breedinfo

Is This the Breed for You?

The adult Great Pyrenees is a stunning sight and an 8 week old Pyr puppy is an irresistible, white (or
predominantly white) fluff ball! From puppy to adult, however (a mature Pyr is not truly mature until 2-3 years old), takes time and patience. Here, we will point out some basic points that you must consider.

Size - Are you physically able to handle a large dog? Basically gentle, Pyrs are strong, independent
and can be a real challenge. Males are 27"-32" (27" = 100 lbs.) and females are 25"-29" (25" = 85 lbs.). Because of their size, Pyrs need a good size yard, as well as extra-large sizes in crates, beds, food bowls, car transportation, etc. Yard clean up duty is more for a large dog, too!

Cost - Pyrs are a big dog and are big eaters on their way to maturity. In addition, many boarding
kennels, groomers, medicines, vaccines, rental properties, etc. are priced according to size.

Health - Pyrs are generally a healthy breed and can live a full, healthy life of 10-12 years. As with any
other large breed dog, however, there are some things that you should be aware of: bloat (gastric
torsion), heatstroke, cancer, skin problems, hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, dwarfism. Reputable
breeders and rescue groups can give you more information on these issues.

Dog Hair - The correct coat is a double coat that sheds dirt easily, but still requires at least 30 minutes of brushing a week (No shearing, clipping, cutting please! Their coats protect their skin from the sun!). They do shed (and twice a year, garbage bags full) so there are white hairs in Pyr homes and on Pyr people. Most Pyr owners purchase a new vacuum cleaner every year.

Time - A Pyr needs love, attention and to interact with his family on a daily basis. A lonesome dog is a
bored dog and a bored dog is desctructive. Also, almost all Pyrs love to dig big holes to lay in so if you
want a pristine yard, this is not the breed for you.

Temperament - The Great Pyrenees was not bred to get along with other dogs, but to guard livestock, keep the shepherd company and to work with small herding dogs. Troubles may occur when the dogs are asked to live with other large, dominant breeds or another same sex Pyr. Correct temperament is NOT, however, aggressive towards people. The dogs may be dominating due to the job it was bred to do and, therefore, a challenge in the hands of an inexperienced, timid, frail owner. Good socialization and obedience training a must! Despite this, they are unlikely to be a dog you can take to a dog park.

Roaming - This is a biggie! Because of the Pry's guardian instinct to protect large areas of land, it must NEVER be walked off-lead. They also need a yard with a sturdy 6 foot fence to keep them in because they are also known to be fence climbers.

Barking - This is another biggie! Barking and roaming are the most common reasons that Pyrs are
turned into rescues or shelters! As a guard dog, Pyrs will bark if they hear or see anything "suspicious," i.e. prowler, squirrels, wind rustling leaves (mine barks if there is a new car parked at the neighbor's!). This is a critical characteristic of the breed and what they are bred to do. Potential owners must understand this BEFORE adding a Pyr to the family!

In conclusion, if you are still considering a Great Pyrenees, do your homework and talk to other Pyr
owners. These are GREAT dogs for the right person. When buying from a breeder make sure that you receive a contract that includes a statement indicating that the breeder will take responsibility for the dog for the LIFE of the dog! There is nothing more heartbreaking than taking a dog, who is attached to his family, into the rescue because the family got him from a dysreputable breeder and did not know what to expect of the breed.

The Great Pyrenees Club of California has an excellent library of Great Pyrenees related articles and
other information that can be found at the following link: www.sonic.net/~cdlcruz/GPCC/library.htm