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. One bonus is that the collected hair can be spun into
yarn and used for many textile projects!
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 disreputable breeder and did
not know what to expect of the breed.
There is 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
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. One bonus is that the collected hair can be spun into
yarn and used for many textile projects!
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 disreputable breeder and did
not know what to expect of the breed.
There is 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
Breed Info
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
