So you want a Pyr?

Maybe, and maybe not. If you are considering getting a Pyr puppy, keep reading and maybe it will help solidify your decision. If you already have a Pyr: Congratulation! Still, keep reading so you know what is coming, and don’t give up on this wonderful dog.

Having a Great Pyrenees dog is a joy. The mature Great Pyrenees is a calm, loyal guardian of you and your family. They are comfortable to be with, both in the home and on a leash at an outing. They are beautiful animals, and get appreciative comments everywhere they go. They have a luxuriant coat that begs to be petted, and are especially good with little children. Unfortunately, raising a Great Pyrenees dog to this mature, graceful state takes some work, and several years.

Puppy-hood

The Pyr puppy is undeniably cute. The puppy coat is incredibly soft. Besides being inquisitive and eager, the Pyr puppy is hungry! The Pyr will grow dramatically, and eat, and eat, and eat.

Pyr puppies bark a lot, especially at night. Besides wanting to be with their family, they are instinctive guard dogs and will inform you about every night-time sound ranging from the neighbors’ cat to a garage door a half-mile away. They are also nocturnal, meaning the dog will stay awake all night, listening, barking, and sometimes chewing.

Pyr puppies have sharp teeth coupled with a need to chew on things. Although they will chew a rope bone or rubber toys, shoes and gloves are probably their favorites. Keeping your puppy supplied with appropriate chew toys is good, and keeping them under a watchful eye helps prevent a lot of problems.

Pyrs are difficult to train, but not if you understand their nature, breeding and mindset. Pyrs are smart, and quick to understand. They understand the command and they know what you want, but they have to consider your request first. The breed is born with an innate intelligence and aloofness, bred from centuries of independent guard duty over their flock. Simply put, they have to think and decide if your command is in their interest. This is the age where establishing your dominance as ‘Alpha’ is easiest.

Whether you’re getting a puppy or adopting an adult, much of your human-canine success will depend on your commitment to training your dog. Early training is important as the Pyr is a natural guard dog, and its innate tendencies must be molded into behavior acceptable to today’s society. Training classes will expose you and your dog to a variety of situations.

As the Pyr leaves puppy-hood and enters adolescence, it loses the soft, downy puppy coat. Because the coat falls off dramatically, the Pyr may look ragged and half-naked, but a double-coat will soon replace it. The double coat is thick with soft short hairs, and sparser long hairs; it is easy to keep clean, particularly with a daily brushing.

Adolescence

In about one year, your little puppy has grown into an adolescent. This is the time that tries a Pyr owner’s soul and resolve. At this age, the Pyr is still very puppyish, but almost full-size!

The adolescent Pyr is a large dog, and spritely, enthusiastic and curious. It can be a handful to control. If not already trained, it is imperative to institute the ‘30-minute down-stay’ routine. This is both for your sanity and the dogs’ discipline.

The adolescent Pyr is good with children, and will accept petting, poking and curiosity of little children with joy.

The adolescent Pyr is still eating a lot, but is slowing down. Now the dog is probably tall enough to snatch from the kitchen table, and stealthy enough to accomplish it smoothly. Disciplining your dog to not steal food is a challenge because the dinner table is at eye level.

The dog has not outgrown the need to chew, but now has massive jaws that can dismantle furniture if left unsupervised and bored. Personal experience suggests they prefer leather goods, such as your new suede dress shoes. Keep the chew toys handy, and don’t let the Pyr become bored and unsupervised!

The adolescent Pyr still barks, especially at night, particularly if there are lots of interesting sounds.

Maturity

The mature Pyr radiates calm, self-confidence and strength. They are great family members, and prefer to be with the family, inside or outside. They will accept visitors into the home once they are introduced by family members.

The Pyr is made to guard and protect, and they do it well, yet still are friendly and great with children. They will stand between you and strangers (the mailman, the meter guy, etc.) They will warn strangers with a deep, loud, intimidating bark, and their size is enough to make most people wary. You are their family, they will guard the home and inform you of anything interesting around it, and watch over it.

When you take your Pyr out in public, there are a number of frequently asked questions (these are real) about your companion.

Frequently (Real) Asked Questions

Q. Do they eat a lot?

A. Puppies eat a lot (about 4 cups/day) of puppy food, but a mature dog eats about 2 cups/day of a low-protein meal. Many vets recommend stopping the puppy food after 6 months. After that, try feeding 2 meals a day of a food that contains less than 21% protein. Feeding a mature Pyr is actually cheaper than feeding some of the smaller breeds, because of the lower protein requirements.

Q. Do they shed?

A. Constantly. A Pyr leaves white hairs everywhere, all the time. Daily brushing helps minimize the shedding, but Pyr owners live with the fur on them, their clothes and carpets. A good vacuum is a must-have. If you must absolutely have a spot-less home, then the Pyr is not for you.

Q. Can you spin the fur?

A. Yes. Pyr fur long enough to spin easily. It also is naturally resistant to stains; dirt, mud and other things will naturally fall off the fur, leaving the clean white coat. If you like to spin, knit or crochet, the Pyr can provide an exquisite, infinite supply of Angora-like yarn.

Q. Where’s the saddle?

A. You cannot ride a dog, but Pyrs can be harnessed to pull a dog cart, and seem to enjoy the work. They like to participate in things outside, around the house, and don’t mind pulling their own weight.

Q. That’s a big dog! How much does he weigh?

A. A mature male Pyr is generally 100-130 pounds, while the females are 80-110 pounds. Most people over-estimate the weight of the dog because the double-coat and mane around the neck make them look bigger and more intimidating.

Q. Ugh, I’ve been slimed! Do they all drool like that?

A. No, some more, some less, depending on the particular dog. Pyrs drool mostly when they are excited or facing food. Pyr owners tend to carry a tea towel with them when out in public, or put it around the dogs’ neck.

Q. Do they roam?

A. Pyrs will roam if they are lonely or not in a fenced yard. These dogs were bred to watch over flocks in mountain pastures. They would rather explore what is on the other side of the hill, than worry about getting lost. So, if you’re going to own a Pyr, a fenced in area is a must. Invisible fences and Pyrs do not do well. Most Pyrs will endure the electric jolt to go patrol the neighborhoods but not consider getting shocked to get back in.

Q. So are they good family dogs?

A. Very good family dogs. Pyrs seem particularly good with children, possibly because they view children as a flock to be protected.