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The Great Pyrenees makes
a fine pet for the right family. If you have room
for this large dog to run and are willing to take
the time to find a well-bred and well-socialized
puppy, the Pyrenees might be the perfect choice for
you. This breed can be a challenge to train,
however, and some owners find the Great Pyrenees
more dog than they can handle. Even so, the Great
Pyrenees is a loyal and protective dog that makes an
excellent family companion. We have put together 10
common questions about the Great Pyrenees and
answers for each.
1. What is the
history of the Great Pyrenees?
The breed gets its name from the European mountain
range where it is considered a native breed. There
is evidence of the breed’s ancestors in Asia and
Siberia with remains dating back thousands of years
in Europe. The Great Pyrenees has long been a guard
dog for both home and for sheep, as well as a
cart-pulling animal and pack dog.
2. How big does the Great Pyrenees get?
This is a very large breed, with males weighing 100
to 130 pounds and standing up to 32 inches. The
female can weigh as much as 85 pounds but stands
only a few inches shorter. The coarse white coat and
dense, soft undercoat give the Great Pyrenees the
appearance of a bear. In fact, some people even say
the dog has a majestic look.
3. Does the Great Pyrenees shed as heavily as I
have heard it does?
This breed does shed heavily so you should be
prepared to pick up and clean up tufts of white fur.
Regular brushing and attention will take care of
some of this shedding.
4. How long does the Great Pyrenees live?
As with many large dogs, the Great Pyrenees does not
live an extremely long time, usually about 10 to 12
years. A very healthy puppy with good care should
grow into a strong adult and give you many years of
enjoyment.
5. What about exercising the Great Pyrenees?
Typically, the Great Pyrenees does not do well in an
apartment or very small home. Instead, this breed
needs a large, fenced yard for regular outdoor
exercise. We recommend taking the Pyrenees for walks
only on a leash because they are very protective and
suspicious of strangers and animals.
6. Will the Great Pyrenees be good with children?
Probably, but it would best if the puppy was raised
with the young children because this breed tends to
be very protective and bonds closely with those it
knows. Of course, the dog’s large size and strength
can be a problem with toddlers and small children,
so it is best to be careful in these situations.
7. What health problems should I be aware of?
The Great Pyrenees is prone to hip dysplasia, a
degenerative joint disease. Keep in mind that this
condition can be detected early with the OFA test so
you should ask the breeder about the condition.
Pyrenees can also be bothered by skin problems in
hot weather because they are ideally cool weather
animals.
8. Is training this breed easy?
It is generally thought that the Pyrenees is one of
the tougher breeds to train because the dogs are
extremely intelligent and have a very deliberate
pace of learning that seems like stubbornness.
Making the training a challenge is the best chance
for success. We suggest you keep the activities from
being boring, because the Great Pyrenees does not
respond will to harsh treatment or repetitive
demands.
9. I have seen this type of dog pulling a cart –
will it actually do this?
Yes and in fact, this was one of the regular jobs of
the Great Pyrenees that lived with a peasant or
shepherd family. This breed is extremely strong,
wanting to investigate and be active. Now, it is not
a good idea to tie your Great Pyrenees outside
alone, because they can get bored and frustrated,
thus becoming destructive.
10. Are they a good dog for shows and
competition?
Typically, no, the Great Pyrenees does not do well
in obedience competition or in shows, not because
they lack intelligence but because they do not react
well to demands and restrictions not understood.
However, the Great Pyrenees can be an excellent
companion dog in hospitals, old age homes, and for
people with physical disabilities.
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