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10 Tips for a Happy Great Pyrenees

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How do you keep your Great Pyrenees happy? Over the years, I've come up with my top 10 tips for a happy Great Pyrenees.

I’m always trying to figure out what I can do to keep Mauja and Atka happy. While the fluffies are our whole world, I continually feel there is more I could do for them. After much thought, I came up with 10 tips for a happy Great Pyrenees.

 

Buy an expensive dog bed

Then watch the dog bed sit in the corner collecting dust while your Great Pyrenees prefers to lay on the cool, hard floor. Or completely take over your couch. One of the two.

 

Set up play dates

You want to keep your Pyrenees exercised and socialized. After 5 minutes of play, realize Pyrenees has settled into guard dog duty in the shade instead.

Schedule a spa day

High-end shampoo and conditioner, paw massages, and a thorough brushing to keep the coat functioning well. Catch Pyrenees rolling in the mud as soon as you get home.

 

Related: Grooming a Double Coated Dog

 

Feed premium-quality food

Spend your day preparing healthy meals or purchase top of the line food for your Pyrenees. Cry when your Pyrenees snubs your high-quality, healthy meal.

 

Put out a baby pool

Search high and low for a Pyrenees-sized pool to keep him cool in the summer. Watch Pyrenees use it as a giant water bowl instead.

 

Prepare a Kong with favorite snacks

Notice Pyrenees get bored of the Kong after 5 minutes, before becoming even close to finishing it. This is true for most all treat-dispensing toys.

 

Buy presents for each holiday or celebration

Throw your hands up in despair as Pyrenees completely ignores the new toys.

 

Related: 2016 Great Pyrenees Holiday Gift Guide

 

Encourage sleeping and cuddling on the bed

Remember Pyrenees is massive and you have to sleep on the floor instead.

 

Allow guarding and barking

Both are necessary to satisfy instinctual needs and keep yourself safe. Learn that Pyrenees thinks the leaves blowing outside are threats (or any of these other 101+ reasons).

 

Offer all the kisses and snuggles in the world

Live your happiest lives together <3

 

How do you keep your Great Pyrenees happy?

How do you keep your Great Pyrenees happy? Over the years, I've come up with my top 10 tips for a happy Great Pyrenees.

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Comments

    • A twin mattress works well as a Great Pyr dog bed and it is easy to change sheets. However when I am shopping, my Pyr pulls out tiny dog beds, pillow size for her, and seems to think they are great. Great for what?

      Reply

      • Great to have and GREAT to love. We have to put our big boy down a few months ago
        .We had him for 11 years. I MISS him every day. He had a growth that was cutting off his air.
        My husband won’t let me get another one. I think that is part of the reason for
        My depresion.

        Reply

        • please, for better for worse….. would you not accept something that would fulfill your husband ‘s heart….true love is sharing happiness

          Reply

        • I had to put down my beautiful big girl about 2 years ago and still suffer her loss. I have a new beauty who is helping me deal with my grief. I discovered that there was a space in my heart for her. I’m sorry you haven’t been able to get a new best friend. I hope your heart heals with time.

          Reply

        • My Kuna passed away a year and a half ago. She died in my arms, at home. She was 9. She was diagnosed with hemagiosarcoma . A very fast cancer that took her aeay from me way too soon. I miss her very much! I think about her each day and reflect back on our special walks down to the river and her riding in the back of my truck. Memories forever!

          Reply

    • It’s True. I have a 4yr old male 152lb, not an ounce of fat Pyr. I bought a xxxl 6″ thick $140 dog bed. He laid in it when I told him to like the good boy that he is. When I walked away, he got up, went to the end of the hall, coolest spot in the house and laid on the cold, hard tile. The dog bed sat unused for a yr before being sold on Craigslist for $50. He lays where it used to be once in a while. The only insulated place he lays is on the couch with his head in me. He’s probably too hot but I guess I’m worth it. I don’t care where on the 40 acres I am, just look for the area with the most shade, where I can still be seen, and you will find him. Want to talk to me? You HAVE to leave room for him to be between us, sitting on my foot

      Reply

  5. All those things are too true. I have found my pyr loves walks, car rides, belly rubs, and treats.
    That’s about the extent of his favorite things except me, I’m his favorite person. Thankfully !

    Reply

  8. I to love the one about the dog bed, my husband came home with a hug and costly dog bed for Chance. Put it down and left the room was gone about an hour and went back to see how he was enjoying it, and we found it all over the house. Still have it stuffed back in one bundle and it out in the in a store room, can’t bring myself to through it out cost to much and maybe someday I may make a new bed out of it.

    Reply

  10. My Pyrenees (6 months) has her own miniature horse! They play and hang out together. They have their own barn and when the new bedding is put in they both try to roll around in it at the same time. So Kona is now Tinks guardian.

    Reply

  11. I could not cope with a Pyrenean I know it, they are like me far too high maintenance!!! I love a comfortable bed, and a spa day and I am SO over toys in five minutes.

    These are really sensible and focused notes. Sometimes we need to have the obvious pointed out to us to bring us back to the here and now, so thank you for this.

    Reply

  15. Like Cockers (my favorite breed), Great Pyrs get a lot of false info online. I am happy you are getting the word out about the do’s and dont’s. Way to go in keeping folks educated.

    Reply

    • Huskies are a beautiful breed, I love how they talk and sing. I love all of GOD’S creations because HE created them for us.

      Reply

  22. This is awesome and made me giggle…and cry a little because, even though I don’t have Great Pyrenees, I can SO relate! 😉 Especially, the baby pool that Simon and Zora (labs for crying out loud) ignore and Piper (pit bull) is afraid of!

    Reply

  26. Buy a $2000.00 living room set as your Pyrs new chew toy!!!! It is now in my mud room for them to sleep on (talk about expensive dog beds!!!) and it isn’t even paid off yet!! Have actually owned it for less than a year!! Found my next couch already….. $350.00 LOL!!! I did buy several actual dog beds…. and yes, they did sleep on them…. until they found out they made GREAT chew toys and it looked like I had green snow in my house for MONTHS!!!! Live and learn!

    Reply

  27. I have to big males, Moby and Samson. Moby is a great dog but horrible Pyr. No barking, no craziness…. Samson on the other hand, does is all. He barks,digs, looks at me like I’m crazy when I call him in, sits out in the rain… horrible dog but wonderful Pyr. Neither do beds, or kongs. Sammy will chase a thrown baby. While Berners are my favorite breed I’ll always have atleast one of these guys. Then are wonderful dogs

    Reply

  28. I gave my Pyr two ginger kittens. Best plaything ever! They sleep with him and make him play. He abandoned his expensive bed for a foam futon, which iis now his. He fits your profile perfectly.

    Reply

  30. Ike thinks the purpose of any stuffed item (bed, toy,pillows) is to figure out the fastest way to get inside and distribute the stuffing. The more dog proof it is, the bigger the challenge and more exciting it is to destroy. I t also think he looks at the price tag- if its cheap forget it.

    Reply

  31. You so hit the mark, but my 120 pd pyre mix loves beds WITH PILLOW !!! I found used baby mattress at yard sale , he sleeps on that in tv room. Then has extra cushy bed in his crate he likes to sleep upsidedown on . And spends part of night in my bed. he just makes tbe bed rounds all night. Lol. . .we rescued him at 4 months. We spent SO MUCH on dog toys. . .his favorite is an empty gallion water jug. . . Ictry to rencourage him to dig because he so loves it. Does happy spins inbetween bouts of digging. I just fill them back in later. Marlow just turned 4.

    Reply

  32. LoL – great list, so true. My boy is now 3 and actually does have a favorite toy, a bright orange squeeky squirrel. Then he loves empty water bottles. He also loves our long walks together, as do I. One annoying habit he has that I can’t seem to break is his obsession with his food in the dish. He just keeps trying to either bury it or scoop it out with his nose. But, what can I do? He’s my best friend in the world! Lots of love for my boy!

    Reply

  33. I can relate but with my two cats Coco and Cotton. I haven’t thrown out the two beds I bought over 2 years ago, which they have yet to sleep on. I think about them at nights when I try to turn and find my legs hindered by cats on my blanket. And all the toys are abandoned in favor of candy or anything stolen from my purse, my emery boards, or just digging my clothes out of my drawer and unto the floor if I ever forget to close it.
    Oh yeah and I can leave no usb cord unmonitored. To top it off they are totally unrepentant and give me so much attitude after the fact, I can’t help but crack up as I wonder, who really owns who?

    Reply

  36. We rescue our from a guy who after 2 yrs realize he could not care for him in the ways he needed. Was kept in a crate and never aloud to roam the house. So now he hasn’t been socialized he thinks every body who tries to enter the house (besides us) is evil. And goes nuts. I’m afraid he will bite someone. Other from that he’s exstreamly active, and Lovable. Any suggestion? We’ve only had him 7 months now and seems like his overly aggressive behavior towards others coming in the house is getting worse. If out side meeting people he’s fine but still won’t let them in the house. Help. I love him and don’t want my dog have to be locked in another room every time someone comes over. I would like him to be able to socialize

    Reply

  37. That’s a great list! I have tried some of it and gonna try others as well. I think it’s very important to keep them happy as it has a positive impact on dog health.

    Reply

  38. My Pyr is a service dog and travels with me extensively. When we are not home in Utah with her big back yard, I not only take her for long walks, we found a way to chase squirrels together attached by a leash. She takes 2 quick steps and pauses and repeats until we reach the tree the squirrel is treed in. She then stands on her hind legs trying to climb the tree to get the squirrel that she just knows she could catch, if I would only let her off leash to try. I have photos with her trying to climb to the squirrel and the squirrel facing down the tree to scold her, but I couldn’t drop and drag them here. We do not seem to have any squirrels in Northern Utah, so it is a treat when we can “chase” them in Texas, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, or elsewhere.

    Reply

  39. We have a fluffy friend and I have run the gamut on food for him. Holistic, core wellness, blue, you name it. He seemed to like the Science Diet for giant breed puppy but I am not sure its a good quality food. Any recommendations for a brand you or your readers use? Favorites? We also have a 12 year old Weimaraner and she is finicky and will only eat any food for a couple of weeks and then wants a change. Trying to find one food that will keep them healthy, and keep me cleaning up solid mess…

    Reply

  40. I can relate to most of these.
    Bella & Boone (both GP) are also very happy digging next to the steps to stay cool. During the warmer months, they prefer indoors but when it’s above 75, I have to drag them inside.
    Their kiddie pool is defiantly used more as an over-sized water bowl.
    They are the pickiest eaters I’ve ever seen.
    They bark at a shift in the wind.
    Nocturnal roaming in the house now has me sleeping with ear muffs on.
    Considering buying a Rumba to help with the fur on the floor.
    Currently changing T-shirt’s at least three times a day due to the drool I inherit when they want to cuddle.
    Stuffed animals belonging to the grandkids are fair game if left out.
    I wouldn’t change them for the world!!

    Reply

  41. Great tips for anyone. personally we have face issue in spending time with them to do these.But i always trying to stay with my pups.Thanks for great tips.

    Reply

  44. All of these are true for our Pyrs….except the swimming pool. lol. We have the opposite problem. Inside water is fine, but outside, any type of bucket or pool regardless of the size is fair game for a splash. Nala dives in with both feet even into a small bucket of water. Hilarious.

    Reply

  45. It would be best to get these cuteness their own 5-in-1, All terrain stroller . It’s great for travel, comfy and cozy for the fur friends. My Fido got his own from Petique pets and it’s worth the splurge. Awesome I must say!

    Reply

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    Reply

  47. I have a 9 week old Pyr and she LOVES water so far. She jumps into the bath tub every chance she gets. 😆 We usually hear her hope in it once or twice during the night. And her water bowl is almost always tipped over. We’ve been really lucky with the no barking but not so lucky with the potty training

    Reply

  48. I have a wonderful GO with 5 months old, my first time to have GP, I can relate all your types to my puppy, he is wonderful friend , I wonder how he will act when he is grown? Let us wait and see, it is exciting time for us both

    Reply

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