Great Pyrenees. I could talk about them all day — ask anyone who knows me 😉 On It’s Dog or Nothing, I’m always trying to educate about the breed to help people decide if it’s the right fit.
Instead of me rambling on again, I asked thousands of pyr lovers for their advice to new or prospective pyrents. So many people submitted wonderful responses that I couldn’t include them all in this post. However, the links to all the Great Pyrenees tips are at the bottom of this post.
Top Great Pyrenees Tips:
“Get over thinking you can stop the barking. It can be managed, not stopped.” – Karen Pike
“Barking is innate. Just deal.” – Nicole Bethea
“Don’t continuously yell for your Pyrenees to come. They may see or hear something you didn’t; they may be in a trance. Go out and thank them and pet them to get their attention, then walk them inside.” – Cammi Lynn Brown
“Teach them to sleep when you sleep.” – Val Wilkerson
“Leave your ego out of it. They’re not purposefully defying you, they’re operating with an instruction book written thousands of years ago. Don’t fight it, work with it.” – Christi Sullivan
“Positive, consistent training from the beginning! Patience in spades. Their feelings are hurt easily, and they have memories like elephants. Rewards will be a thousandfold.” – Linda Price Romeika
Related: A Beginner’s Guide to Great Pyrenees
“Don’t believe they can’t be trained! They have a different mindset, yes, and you have to learn to be a partner. But they can do amazing things!” – Laurie McDonough Greaney
“Don’t expect your dog to do anything you want it to.” – Cheryl Apfel Wise
“Sense of humour and patience are a must! You will not get by without them.” – Erica Kelly Graves
“Socialize them and expose them to everything while they are young because once they hit 1-2 years old, their guard nature really comes out. You want them to know what is and isn’t a threat.” – Lilly Nguyen
“They have extra toes. That’s normal. Do not chop them off. Also, they have a double coat, which keeps them warm in winter and cool in summer, so do not shave it off.” – Sara Sandstrom
“Fur will become a fashion accessory and a condiment!” – Mona Kracke
“The shed is real. The tail can be destructive.” – mandamoji
“No matter what a groomer tells you, do not shave your pyr! Their dual coat helps keep them cool in the summer.” – hilkey2017
“They’re diggers, so your fence needs to go underground a bit too!” – angel_the_pyr
“Be patient, be prepared to engage in an occasional battle of the wills, and love them unconditionally, and you will be rewarded by the best dog ever!” – Julia Cameron Petrohilos
Related: Great Pyrenees: Myth or Fact?
“Do your research. Be prepared to accept and work *with* the breed characteristics & personality, and not always try to train them out! Everybody seems a lot happier that way.” – Jules Sevenky
“Something a knowledgeable pyr friend told me when we got Odin two years ago: Pyrs are NOT a breed for the first-time dog owner.” – pyrmom_86
“This is not a high energy, go on adventures kind of dog. They’re basically living rugs most of the time.” – Jessica Young
“Don’t be surprised if they don’t like water/swimming/even cooling down on a hot day.” – ourlittleislandfamily
“It would probably benefit potential owners to spend time with adult pyrs to see their personalities and what they are like. I feel like too many people want pyrs for their cute puppy looks and don’t know what to do with them when they are bigger.” – Michelle Kohler
“…Pyrenees are a working breed and need something to do, otherwise, they will find a way to occupy themselves, and often that won’t be something you are happy with.” – Colin Noel Vickers
One final piece of advice that sums everything up perfectly:
“The bigger question to ask is not, ‘is the pyr a good fit for you’, but, ‘are you a good fit for the pyr’?” – Lee Morgan
We received a lot of input when we asked pyrents for their best tips for new or prospective pyr owners, so this isn’t a comprehensive list. To read all the other amazing Great Pyrenees tips, head here on Facebook and here on Instagram.
What advice would you give to people considering a Great Pyrenees?
*Quotes have been edited for grammar and clarity.
Unless you are prepared to fall in love with a stubborn, huge fur ball -just say no !! If this is going to be a family pet or companion, this is not a dog that you can put in the backyard for the kids to play with once in a while, Pyrs become your kids and do require a fair amount of attention and loving.
Exactly! I’d love to have livestock for my three, but it’s just not in the cards right now. You have to find other ways to work them.
So how do you work yours??? I have a puppy and once we redo the fence line we will be getting goats. My other dogs make sure she gets exercise but I always love to read other peoples advice.
Have your goats scared the Pyrs yet? Mine have….it’s so funny! The Prys stick around them but at a distance. 😉
Every bit of advice is Excellent. If you’re attached to nice things don’t get a pyr. If you always have to be in charge and demand strict obedience, don’t get a pyr. If a spotless house is important or you’re OCD don’t get a pyr. And definitely pyrenees are not for first time owners. I have had St. Bernard’s and German shepherds and have a rescued pyr/golden mix. None of those dogs prepare you for life with a pyr. But what a ride. Charlie Charizard is a 118 lbs pyr who works as a therapy dog visiting children in hospitals, local colleges and universities, as well as our local airport. Pyrs are something special!
My husband and I adopted a 3yo Pyr from rescue on 1/1/17 – and we ARE first time dog owners. Neither of us has had a dog since we were kids (we were both 58yo at the time). Luckily, I have had the time and willingness to immerse myself in reading, studying, researching, learning about these dogs and their oh-so-different ways of thinking. We have taken multiple training classes together. The learning curve was incredibly steep, and I mean “Is-this-the-best-way-to-hold-a-leash” steep.
BUT, God was looking out for his stupid children, here. Someone before us had done some good training, and our girl has become such an amazing part of our lives. She has always been so close to perfect, and suits us like no other dog breed would have, or ever will. Never say “never”, if you’re willing to put in the time. 😉
At Last! An article that makes sense about Great Pyrenees. I have had four. I loved all of them but two we needed to rehome. Both males we helped rescue. One was a fence jumper, the other was a chicken killer.
Only two additional suggestions for this.
1. Be sure you have a good pasture fence or your Pyr will escape. They feel the entire neighborhood is theirs to patrol. They don’t run away but get lost.
2. If you want to train your Pyr and go to a dog trainer, be sure they ‘know’ Pyrs. We took ours to a dog trainer who couldn’t do much with our sweet dog and told me in front of the class ‘that dog isn’t dumb but the owner is!’ Meaning me. We never went back and trained her myself.
Like I’ve told lots of people, if you want a dog to play catch, get a border collie. I’ve told so many folks Pyrs are meant to guard not play games, it’s instinct. If yours likes it, well great. Mine didn’t.
Thanks for the great article.
Funny your words “we trained her ourselves ! “ I know you know why that’s funny! Stupid dog trainer tho … there was nothing stupid about you at all… idiot!
Thank you! I’ve been trying to get my 7 month old girl to retrieve. We did for a very brief time with our boy, but she obviously hates it so know when to let go of things we “should” train them to do! Now if I could relax a bit on “drop it” I’d be elated, but realize too they can be very stubborn. Love your Pry more than things…even the kitty’s new mouse or rainbow stick! It’s totally worth having an incredible Gentle Giant.”
We rescued an eight year old neutered male three months ago. We live on a farm in the middle of nowhere, and the nearest neighbor is over a mile away. “Happy” barks most of the night. It is a comforting sound for us, as we have been without a dog for a long time and coyotes have gotten comfortable getting close to the house. It’s nice to know we have a 130 lb guard dog sitting on our front porch. I’m convinced he is guarding our cat when the cat is outside. If I want to find the cat, I just have to call the dog. “Happy” is the best dog I’ve ever had.
I’ve got two adult Pyrs, and something I’ve had to tell my husband (a GSD owner) is that you have to adjust your way of thinking. They bark, they’re goofballs, they’re stubborn, and they’re not the kind of dog that is going to play fetch. For me, they’re a personality fit because of my nature. German Shepherds and other high energy herding breeds are not. I’ve got a male and female Pyr, both of whom are of excellent temperament. The key is knowing what kind of personality they have and knowing what you’re getting into.
I can’t begin tip tell you how much I liked this article. I have had 8 beautiful, precious, stubborn Pyrkids. They stole my heart and reorganized my soul. As a lifelong rescuer many different needs have come and gone on to fantastic homes and I loved each one dearly. After rescuing my first Pyr I completely lost my heart and can’t imagine life without them.
“Reorganized my soul”… so much love for this. Pure truth, and such a wonderful thing.
I adopted a Great Pyrenees puppy last July 4th while tent camping in the Smokies.
“Smoky”, as I called him, was covered in fleas, had worms, and had to sleep outside our tent, lest we become covered in fleas, too. I immediately de-flead and dewormed him, and we bonded right away. At 8 weeks, I could carry him in my arms, and did. At age 57, my wife thought I was insane. Now, he weighs 105.
We already had a senior male, who had bonded to my wife, but I’d lost my favorite companion, a Golden Retriever, the year before to old age. It was time for a challenge.
Smoky, like all Great Pyrenees, has turned out to be the greatest dog I have ever owned, and I’ve owned dozens. Not a day has gone by where he has not brought laughter, joy, or fun into our house, and we never cease to be amazed by his antics and his intelligence. Two months ago, I even posted a video of Smoky chasing his tail in sync to a Hall and Oates tune on Youtube, which is filmed live: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GZNkzO60tmk I only regret that I was laughing so hard I missed the first 2 minutes of his act!
Smoky is a superb watchdog and patrols our 2 acres with the zeal of a palace guard. Yet, he also likes to catch and retrieve a ball or stuffed animal, and when bored, will toss it in the air himself, for himself.
One thing we’ve noticed about GPs and their intelligence, is that as they grow up, they create a mental database (knowledgebase) of sights and sounds. If a new sound is encountered, whether live or on the television, you can be sure he’ll bark loudly in alert. Even more intriquing, , if you move a wheelbarrow, or even a shovel, in the back yard from its normal position, he will alert on this visual discrepancy, and approach it like you would a coiled rattkesnake, to determine if it represents a new threat.
In my mind, there is no greater, nor more unique, dog breed than the Great Pyrenees. If one needed to program a robot with artificial intelligence, you need look no further for the model than the innate demeanor of these Gentle Giants.
Please feel free to post any or all of this for your readers.
What a beautiful story. I have my first Great Pyr and I don’t think I will ever own any other breed going forward. These gentle giants dig their way into your heart (almost literally) and mind and soul.
Omgosh, my pup has alot of similarities, the things in the yard moved…he notices everything! The personality is phenomenon for this boy. I wish I had gotten this breed earlier in my life.
I have a pyr 4years old I would like a little info on what u all feed yours mine seems to be either allergic to her food or just don’t like it
They don’t eat much, sometimes just half of what is recommended. I feed Fromm Large Breed. Worth the expense, as it lasts a longer time than expected.
Be careful of the food contents. I have had 2 and both were sensitive to corn.
Did you know beef and chicken and the top two allergens for dogs/ Grains are *way* down the list, so it’s likely it’s something else, unless your dogs were diagnosed by a vet with this food intolerance.
It’s super important for people to research whatever breed of dog their heart is desiring so they’ll be prepared and be certain they can handle it. I have a Siberian Husky, so we see a lot of similar assumptions and mistakes people make when acquiring the breed. Not doing research is how certain breeds continually end up in shelters! Great tips on Pyres, I’m sharing this. I didn’t realize they barked a lot! Important to know, especially if you live in an apartment. Great post!
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
I can’t believe nobody posted about the slobbering! Had to make my pyr a custom scarf.
I was surprised too! Yours was the first comment about slobbering! Fresh water refills multiple times per day. I like the idea of a custom scarf!!
Love the comments on Great Pyres. I am a Pyrent to a 1 year old and she is the most awesome dog. I have a 10 acre farm and she is the patrol queen. yes she barks all night, yes she roams, yes she is very independently thinking, and yes she jumps on you or climbs in your lap when she wants loving and kisses and she is 100 lbs. This is my first Pyr and I got her because my trespassing neighbors got mad when I took them to court and poisoned my wonderful catalonian sheepdog. After six months, I purchased my pyr and she slept on my bed. I was told she would not bond with our farm animals because I allowed her to sleep on my bed for the first three months. The man i purchased her from told me to put her in the field with my livestock and leave her to her own devices so she could bond with my livestock because she came from working parents and she would be fine. At eight weeks old, I was not about to put my precious ball of white fur out in a field and leave her alone.
One night when my Pyr was about 5 months old, she began hitting me in the face with her paws and nose. I slowly woke up and realized I was shaky and sweaty. I checked my blood sugar and it was 45. She has never been trained to detect high or low blood sugar but she has done it several times. When she was about six months old, she found her voice and decided she loved it outside with our Newfoundland better than she liked sleeping in the house. She has a very intimidating bark and since she decided she wanted to patrol at night, we have had no problems with any type of predators. She occasionally lets me know that she wants to sleep in the house and she has the right to. She also has had no problems bonding with our livestock. This is one of the most amazing dogs I have ever had the pleasure to love. She plays with our 2 year old Newfie like they came from the same litter. I plan on getting another Pyr in about six months. I will never own any other kind of dog.
Love reading all these posts. My sweet girl is now 4 and I couldn’t imagine my life without her. My daughter has autism and at the time I got our Wynne my daughter had become terrified of dogs but Wynne fixed all of that. At one point Wynne would stand right in front of daughter blocking any other dogs from approaching my daughter when we were out for a walk. She is just the biggest and gentlest girl. Barking is frequent and loud, the shedding is out of control, and the slobbering can become a slipping hazard on hardwood floors but wouldn’t change a thing!
One thing that I did find helpful with the barking to help manage it was by telling her to be a good girl and for the most part that seems to help. You just come to expect that they are just doing their job.
After losing both of my Great Danes within 6 months of each other..my awesome friend gave me a young male Pyres….He is now 6 months old. I am so grateful for this place that I can get so much good info and advice! He is different from any dog I have ever had (and I have had many)…Thankyou again for all of your advice and wisdom concerning this beautiful guy (Jax)
Hi there i have a pyres is only 5 months old. We have had him for 2 months now completely potty trained with in the first month. Super smart and knows right from wrong. He doesn’t really lesson when off the leash but it’s more of I can hear you but I’m just going to ignore you lol. We where living in an apartment and just moved to 10 ace and now we are having a problem with him chewing up stuff he normally wouldn’t. We think it’s separation anxiety but we aren’t sure how to deal with this he is so sweet and kind and we love him so much. We don’t want him to feel anxious or uneasy when we aren’t there. We have left him stuff to chew on treats but he still chews on stuff like a rug never has he done that just any kind of paper mostly my lists lol. We have left him in our bedroom at the apartment once and he cryed tell we got back 3 hr later. So we don’t crate him or put him in rooms because it seems like his anxiety gets worse. We just don’t know what to do we love him so much he has the best puppy eyes ever that make your heart melt so that makes it that much harder to punish him lol. So if anyone has any ideas or thoughts on how to deal with it that would be so great.
My pet is now 12 years old, he’s a rescue. I got him from a GP rescue when he was 3 yrs old, not knowing much of his history, his temperament and personality came out about 3 months after having him. I cannot help but believe he was abused and witnessed abuse. The statement above about teaching him what are and aren’t threats seem pretty accurate. He didn’t know who wasn’t a threat. I am his flock, he protects me, he protects whoever is his caretaker. Sadly, he felt he needed to protect me from everyone unnecessarily, family and husband included. Since then he has learned thru much training on our own. He’s a great dog, he loves kids, and attention from anyone who will stop to pet him he likes walks and carrides. He prefers to be wherever he is comfortable, so inside in the A/C in summer and outside in cold weather. At 12 years old and he has cancer, my boy gets whatever he wants, which is love, attention, and treats. I cherish everyday with him, we are treating the cancer, but at 12 years we know what reality has in store for us. I love that big old boy he has stolen a piece of my ♥. He still hops around outside with treats and makes us laugh everyday. Pyrenees are NOT for everyone, but they do call them “Great” Pyrenees for a reason. Know the breed before getting one and remember they are all their own beings.
Pyr Info
https://maplewaycorner.weebly.com/pyr-info.html
Focus on obedience. You need to work with them every day while they are young otherwise you’ll get a dog that does what it wants to do…buuuuuut even with all the training they’re still going to do what they want to do at times. Puppy classes help a lot, especially with both canine and human socialization as well as whatever you learn in class.
Don’t worry about their double dew claws unless theybecome a medical issue.
We got a defective Pyr that doesnt bark often, but your mileage may vary.
I had owned Border Collies. I have no idea why I wanted a Great Pyrenees but anyway, I adopted 135 lb. Andre a while ago. He is totally cool. The first thing I learned was how sensitive he was. Highly sensitive. He really resented the first time I insisted he get into the truck (he does not like riding/gets motion sick). He struggled jumping in, the truck is high and that was part of the angst.
I bought him a ramp to make it easier to get in, and he mastered the ramp on the third try. Brilliant. So I threw away the book and began to observe behavior. A lot to learn here. He thrives on routine. Though I have a stable of horses, he is not much interested in them. However, he does guard the stable itself. He barks only outside at night when he hears whatever. I do ask him to stop after a few minutes and praise for letting me know, and he does stop. He does not like being out of my sight so I make sure he goes with me everywhere on the farm. He has his own stall and bed in the stable, a central stall with crosshatch stallfront, which he can see through, and he watches me work from his bed. I wasn’t used to such a low energy dog but this fellow is much easier to entertain. I give him stuff to tear up – empty ice cream containers, etc. – and he does just that. Does not eat anything. Just wants a good tearing up. He can easily reach into the kitchen sink and did take a coffee cup one day, but I told him Not A Good Idea and he understood. I did not want him constantly asking for a bit of my food, so I taught him that when I am sitting at the table or on the couch, no dice. But if I am cooking he is welcome to be part of it and catch a few nibbles. That works well, he needs the cooking thing because he is highly food driven. The fascinating part here is that I only need to tell him once. He gets it thereafter. So though BCs are considered the most intelligent of dogs, this Pyr is smarter than most BCs I have had. Very agreeable, amiable. And Andre is not stubborn. Rather, he is like most horses: Let him think it is his idea and he will do most anything I ask of him. Since horses are too big to force, one must use diplomacy and rewards to convince them. (No corporal punishment at this stable, and any veterinarian or farrier who hits a horse is asked to leave.) Pyrenees seem much the same, I have found. Andre makes up his own mind. So a background with horses informs me better than my experiences with dogs, in working with Andre. I also think that if you approach such a dog as an equal, an individual, as opposed to an ‘animal’, you will find working with him much easier. At least, I have. There is no Bad Dog in my vocabulary. There used to be, but I have learned. Made many mistakes. It does no good to make a dog feel baf. That only leads to destructive behavior. I do what I can to let Andre and my horses know they are loved, that they are an essential part of this place. That they count. This is my philosophy overall, and it makes for a pleasant life. I often struggle with the behavior of humans and my own failings as a human, but the non-humans make up for it. I suppose in the end it is a matter of respect for all life.
Thank you all for your comments. I most appreciated the comments from Teresa and have discovered in my 4 year old what she says. I have never really trained my Pyr except to teach her basic manners. She is my sidekick and me hers. We respect each other. We live on a farm and she is free roaming and chooses to stay close.
I see posts where people have so much trouble with their Pyrs living in confined areas. Where they have spoiled the dogs to the point they can’t manage the animal. The animal manages them and is destructive. They think it’s funny. This breaks my heart to see such an independent noble animal confined with no purpose. I see this as abuse.
Three moths ago my daughter found this big boy roaming the neighborhood. by her house. After two days someone called her and told her he belonged to her neighbor my daughter went to the owner and left a note telling them she had their dog. Several days pasted and finally the owner replied by calling her. My daughter told him that her Mom had the dog for the past six days….all he asked was the dog happy there? To make along story short the owner gave my daughter his papers and that was it…… Dylan just turned 1 yr old on March 31 in the past three months he has received all his necessary shots and has been neutered has completed a 6 wk puppy training class still does not answer to his new name, but he didn’t answer his original either!
It has been an experience and I have learned more patience from my little guy (100 lb) he likes swimming at dog park and terrorizing my want to be feral 2 yr old kitty. He does amuse me and everyday he brings something new outside just for the fun of it while I am at work. The best was a stem wine glass thru the doggie door.without breaking it…..how he managed that is a mystery ❤️Those sweet babies he doesn’t bark hardly and loves to cuddle
I am 6 months into my first Great Pyrenees. Yoki, is just about 8 months now and I’m not sure how I ever got along without him. He is SO soulful and we have the strongest heart connection I have ever experienced with an animal. Yes, he is strong willed but so am I. Yoki is a pet and not a worker (also a clown!) He loves to sit on the couch with his pack and is just starting to come into his “bark”. He loves his toys and playing (albeit a bit rough at times) and will let you know exactly when feeding time is. 😉 I’m happy to have found this place. Lots of great information.
We got our GP at 8 weeks old from a GP breeder who also breeds and keeps goats. Her parents and other GP are all working dogs on the farm. We have 4 other Fur Babies and all get along and respect one another. We live in a mountain community and have fenced our lot with deer fencing. Recently we left the 3 large breed dogs, including our now 5 month old GP out to potty. The 3 all began barking at the fence. We joined them in the yard to see what all the excitement was. There was a doe and her fawn. They slowly walked by, not frightened by the 3 dogs. As “brave” as our Sheba appeared, she was actually frightened by the deer! The next morning she refused to go out to potty, & did in the house. Latter in the morning she put her head way back & sniffed for the deer. I gently encouraged her outside with our Golden Retriever as her protector! She would not go near the side of the lot where the deer had been! That was days ago, & she’s still sniffing for the deer before venturing out!
We l9ve ALL our Fur Babies, but have found the GP to be very intelligent & easy to train thus far. We’re certainly enjoying ALL the GP antics!
Hey there! So I am looking at adopting an 8 week old GP puppy. But I have a Border Collie(Female) 3 yrs and a German shepherd mix(Male) 4yrs.
And I was just wanting some advice on introduction, New routine, training, etc?
I was also wanting some more information on their aggression as they get older, have any of you experienced bad aggression with the same sex dog as they’ve gotten older? If not what techniques do you use to prevent that behavior?
My other question is about the barking. How bad is it really? I particularly don’t mind if he barks but I am living with my dad now and he’s not to fond of nocturnal barking… is there anything that I can do to tone it down?
I have not yet adopted the pup, just trying to make sure it is a good fit.
We got a goody two shoes Golden Retriever pup 6 months before the Pyr baby came along and he basically trained her for us. We thought we were all cool dog whisperer types, but in retrospect, no. The Golden laid down the law with the One Who Was a Law Unto Herself.
i love everything about this comment
“Come” is more of a joke than an actual command. Love the bit about having the memory of an elephant. I can fool my Pyr once and then I have to find a new tactic. But they are loving and wonderful and silly and so beautiful. He lets my little dogs climb all over him and never complains. Great with all my dogs, big and small.
My Pyr is not one that slobbers. Only on two occasions when she was stressed. She is incredible. Protective, sensitive to anything like an oven left on, medication off, babies, and when I was recovering from minor knee surgery she did not leave my side. She is a great soul. We are bonded. I am humbled by her beautiful love and majesty.
We have a 6&1/2 year old male Pyr / lab mix and would like advice on getting a puppy companion (from a shelter, so it’ll be a mixed breed). He is friendly with other dogs, we are just wondering if people have had experiences noticing whether a male or a female puppy is a better fit with an older Pyrenees. Thanks!
Our guy Tucker absolutely loves ‘his’ kids. He’s all about guarding them since we don’t have other animals to protect. He will even follow them out into the lake to be by their side. He’s definitely a barker. I tried everything when he was a pup and failed to prevent it. Now I take him to check out what he’s barking at and that seems to help him get at ease with dissolving any potential threats. He is the biggest cuddler of any dog we have ever had. At night he crawls right up on our laps to get cuddles. He’s pretty lazy and sleeps most of the day. Tuck is not a fan of strangers which can pose problems when they show up unannounced – he can scare the crap out of people. But once he gets to know you he will adopt you as family and love you forever. Tuck doesn’t ever quit guarding. He can get anxious very quickly if overstimulated. Often I have to remove him from triggers he can’t control so he can calm down. He’s extremely smart, understands everything I say but doesn’t always agree lol! He is very stubborn, holds grudges. He also ‘tells’ me how he feels- they are very easy to read since they are such talkers. He is very independent. His favourite time of day is early morning – he goes out to the highest perch in the yard and observes his surroundings, all serene. He’s also a huge goof – loves digging, getting dirty, playing hide and go seek. He’s very affectionate, like a big bear.
I need help. I did not research GP before I got a 10 week old puppy for my dauhter last summer. I am an older person, age 62 male but healthy. Our GP is now 14 months old, 110 lbs. He is in our back yard fenced in. At most 1/8 of an acre. His energy never decreases, he is to rough for my 11 year old daughter even though she tries to play with him. I am not sold on them be a very smart dog like others say on here. I never saw any comments about certain things the GP does. Mine digs holes everywhere, he destroyed all of my wife’s 40 foot flower bed with flowers, he jumped up on our kitchen door one day and busted the window out, he has destroyed about $1500 worth of items I had in my basement, it just goes on and on. I have tried to work with him for this past year, nothng seems to work including we had a trainer. He does love other dogs, he does not like anyone that he has not been around. I guess the myth about how dogs act is the way they are raised by their owners is far from the truth. I have loved this dog no matter what, my wife want go near him anymore and my daughter can only deal with him for about 5-10 at a time. I am very discouraged with my GP. My only other thoughts are he is such what I call a mountain do he needs to have a lot of space to release his energy. Please someone help me with him. Thanks, Richard
Thanks
I just adopted a 2 year old male Great Pyrenees, who was neglected and abandoned. He was neutered before I brought him home. He is very intelligent. I have had him one week today. I have him crate trained in 3 days, taking commands, and he knows I am the Alpha. He was never house broken, and he is already getting this training. He is affectionate, loving, and great with my other female dog, my mom ect…The great Pyrenees is not a dog that can be left in the yard, they must be with the family, you are their flock. Also, is your dog neutered? If not, get it done now, it makes a huge difference.
We had a throw-away GP/Lab for 3 years. Some one dropped him in our neighborhood. What a guy!!! He decided he would go fishing with a friend in a two man boat. My friend noticed he kept starring into the water.. Suddenly he dove in and came up with a Bluegill in his mouth which he proceeded to devour on shore. He laid his head in my lap when I would sit down on the sofa. Real lover!!! We lost him a month ago to Botulism…. He had it almost beaten when he threw a big blood clot. What a loss!! We loved the breed so much that we decided we would start looking for another. They are not plentiful. As I was grumbling about looking at GP/Labs on the internet, I saw a post which had 8 week old pups. Today we are on our 8 hour trip bringing Okie to his new home. Happiness is a new pup with lots of work ahead.
I adopted an 8 year old GP 5 months ago. Hi is my first dog. He is stubborn and does like to bark at night. He sleeps a lot and likes routines. He’s loving and protective and sheds an amazing amount of fur. Love all the comments I’ve read. How long do these dogs live?
Thanks,
Linda from Colorado
July 23, 2022
We have five pyrs: mom, dad, two sons and one daughter. They all love when you massage their ears (the inner zone, that is) with the palm of your hand, because they cannot do it themselves with those pointy nails. Try it, you shall make them very happy.