Great Pyrenees Frequently Asked Questions

How much will a Pyrenees weight?

A male will weight anywhere from 90-120lbs and a female usually around 80.  Be cautious of breeders who are promising “Huge” Pyrenees and claim that they “breed for size”.   I have several people turn my pups away because they believe they are not big enough.  When you push dogs to hard for size you are forcing to many unnatural circumstances which leads to health problems like heart, hip, and joint problems.  I do not select breeding stock for size.

My best female is right at 80lbs.  Several people think she is too small but she was selected for other purposes.  She is the most dependable female we have, is a superior reproducer, and is structurally superior to most females larger than her.  Size has no affect on their ability to guard livestock. 

How do I train a Great Pyrenees?

The Great Pyrenees does not really need “training”.  In our experience, there are two key requirements for a good working dog.  First and foremost, is that the dog must come from working parents.  This does not mean parents who came from “working lines” but parents who are actively engaged in protecting livestock.  When you visit the farm, check out the parents and see where they live, where they eat, and where they spend their time during the day.  If they come out of the breeder’s house or spend their time in there, they are not working dogs.  You want dogs that eat, sleep, and coincide with the livestock.  It is normal for working dogs to spend daylight hours relaxing in driveways, around shops, or away from pastures but they always should be within a short distance of their stock.  Our best dogs hardly ever leave their pastures other than to eat and occasionally get a rub down from us. 

The second most important step is to bring your puppy home and settle them right in with their livestock.  They must spend that critical bonding period with livestock, not the family.  In time, they will bond with your family and children, but first and foremost must come the livestock.  Food and water must be provided away from the stock.  If the dog is forced to fight the stock (and yes, livestock will eat dog food!) for their feed and water, they will view the stock as predator not flock and will become aggressive towards them.  I have come to believe that the most critical period in a LGD life is between 2-8 months of age.  During that time period they must be taught their territory (away from the house and in the barns and pastures), and they must be allowed to bond with their stock.  This does not mean give them no attention.  You want the dog comfortable with you and your children and you may be friendly with them.

The fastest and most efficient way to ruin a well bred, intelligent guardian dog is to treat it like a pet.

Something else to remember is that not all dogs, regardless of breeding, will carry the “instinct”.  Make sure the breeder selects the dog for you and be very wary of breeders who allow you to come and make your selection without any advice.  We allow people to choose from dogs we have narrowed down to be working dogs.  Some pups, and I can usually tell at a young age, are just not cut out to be working dogs.   Take the breeders word for it and go with one he/she suggests will work.  Also look for a contract.  We are one of the few LGD breeders that offer a working dog contract that gives a written guarantee the dog will work.

I thought the Pyrenees was white, why do the puppies have spots?

The Pyrenees can be all white or have wolf grey or badger markings.  Puppies should be colored and it is very hard to tell which pups will turn all white and which will keep their masks and markings.  Most always the markings on the body will disappear except for maybe in the summer when the Pyr sheds out.

Pups that are born all white are possibly severely line-bred and you should be very cautious of these pups.  Any 8 week old pups should still have some of its color and if its any younger than 8 weeks and all white that is not a good sign.

Do Pyrenees make good pets?

This depends on what you mean by “pet”.  The Pyrenees will love you, your children, and do anything to protect you.  However, the Pyrenees is not a Labrador, a Golden retriever, or any type of dog like that.  They have a higher purpose in life that being your best buddy, they are bred and born to guard and that’s what they will do.  They will not always welcome strangers warmly, but should not be over aggressive either. 

The must be allowed proper exercise and the Pyrenees needs to have free roam.  They are not a breed that you can chain outside or lock up constantly.  A large, fenced yard is a necessity for them and preferably a country setting with multiple acres for them to wander.  They will not go out the backyard and run around but would rather have half the day to walk around slowly and see what has changed.

They must also be allowed “alone” time more so than other breeds.  They need to have a place to retreat to if they are feeling overwhelmed, they want nap, or just need to get away.  If they are not allowed this “alone” time they may become aggressive with those who are interfering in their space.

No dog can make the pet that the Pyrenees can, but they are not for everyone.  You must be strong willed, because the Pyrenees will be stronger willed, and you must be able to provide exercise and space for the dog. 

Your best bet is to speak with a breeder or Pyrenees owner to see if your home would be a good one for the Pyrenees.

Will my Pyrenees guard my family as well?

Absolutely!  Your Pyrenees will first bond with its flock, and second its family.  If there is no flock, it will substitute its family.  They are born protectors and will not allow any four legged, or two legged intruders into their territories.

Is purchasing an older dog a good idea?

This really depends.  Many times, people who are experiencing a severe predator problem now do not have time to wait on a puppy.  In this case, you may want to take a chance with an older dog that already knows his/her job plus is fully grown and fully capable of protecting.

However, purchasing a grown dog has its disadvantages as well.  Getting them to stay at a new farm can be troublesome and if you have different stock than the dog was previously used to they may not take to them very well.

Older working dogs will not make good pets, but older Pyrenees who were in companion situations before will be just fine for anyone looking to adopt.

Are Pyrenees good with visitors?

They are tolerable but cautious with visitors.  They should never be overtly aggressive, but will be very watchful of new people.  The Pyrenees has a remarkable memory and will recall people who have visited before that were OK.  They will also recall people who visited before and were not OK and may be more openly aggressive with these people.

How much do they eat?

A growing puppy will eat as much as any other puppy, but, the full grown Pyrenees has a remarkably petite appetite.

Do Pyrenees make good poultry guarding dogs?

In the case for guarding poultry it is a must to start off with a puppy.  This is a little bit more challenging because the dog must be trained to consider the poultry his stock.  However, with some effort and a good dog, he/she will become an excellent guardian for poultry.

If you have any more questions feel free to email or call and we will do our best to answer them.