VanSan Will O’Wisp Nemesis, CGC, TDI.
Owned by Karen Peak, West Wind Dog Training, Will O’Wisp Shelties.
The Pyrenean Mountain Dog (Great Pyrenees) is of a group of dogs often referred to as Molossers (Molossians).
This is a giant breed of dog that should be confident and regal to look at. The overall first appearance of a
Great Pyrenees should be one of elegance and power.
The Great Pyrenees is most commonly a white dog with or without patches of gray, badger, tan, and reddish brown.
The coat of the Great Pyrenees is dense, heavy with a flat lying outer coat and fine, wooly undercoat.
The tail is well plumed and legs fringed.
This breed is large, standing approximately 27–32 inches at the shoulder for males and 25–29 inches at the
shoulder for females. Weight can range from approximately 85 lbs to 110 lbs or over and should be in proportion
to the height and build of the dog (according to the American Standard). The FCI Standard calls for males to be
70-80 cm (28–32 inches) and +/- 60kg (+/- 125 lbs) and females to be 65–72 cm (26–29 inches) and +/- 45kg
(+/- 95 lbs).
VanSan Will o’Wisp Nemesis, CGC, TDI at a Safe Kids/Safe Dogs Project presentation.
Owned by Karen Peak, West Wind Dog Training, Will O’Wisp Shelties.
The Great Pyrenees is an intelligent dog that bores easily. Pyrs often have low chase and retrieve (prey/play drives)
and may not be as food motivated to work as other breeds. The Great Pyrenees is far from untrainable, you just have
to discover the best methods that work positively with your dog.
This is not an overly energetic breed if being compared to breeds such as the Labrador Retriever or Boxer. However,
the Great Pyrenees can give bursts of speed when needed and do require regular exercise as the breed was developed
to patrol large regions of pasture and estates.
Is the Great Pyrenees for you?
The adult Great Pyrenees is a stunning dog to look at, placed and often easygoing in the house. Puppies can be
goofy and a bit of a challenge. And take into consideration their size. A seven-month-old Pyr is already a large
animal! Are you able to handle such a large dog? Pyrs need companionship and attention to thrive as pets.
A bored Pyr can become destructive. Many people get a Pyr as a pet based on looks and the placid nature; however,
they forget to research the breed. This can end up with an unwanted dog when owners discover this is not a fuzzy toy.
The Great Pyr should have a natural guarding instinct: meaning they will protect without training. However, this
natural tendency must be worked with to ensure a safer dog to live with as opposed to one who feels everything is a
threat and must be protected against. If you live in an area with lots of activity, this could lead to the dog
barking excessively, especially at night, and disturbing neighbors. If you live in a suburban area, you need to
be respectful of your neighbors. Great Pyrs will warning bark and it is a BIG bark. A Pyr may not be welcoming of
visitors. They are not attack dogs but will warn people who you have not welcomed into the home. But if pushed,
a Pyr may act if needed to protect the home. Socializing is vital as is good training.
The Great Pyrenees can be in independent and difficult to train dog. They can be willful. Remember, this was a
breed bred to work independently of humans. They are not going to be the easiest dog to work. However, this does
not mean this is a breed you can stick in a back yard and ignore. If you want a dog that is easily trained and will
follow you about obediently, consider another breed. Though one of the easier Livestock Guardian breeds to live with,
the Great Pyrenees still is a breed that should have an experienced dog owner who is willing to understand the nature
of the breed and work with it as opposed to against it.
Because they were bred to be guardians and protect the flock from predators, the Great Pyrenees may not be tolerant
of other dogs. They had to learn to live with the herding dog’s that worked the flock, but other dogs are a potential
threat. Great Pyrenees are not suited for going to dog parks, though they can learn to accept other dogs and work
around them. But extreme caution should be taken if you decide to bring a great Pyr to the neighborhood dog park.
The Pyr may decide the park is his territory and certain dogs do not belong. This can end up badly! If you wish a
dog you can take to dog parks to play while you chat with other owners, reconsider the Great Pyrenees, or any of the
Livestock Guardian Breeds. However, the Pyr can live happily with other dogs you may own.
The Great Pyrenees is not the best suited for apartment or condominium life. Though laid back, the breed was bred
to patrol. They do require exercise. A Great Pyr needs a larger, securely fenced yard with enough room for them to
run and stretch out. Being able to patrol is part of what the Pyr wants to do. A Pyr should never be trusted with
an electric fence nor should it be allowed to roam. With their tendencies to patrol a wide area, a Pyr can soon decide
the whole neighborhood is his and try to drive out anyone he feels does not belong.
Pyrs should not be chained. Chaining physically restricts the dog’s ability to patrol. This can lead to frustration and
an increase in undesired behaviors developing.
Are you willing and able to groom a Pyr? Coat length can vary dog to dog. Males tend to have more coat than females.
A solid brushing once or twice a week as well as checking for lumps, bumps, clipping nails if needed, etc., should
suffice.
The Great Pyrenees has double dewclaws on the hind feet. This is believed to help them in snow. Nails should
be kept short enough so when the dog is standing, the toes nails are not hitting the floor. The dewclaws should be kept
trimmed as well. If not, they can begin to curl and damage the leg.
Breeds with hanging ears are also more prone to ear
infections. You need to check the ears on a weekly basis.
A well-groomed Pyr should not need frequent bathing.
The double coat helps shed dirt and debris if you brush regularly. A basic grooming arsenal for a Pyr should consist
of a pin brush, a shedding rake with 1 - 1 ½” teeth, a comb, scissors and nail clippers.
A Pyr will NOT need shaving in the summer: just brush out the shedding coat.
If you are the right home, a Great Pyrenees can be a wonderful working dog and companion.
Suggested reading:
Livestock Protection Dogs: Selection, Care and Training, David E. Sims & Orysia Dawydiak, OTR Publications, 1990.
The New Complete Great Pyrenees, by Paul Strang, Macmillan General Reference, 1991.
