine pets. This breed tends to drool, slobber, and bark a lot.Should have large yard to roam and at least a 6 ft fence. They are known to be fence climbers
Size
25 – 35 inches
Weight
85 – 100 pounds
General Health
Like many other large dog breeds, the Great Pyrenees is prone to hip dysplasia. Some lines can develop skin problems in hot weather conditions. This breed typically lives for about 10 years.This breed lives up to 12 years. They are also prone to "bloat"
They are prone to bloat and eye infections due to their long eyebrows.
History
The Great Pyrenees is a descendant of the Hungarian Kuvasz and the Maremmano-Abruzzese. The breed is considered to be the aristocratic relative of the Newfoundland and the Saint Bernard. Remains of a dog similar to the Great Pyrenees were discovered in Europe and dated back to the year 1800 BC. It’s highly likely that the breed actually originated much earlier in Siberia or Asia. Throughout its native country of France, the Great Pyrenees has a long history as a guard dog of sheep and chateaux. These dogs were greatly sought after by French nobility throughout the seventeenth century. The AKC officially recognized the breed in 1933.
Maintenance
The double coat of the Great Pyrenees should be brushed on a regular basis. Extra care should be given to the undercoat when the dog is shedding. This breed should be bathed or dry shampooed only as necessary. They shed heavily once per year.Coats should never be clipped sheared or cut. Brushing only.
Ideal Environment
The Great Pyrenees is not suited for life in a small household or apartment. They adapt well to a variety of living conditions, but they need plenty of space to stay physically and mentally healthy. They are a comparatively inactive breed indoors, and they are happiest with at least a medium-sized yard. This breed prefers cooler climates. They need a substantial amount of regular exercise to stay in good shape.
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Ask a QuestionGreat Pyrenees Q&A
What are the best companion breeds for a female great pyrenees? We lost her brother a month ago and were wondering if we should go with another pyr or a different breed, male or female?
Any advice on how to get my Pyr into the kiddie pool? She wont go near it! It's SO hot in the summer here and we have no A/C inside. She's suffering and I want to help her cool down :( I do the wet towel thing, and of course she has plenty of shade and water, etc. I'm just curious specifically about the kiddie pool. Thanks in advance!
If she won't go on leash, sit in the pool yourself and try to 'engage' her. That worked for me, of course, at the time I also had a Golden and could be, she went in because of that. I just posted a photo of her in the kiddie pool!
At this point, you already know that a Pyr doesn't do anything it really doesn't want to do. If she doesn't want to go in the pool, there's really no point in forcing her. If you did get her in, chances are she won't stay anyway. Just keep cooling her like you are and leave the pool nearby, so she can make the decision to go in herself or not to.
do pyrenees like water, or swimming?
Although Pyrenees aren't really built for swimming, (e.g. no webbed paws) it can be a very individual thing. Marshmellow (now past) enjoyed the water from the time she was a puppy until her last day @ at 12-1/2. Like most things Pyr, it just has to be something they have a reason to want to do - Meli grew up with a Chocolate Lab (Coco)...
Neither my older rescue Ishka, who enjoyes the rain but avoids water, or my younger rescue D'Artagnan who just doesn't seem to care about water, have little desire to swim.
In the case of my GP, he does not like to swim. They are not a breed that naturally like the water, but they don't necessarily fear it either.
I am adopting a Pyr that is 4 years old. I have been walking him for about a month so he is familiar with me, but I want to make his adjustment to a new home as comfortable as possible. Any tips?
Do LOTS of research. I adopted my rescue dog Pyrenees when she was 14 months old. So, she was still technically a puppy, but in an adult body. Everything I've read about "dogs" in general doesn't really apply to Pyrs. They are soooo breed-specific. So many people think they were bred to be herding dogs. This is not true. They were bred to GUARD sheep, not herd them. Once you understand this, a lot of their temperment makes more sense. I'd advise you to have a fence in your yard that he can NOT see through. This is because they tend to think everything as far as their eye can see is their property to guard. This causes problems in that it's stressful for both you and the dog if they are barking at things several blocks away :) They do tend to be barkers and a visual block can really help this problem. They are VERY independant, stubborn and tough to train outside. Inside, they are angels. It's not that they don't understand commands (they are very smart) they just have a hard time realizing who's boss. They are extra prone to heat stroke so be careful in the summer months. DO NOT clip or shave their coat. Their double coat protects them from the heat as well as the cold. They aren't big water fans (though I'm sure there are always exceptions), so don't force them or expect them to swim. I'd recommend walking/leashing tips, but since you already walk your soon-to-be guy, then I assume you know how he is! They are very fearless dogs which means that they can run into traffic without being scared of "fighting" with the cars. I wouldn't recommend them as off-leash dogs as they tend to roam because of their instinct to guard vast areas. They are VERY friendly, non-aggressive and don't START fights , but if another dog is testy or picks a fight with a Pyr, be careful. The Pyr has a tendency to go full-force and he WILL win! They were bred to fight to the death if they were forced to. But again, they are NOT aggressors. Only when they are protecting you, your family, or themselves. They are actually super sweet in demeanor. Transition-wise, after you adopt him, I'd advise you to set hierchy standars pretty quickly. I know it's temoting to just love them and cuddle them and treat them as youwould an adopted kid, but they need to know who's boss. The longer you wait, the tougher it gets. Their skin and tummies are sensitive, so buy a good quality food, to avoid problems later (like hotspots, soft stool, etc.). Brush them (they love it!) often, but no need to bathe (their coats repel dirt naturally) unless they get filthy for some reason. Remember, they're not fans of water so bathing is... erm... let's say... "difficult" hahaha. This is a crazy-long answer, and very all-over-the-place, so I'm sorry for that. These are the best tips I can think of right now off the top of my head. Pyrs are AWESOME dogs when in proper care. I wouldn't trade mine for the world and would not hesitate to get another one in the future. They LOVE their owners and are GREAT with kids and even cats. SUper lovey and cuddly, but demanding! So just be sure to get a book on the breed or do a lot of fishing online. Good luck and congrats on your new addition to the family!
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