When you walk around with two big, fluffy, white dogs, people are bound to stop you and ask questions. I always love chatting about Mauja and Atka, but I tend to hear several comments over and over.
Can you determine which of these statements are Great Pyrenees facts?
- Great Pyrenees eat a lot of food.
- Great Pyrenees should be shaved to keep cool in the summer.
- Great Pyrenees can live happily in a small house/apartment.
- Great Pyrenees are massive dogs.
- Great Pyrenees need to guard livestock.
- Great Pyrenees can be colors other than white.
- Great Pyrenees are easy to train.
Great Pyrenees eat a lot of food:
MYTH!
Whenever someone talks to me about Mauja and Atka, one of the first things they say is, “boy, you must spend a lot on food!” When I reply with, “It’s really not as bad as you’d think,” I get quite the quizzical look.
I completely understand. Pyrs are a giant breed, therefore they should eat like one!
Fact is, they really don’t eat much more than your average medium-sized dog. Great Pyrenees have very slow metabolisms which enables them to thrive on less food than you would anticipate
Due to their very slow metabolism, it can be extremely easy to allow your Great Pyrenees to become overweight. Many pyrs will actually regulate their weight on their own.
I have never had to cut back on the fluffies’ food to keep them at a healthy weight. They eat what they need and leave the rest. However, not all pyrs are this way! It’s absolutely essential to keep an eye on your pyr’s weight to ensure he does not become too heavy.
It is also important to remember that their slow metabolism effects the amount of medication they will need. It can be very easy for a vet to use too much of a sedative for surgery. Always, always make sure your vet understands the metabolism of a Great Pyrenees before sedation.
Mauja was too heavily sedated for her spay and had a much more difficult time coming out of it and recovering. Thankfully, she ended up being just fine.
Great Pyrenees should be shaved in the summer to keep cool:
MYTH!
This is one of the most common Great Pyrenees myths. Please, please, pleeeease do not shave your Great Pyrenees in the summer. Your pyr has the double coat for a reason – it keeps him warm in the winter AND cool in the summer. But, how exactly?
I love this graphic for explaining how a double coat works, and wish I knew who created it!
A Great Pyrenees has two different coats, depending on the time of year. In the winter, he grows a thick, fluffy undercoat to keep him warm. This undercoat blocks the cold air and allows him to effectively guard his flock.
Even when offered shelter, many pyrs will not want to use it.
When the weather starts to warm up, your pyr will shed his fluffy undercoat. Shedding season is rough guys, but make sure you brush frequently to keep the fluff contained!
As your pyr blows his coat and you help by brushing it out, your pyr is preparing himself for the warm weather. The lack of the thick undercoat will allow the cool air to reach his skin and properly circulate.
However, there is another important reason not to shave your Great Pyrenees in the summer. Pyrs have extremely fair, freckled, pink skin that burns very easily. The coat helps to protect your pyr from the sun’s rays and avoid sunburn.
Related: Grooming a Double Coated Dog
Great Pyrenees can happily live in a small house:
FACT!
It’s a common misconception that because pyrs are such large dogs, they cannot comfortably live in a small house. Contrary to common belief, the Great Pyrenees does not need a large amount of indoor space.
Pyrs are fairly inactive indoors and prefer to snooze the day away. As long as you have a comfy couch or some cool tile floor, your pyr will be perfectly happy with that amount of space.
I am a believer that pyrs should have a yard because they typically LOVE being outside. That being said, they do not need one to be happy. By providing your pyr with adequate exercise, you can both live a happy life together.
Great Pyrenees are massive dogs:
MYTH!
Okay, yes – the Great Pyrenees is a giant breed, so he is obviously a very large dog. However, his size is amplified due to the thick, fluffy coat. You’d be amazed at how tiny they are under all that fluff!
According to the breed standard, a male Great Pyrenees should be between 27 and 32 inches at the withers and most will weigh between 110 and 130 pounds.
Great Pyrenees need to guard livestock:
MYTH!
While there are some people that feel a pyr should always guard livestock since that’s what he was bred to do, many will disagree. However, your pyr does need a job to do
Pyrs make absolutely wonderful therapy dogs. Their gentle disposition makes them pyrfect for visiting both children and the elderly. Due to their gentle, tolerant behavior, many do exceptionally well with those with special needs.
There’s nothing better than watching someone’s face light up as they’re snuggling a Great Pyrenees.
Many pyrs enjoy carting, nosework, and even agility! Find the activity that both you and your dog enjoy and get out there and be active. Not only will your pyr be much happier, but you’ll build an incredible bond as well.
Related: Great Pyrenees Info – A Beginner’s Guide
Great Pyrenees can be colors other than white:
FACT!
Well, kind of fact. The Great Pyrenees should be primarily white but can also have areas of gray, badger, reddish brown, or varying shades of tan.
These colors should cover no more than 1/3 of the dog’s body and are usually seen on the ears, head, and base of the tail. A few spots on the body can also be seen.
The undercoat is typically white or lightly shaded. Either is acceptable for a Great Pyrenees. Mauja has very faint badger marks on her ears and the base of her tail, but Atka is completely white
Great Pyrenees are easy to train:
MYTH!
Add it to the list of Great Pyrenees myths! I was out with Atka the other day when a man approached us to chat about Atka. I told him that Atka is a Great Pyrenees and he responded, “I heard they’re easy to train!”
I literally snorted.
Probably not the most appropriate thing to do mid-conversation with a stranger, but oh well. I couldn’t contain myself.
The Great Pyrenees is an extremely independent breed. They were bred to work on their own without the need for human direction. This leads them to be not so interested in training.
Related: 10 Tips for Training Great Pyrenees
Even though they aren’t typically interested in our obedience nonsense, it is still immensely important to work on training with them. Pyrs are exceptionally smart and need to be challenged.
Otherwise, you’ll end up with a destructive, barky-pants. You’ll both be miserable.
Find what motivates your pyr – maybe it’s a special treat, snuggles, or a certain toy – and use that to motivate him! Always keep training sessions short as pyrs bore very easily and you’ll both become frustrated.
What other common Great Pyrenees myths do you hear? Was there anything in this article that surprised you about the breed?
Great info as always, Kelsie! I hardly knew anything about Great Pyrenees before becoming a reader of your blog and have become even more interested since meeting the fluffies in person!
I must admit I would have thought they needed more food – sounds like they eat about the same amount as our Goldens. Although I don’t think our boys would self-regulate their intake if given the opportunity. I also love your comment about the thick fluffy coats. People are always amazed at how trim Harley looks when he goes swimming and his coat is tamed!
My goldens tended to eat more than the pyrs.
My Pyr mix isn’t interested in swimming at all. Did you have to train him? He’s really not that big at 60 or so pounds. But he doesn’t like to climb stairs or swim and gets tired during walks and lays down. And he’s not quite two!
Our female was raised with a Lab and they both spend hours in the lake when it is hot outside. I have seen “Nuts” swim all the way across the lake and she is a strong swimmer.
You just described my Pyr, Brody! He has a fan club who laughs and cheers him on for laying down on his walks.
I am down to one Pyr and he does bark a lot at night but then comes in the house when he wants too. He is a working dog who watches over my farm critters and does a great job. My gut is almost 9 years old and still going strong. Great dogs & friends he smiles at me when I get home.My Australian Shepard on the other hand sleeps all night and runs around all day chasing the critters.
You need to get another one before the older one gets to old to get around. They go down fast in their later years and usually have hip issues that rips your heart out when you have to make the “decision”. A young Pyr will help you with your grief.
Agree on all of them but the last one. Training ease depends on the individual dog. One of my Pyr’s has no interest in training, but the other loves it and picks up new skills quickly.
Agree with you on this one. Our boy picks up things rather quickly but responds to commands in his own time. He doesn’t have the lightening speed reaction time of a Lab if I ask him to sit or lay down, or play rock, paper, scissors etc, but he does respond and his recall is usually rather good.
They’re a super intelligent breed and learn quickly, but they also take their time responding probably because they’re weighing options and considering other things they’re also thinking about.
I agree 100%! I am blown away by the intelligence of My Pyr ! He picks up commands or should I say requests amazingly fast however, I do need to patient while he weighs his options. Patience is a must!
Wow, lucky you. I’m on my 3rd pyr and none of them wanted anything to do with training.
I am 77 and Missy is very protective of me loves to lean on me to direct my path yet if I want her to take another direction just say no she responds very quickly and gives in but if I’m outside too long she takes my hand in her mouth and we go in
They are the biggest love of a dog❤️
Agreed. Falcor has been my easiest to train puppers yet. I have 5 dogs all different breeds and my Pyr is so easy to train and correct. (Except the barking at the brown truck, Fedex, Usps, Deer, and a leaf that moved a county away. But, I rather he barked and made people think twice….)
My 5 year old Pyr was so easy to train, recall is generally fine but sometimes she has to “decide” to come. Our 1.5 year old is a mess, but one session with a fear free trainer was all he needed. He loves to run at me and nip to play. Not a good behavior for a 120lb dog. Between the trainer’s “distraction” techniques and the Gentle Leader, our walks are pull-free (mostly) and when he does try to “play” – asking him to “sit” and marking the good behavior with a neck rub are working well. He’s about to get a hike in the wild where there are a good number of folks and other dogs. Living in the country, he’s had limited exposure, but is friendly overall. So this will be a good test for him (and soon he’ll be neutered so he’ll be able to play at the dog park. He gets play time with the 5 year old, but we don’t have a fence so it requires him to be on a cable – two ignorant neighbors with intact females. The kind of people who let their dogs kill my chickens and some of the last litter of puppies ended up killed by cars as they were allowed to run free. Our vet kindly offered free spaying – but I doubt they will take him up on the offer.)
I love reading your blog!! I fell in love with the breed when I saw one that would ride on a cart with his owner at Scarborough Faire (ren fair). I now have a Husky and an Australian Sheperd (both rescues) who also have undercoats and the husky sheds pretty much year round. I previously had a Samoyed – one of the best dogs I have ever had! Your blog has shown me that even being older and having a large house and smaller yard I would also be ok with a Pyr! Not now but maybe in the future.
As usual I love your blog Kelsie. Will share it to our rescue page and email it to a couple of our adopters who don’t do much with computers or FB.
Love this myth and fact. I have been involved with Pyr Rescue and have had prys for years. I train dogs and on the first day of class I explain to people that I have GSDs and Pyrs and the difference in training them.
I’m so happy I came across your comment!
We have a nine week old Great Pyrenees/German Shepherd mix. I’ve read a little about training both breeds and I’m curious as to what your suggestions would be for training a mix of the two!
So far, Boomer responds pretty well to all commands other than come. He’s not great at that one and gets downright stubborn about it sometimes. But sit, lay down, shake…. he’s got those down.
It’s really the come command that I worry about most because sometimes it can be for his safety. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Everything stated is absolutely true! My Pry Moby should have been named Bolt. My dauotook him for a successful run, but as they arrived home he saw two dogs a block away and took off. Also, good luck with “Come” . Mr. Independent who is eight years old will NEVER “Come”, but will respond to Do you want your green stick? Do you want a treat? Or come get your Kong. I’ve concluded he needs a reason!
I have a GSD, 2 Border Collies, a Shih-Tzu and 2 GPs. It is hard to believe the GPs are even the same species ?
So funny and right !!! Nothing like them!
I have 2 male great pyrs that were originally used to guard our flock of 50 sheep.Now we no longer have the sheep and have trained them as house dogs. It took a lot of work but during the day I can take them outside without a leash and they will stay with me and play. At nite with the deer and other critters the temptation is just to great so they are on the leash. I love my dogs and they are great friends
Do Pyrs still have a tendency to roam if they have a home and people they love? Read that you must have a high-fenced yard for your Pyr or the dog will take off, sometimes permanently.
Our Pyr’s live with is on 20,000 acres in the middle of a National Park. They have the freedom to roam at will but seldom go far as they are guarding our property from the bear and deer. Once in a while they may go a mile away but love coming home in the evening to eat and sleep inside at night
I have two 1yo sisters that are GP/Lab cross. One diligently stays in the yard, the other has figured out how to get over the top of the livestock fence- even WITH small chicken wire covering it to keep her from going through the opening at the top. We live on a few thousand acres that are mostly open, but lead to large canyons that are over grown. I’ve ended up getting the GPS collars and have been lead in a few “walks”… I currently have to chaperone all trips to the yard, until I can get some coyote roll bars installed to keep her fluffy butt in.
I “mistakingly” took my very first Pyr (25 yrs ago…learned since then)to obedience training. It was hysterical, kalamity jane did what the instructor demonstrated even before she was asked to and then pulled me to our car to go home!
Hahaha, exactly!!! You are so right! So what do we tell other newbies to the Pyr breed?: “They are so smart and so ahead of the “human!” Once you realize this you are so much better off. Rocky and I are 7 years in, and it doesn’t get easier but it does get predictable. If you have a Pyr on the Guardian side of things you must stay on top of him/her. If you have a Pyr on the Gentle Giant side of things, well……enjoy that! This breed in general is not for the weak or lazy. If you end up with a Pyr who would be perfect to protect livestock but you live in the suburbs you are going to have to step up. It’s hard, but you will always be safe! Don’t ever think you are smarter than your your Pyr. They are smarter than you (their senses are so high-alert to everything!) and they will show you over and over again that they were right. Always trust them! Always! If you need them to do something different than what they suggest, make sure it’s fair and remove them of the obligation to keep telling you and protecting you. Tell them, “you did a great job, but now it’s time to take a rest, ” time off in a quiet place where the stimulus is not present). This is a breed for FOREVER. You can’t get a cute fluffy pup and then expect it to be easy from there. They will constantly need you to train and manage emotionally, behaviorally, and also with grooming; but if you are a good fit, you will need them too. Just remember: they are smarter than you about what is happening in the environment, with safety, with strangers. Please always train your Pyr. It is better for both of you. I love my boy but I am older and am thinking I will go back to Dobermans (lap dogs, shadows behind you – so much easier). That’s one thing people don’t say about the Pyrs, they are not lovey dovey, they don’t need you, not really – but you need them! So my house/ family pet is also a worker. He keeps us safe, in the mountains and the suburbs. When we are in the mountains he never barks except the occasional bear or deer. In the suburbs it is nonstop barking. People, all people, joggers, walkers, strollers, cars, delivery, and yes, even coyotes! That’s when I have to bring him in and say, “Good job, you get a break.” Because I need a break from the barking. He will guard us until his heart gives out. Responsibly, I give the neighborhood an ear break and HIS HEART A BREAK. He will run himself ragged in the yard to bark away a threat. We love Rocky. He actually has me considering another Pyr. Hmmm? We’ll see. Maybe someone will read this and think again before they bring home their little fluffer and then just forget them. It’s work. Pyrs are work if you live n the suburbs. Maybe easier if on a farm but that’s not where these dogs are going these days.
I could not poosibly agree more on any of these points.
Every picture I have of my Pyr indoors his of him sleeping or just about to be. I don’t have a large house but he is fine as long as he is sleeping with me. I have a little less than half an acre on my property and I have seen him sit maybe ice outside in his five years (that is until he thinks he sees a leave blow around in the yard). I don’t have much work for him as far guarding (although someone in town has let me experiment with their chickens so I’ll be getting some backyard chickens in the spring). His main job is pulling the garden cart around which he loves (which doubles as a sled for the little kids) and gets mad when I take the harness off. There are times when I have no work to do but I hook him up anyways just to make him happy
Isn’t this only advice for dogs that are outside a lot?
If your dog is inside 95% of the time, they won’t blow their coat out and they also aren’t going to get sunburned. Keeping their coat just means they will be miserable anytime they go outside for half the year.
I’ve had a pyrenees for over a year in florida and he hasn’t blown his coat. I can only imagine this could be forced by leaving him outside often and long enough for him to get hot, why would I want to do that?
I’ve seen very happy shaved pyrenees and then others who won’t be shaved because their owners were told they would sunburn if they were outside more than 15 minutes. These dogs were breed to be in the mountains, their coat isn’t designed for 90 degree summers.
Our Pyrs are indoor dogs and I wouldn’t dream of shaving them. They go outside in 90 degree heat and are just fine. They have access to water and shade and they determine when they go out and when they come back into the airconditioning. The only concessions we make are keeping their purified water jug in the refrigerator because they love cold water and ice in the summer and keeping their kiddie pool clean and filled so they can take a dip when they want. They don’t blow their coats as heavily as dogs who are outside more than they are; we also brush them weekly and have them groomed professionally every 2-3 months.
My outside only Pyrenees was miserable in the summer so we did shave her every year. Never down to the skin. But the difference in her attitude was immediately noticeable each time. She was so much happier!
A pet pyr that goes in and out of the house is very different than a working pyr. Working pyrs don’t get time to go inside or play at the park. They remain outside with their herd all the time. They are dirty and they get hot. To make them suffer in the heat because of their double coat is negligence pure and simple. They will pass up food if it will make their flock/herd vulnerable. I depend on mine to keep my goats safe. They are both 9 and going strong. Shaving/trimming them is the least I can do.
Absolutely incorrect. All my pyrs have been indoor dogs and blew their coats. Shaving is never recommended for pyrs. It’s a really bad idea. Professionals have written books on them. Maybe read one.
How do you break a Great Pyrenees from spraying on everything and marking his territory
I have not found out either. My female pyr Liberty actually lifts her leg like a male to spray. Better coverage that way I guess.
Thank you for this. I’m printing it out. I tell my family, but they don’t seem to get it! We bought the book on Pyrs, but AFTER we got her. We love her dearly, with ALL of her characteristics.
Do you have to train them not to eat the chickens, or does it come natural? We are getting one to protect the chickens from coyotes and foxes only seen a bear once. We live on 2 acres.
Mine watches my chickens fine.
I know this is a bit late but I live on a chicken farm and we have 3 Pyrs to protect our livestock. We didn’t have to train them not to attack the chickens but they were raised with working parents before we got them. That seems to be the best way for them to be trained: by each other.
Love your chickens. Talk to the chickens. Show your Pyr that the chickens are your family, your prosperity, your wealth and they will love those chickens too! Think it through before you release the dog to the chickens. Think it through.
I adopted a male Pyr from my local shelter here in New Mexico. He waant treated very well by his previous owner. So he has some issues. The biggest being he HATES water and to be groomed. He is very intelligent and loving. I never had a pyr before him so the last year has been an adventure. I was wondering if you could give me some tips on being able to groom and bath him with out putting myself in harms way and also not traumatizing him? He is good for about 10 mins then he reaches his limit. He isn’t aggressive toward me aside from being groomed.
Both my girls are very resistant to grooming and being sprayed with the hose so it may not be trauma that is the issue as I raised both from pups and they were never handled improperly. That being said I have found that once they are cornered in the tub or a tight space in the home they “give up ” and allow you to handle them. I treat them regularly while I’m grooming to make it a positive experience for them. If you have a really difficult mat that takes a lot of time to brush out, do it over several days for 10 minutes at a time and slowly work up the amount of time over the next several months. Brushing regularly will help them to resign themselves to the process, I even got one to come to me on her bed and lay down between my legs so I can groom her. Remember to groom the spots they love scratched first, then do the feathering on the legs, then go back to the favorites again. Work from the edges of the mats while holding them so you don’t pull on the skin and cause pain….
I found that my girls are willing to get in the tub on their own in the summer if I run cold water, do this a bunch and eventually they will get in happily without having to wrestle them in… Usually they are jubilant after the bath and very happy, so that’s it’s own reward. Make sure you don’t get soap in their eyes and make it a painful experience for them. Good luck!
Give him words: say, ‘ i have to check your eyes, eyes, eyes, ” Wipe his eyes.Love him and praise him and tell him yes, your eyes are so beautiful Then don’t do it again until tomorrow. Once he understands you will check his eyes daily, and you are telling him how much you love them go on to the next thing. It could take some time. Learn your dog. If it is his nails say, “I have to look at your nails.” Look at the nails but do not try to clip them. Just keep saying the same thing. Look at every nail, say Nail, nail, nail, etc. Once he lets you look at the nails say, “Nails”. One word. Show him the clipper. Do it every day, many time per day. Then start putting the clipper next to his foot but keep SAYING NAILS.. If he starts relaxing about it that is good. Sometimes say nails. inspect them, finger them, then give a treat. The GOAL is to let you touch him where ever and when ever you want to – TRUST. Once you learn (Once you , the human learns) how to do this, you can go on to the next thing.
I just acquired my Pyrenees through a divorce. My ex used him to guard his chickens. He has gone from guardian to pet, and loves being a pet. He is a little over a year old, I have to sedate him to groom him, he won’t let me leash him or put him in a car, and he marks everything….especially inside. Any advice?
I have heard that they do not blow out their coat if they’re inside most of the time. Jasmine and I walk 3 to 4 miles a day in the winter easily and she loves it. When it gets hot she cannot stay outside more than 10 minutes and she’s really miserable. I would never shave her but can’t. Why are you top coat be cut down a bit of course to where there’s no Skin showing but just to thin it out a bit
There’s no need to thin the coat. My pyrs have all been indoor dogs in the south and they blew their coats. Please take a professional’s advice.
I love reading about Great Pyrenees (really dogs in general). We have a GP named Taxie. We got her on April 15th. I told my husband that even if we didn’t get her on the 15th, she will be as big as a taxi! We have goats and a rooster and pig that she is the boss of. She likes to get out of the pasture, but , she comes to our house I think to let us know that the goats can get out. She is a great dog!
I thought it would be cool to shave my pyr to look like a lion ( and it does look super cool) but I hadent been brushing him and his hair was SO knotted up. I didn’t know about the sunburn thing. He has access to shade, water, house, and pool. He’s outside dog do you think he will be Ok? Shaved from mid back to butt, left a huge mane…
Bad idea. I don’t understand why you did this. It’s not in your dog’s best interest.
I am 74 and I got my great pyr last year and I’ve never known such love and loyalty as this dog shows me. When inside, if I get up and go to another room (even for a minute) he follows and lays by the door till I come out, He seems genuinely interested in how I feel and he expresses his love easily. I take him to Lowes and Home depot when I have a short errand and it always turns into an hour of shoppers adoring his coat and demeanor. Thank you for your insight on this magnificent animal.
We have a 9 year old Great Pyrenees. We got her when she was 6 weeks old. I have always loved the Great Pyrenees, I have always thought they were beautiful dogs. Gracy was easy to potty train, learned how to do high fives, we do one paw, the other paw, then a last paw of her choosing, so I guess she actually does high fifteen. Once she does the high fifteen, she gets a treat. She also does sit, lay, and stand on command. Her hair was so matted this year, we had to shave her, except for face and tail. Everyone, every summer said she needed to be shaved. We live in Arkansas, so it is very hot and humid during the summer months. This year, her coat was so tangled, we had to get her shaved. Never again will I ever do this. I will take very good care of her coat from now on. She is very spoiled, and if a stray dog happens to wander in the yard, she is very quick to let them know who runs this family yard. She is protective of everyone, but you do not get onto a kid in front of her, and if she hears a baby cry, she is right there making sure everything is ok. She is everything and more. She will even knock on the door when she is ready to come inside or she barks to let me know she wants inside. This is by far the Best Dog. We have 2 small Shih Tzu’s that it took a while for her to get used to, and they want to be where big sister is. I do not consider them dogs at all, they are our babies.
Thank you for the info! I just adopted an amazing pyr and she fits in with my family so well! But she’s been having trouble staying cool in this hot July month. She loves being outside but I’m always scared she’s going to overheat, and she’s always panting inside and outside. Any tips on how to keep her cool?
Keep her inside near the air conditioning during the heat of the day. Please don’t shave the coat.
Let her choose the coldest room in the house . She knows. Then when it gets colder outside let her go there. It’s a juggle. But your dog will choose if you let her. Our dog chose the guest bathroom for years because it had the coldest air. Then one day he decided that watching the back yard was more important ( a house was being built). He has never returned to the guest bathroom even thought we all know it is the coldest place in the summer. So I closed that air vent. He still watches the back and the new house. You see what I am saying??? Listen to your dog. It knows!
Pyrs and grooming Ah yes. I mean NO. We are on our second pyr and both have hated grooming. So I thought I dont have to do it. I made an appointment at the groomers and Marshmallow in capable hands with a ” We will call you when she is finished”/ Fast forward 8 hours and I am wondering what has happened. I call the groomer and they tell me to come get her. She looks beautiful and I ask what took so long? Apparently 2 hours in Marshmallow had had enough and took the tool from the nice groomers hand and walked to the corner of the room and laid on the tool and took a 3 hour nap. After that we all knew it was a spa day and just pick her up at 5:00 o’clock.
I am convinced that Ike learned his commands very early so he could chose which ones he wanted to ignore!!
Help please! Looking for any tips for house training my 12 week old female Pyrenees Elsa. I am home will her all day long and have tried everything letting her out as soon as she wakes up, crating her, letting her out directly after she eats or drinks to no avail. She will pee outside, I will give her praise and/or a small treat and bring her in only to have her squat on the carpet and pee again not even 5 minutes later. I understand we have only had her 1 week and she is just a baby but there has been zero connection with the act it seems. Our carpet is really starting to smell pretty bad. I would LOVE to rip it out but we rent. 🙁
i had the same problem with my Sophie.My vet said she would outgrow it. My Vet was right.Sophie has been completely house broken since she was four months old! My Sophie was just being stubborn. Thank God because there is nothing she could do to make us us give her up! She is just awesome.I
Crate her. Take her out ASAP in the morning. Let her pee or poop . It should be a few minutes walk. This is not a WALK. This is a pee or poop in the back yard or on the leash if no yard.
Do not give water or food. Wait. When you are ready, and you know you can take her for about 30 min Giver her water and food. Let her drink. Let her eat. (She is a puppy now, but you may choose to feed her in AM Or PM one meal only later when she is older; but for now she needs to eat 2 times per day). Watch her. Suggest to go outside, Use the same Word,GO POTTY, GO POTTTY???? Sit by the door with her. The only door that she will use to tell you she has to go. You need to be smarter than her now, as she will be smarter than you later. Sit by the door, do what ever you need to do (File your nails etc.) then when she starts to get hmmm ??? wiggly moving take her out. Say, “GO POTTY”. That’s it no other words. Go Potty!!! When she goes tell her okay good job, pet, but don’t over do it, she is a PYR and demands respect, just good job!. Bring her back inside. If you love your carpet sit by the door again. Wait. If she acts like she will go again take her out. Same thing. Say, “Go Potty!”
If she goes tell her good job., Come inside right away if there is no POTTY. you ned to separate the word POTTY to going out for exercise or play etc. Having a puppy will keep you busy lie having a baby.
Wait an hour then offer water again. Then repeAT.
YOU SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING RIGHT????
Control the water and food going in. when you give it make sure you have the time to train. You will have to invest time in this breed. She is training you. If this is not okay then return the dog. She is training you. Once you get the hand of it, you can start to train her, but she is that smart. Trust me, she is that smart!
What a great post. This past week was brutal in our part of the States. One morning I could tell my guys weren’t having the cold for long … they started limping and holding their feet it. Below zero was just too cold.
d comments like he is biggerr than you my pyr lived to be 13
I had 2 Pyr’s. They are awesome dogs. Yes they are incredibly stubborn, diggers, and escape artist, but great protectors. I had a cable runner in my back yard Samson loved it! Especially when the school buses went by.
Our guy (half Anatolian) is five now and he trained himself. He loves the grandchildren and we’ve not had a coyote or fox nab a chicken in three years. He is the guardian of all seven acres. He will oblige at sit and get’em but looks at us like we are fools if he asks more of him. He has our love.
I just adopted a GP/Husky mix. He is 14 weeks and the most laid back puppy I’ve ever seen! He loves to snuggle and hug his head around my neck. He sleeps whenever possible but jumps up the minute I get up. He follows me everywhere. So far, doing great with house training. I tell him to get busy and he immediately starts to pee! Very smart but very stubborn! When he’s done peeing he started whining and sits like a statue, absolutely refuses to budge! It’s funny but I know I can’t let him be in charge. I don’t like tugging the leash but that’s the only way to get him to move. Waiting to start obedience training. Any suggestions for moving my stubborn little guy?
I have a Great Pyrenees mixed with lab. He is the best dog I have ever had .Loved this article !
I know not to shave my Great Pyr. but what about closely grooming? Is there a way to use clippers and do a close cut or is that bad too? What is the life expectancy for this breed?
Also, we have never been able to bathe him because we were told it takes too long for their coats to dry and it’s bad to let them go around damp…is that true too? Thanks for the help.