The Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppy is quite something to look at. Abounding in size, they are extremely well natured. They are gentle giants, and even more gentle still with children. Also dubbed the Pyrenese or the Pyr, the dog can look quite imposing, but the breed also has this wonderful elegance to it. Some highlights:
Intelligence: These dogs are very smart and can train well if handled correctly. The Pyrenean Mountain Dog is not ideal for first-time owners though.
Trustworthy: Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppies are wonderful family pets and they are very loving.
Gentle: Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppies are fantastically gentle, including with children.
Loyal: These dogs love their humans very much and love to interact with them. They form a wonderful bond with their family.
As is true of many large dogs, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppy will not mature as quickly. The breed will reach full maturity after between 3 and 4 years. Be sure to take that into account when training. They are large, and not ideal for apartment living. It is also good to have access to a garden where they can let loose a little. Some downsides to the Pyrenean Mountain Dog:
Size: Being large, they are not ideal for apartments, and could do with some space in a garden.
Destructive: Because of their size, their destructive capabilities are considerable. To prevent this, endeavour not to trigger boredom or separation anxiety in the dog.
Expenses: As a big dog, the dog will go through comparatively more food than others. In addition to this, their health is below average, so vet bills/insurance makes the breed cost a little more.
Escaping: They can clear a 6-foot fence with ease. Additionally, these dogs love to dig. As such, be sure to make necessary accommodations for their escape artist behaviour.
The Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppy originates in France, bordering Spain, known there as the Grand Pyrénée. Known for their fantastic protecting abilities, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppy was a working dog, often assisting shepherds. However, with its loyalty and good demeanour, the breed became a popular dog among royals and nobles in France in the 17th Century. Numbers for this breed fell dangerously low in the 19th and 20th Century, but enthusiasts kept the breed going and they are no longer considered to be a vulnerable breed. They even provided a crucial part in the Second World War and the survival of other breeds – so the breed is extremely versatile.
A fully-grown male Pyrenean Mountain Dog is 70-82cm at the withers. A fully-grown female Pyrenean Mountain Dog is 65-74cm at the withers.
A fully-grown male Pyrenean Mountain Dog weighs 50-54kg. A fully-grown female Pyrenean Mountain Dog weighs 36-41kg.
The Kennel Club accepts the following as colours that the Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppy can come in: Blaireau, Blaireau & White, White, White & Badger Markings, White & Beige, White & Blaireau, White & Grey and White & Lemon.
Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppies are rather vocal, and they will alert their owners to any unwanted strangers. They are extremely unlikely to be aggressive if they aren’t made to feel in danger, however.
They do like the sound of their own voice a bit much. This can be limited but is best done from a young age.
The Pyrenean Mountain Dog is a highly intelligent dog, but they do have a little stubbornness thrown in there. Some parts of the training process can be slow because they mature slowly, some parts can be slow because they can be a little headstrong. Consistency and patience are advised, and they learn best under a kind hand. Harsh training can even have a negative effect.
This is a part of their personality that comes to the forefront. They love to entertain, and they love to be entertained. They engage well in any activity, but they love interaction in playing. Please note however that they can be quite destructive if they are too bored.
They are remarkably good with children. However, due to their sheer size, early socialisation with many different things is advisable – that includes children.
As with children, they can generally be good with fellow pets, especially if socialized at a young age. However, they can be aggressive with dogs their size – although their gentle demeanour helps level this. They would chase “invading” animals off their territory though.
These dogs love company and love interaction. Consequently, they can easily develop separation anxiety if left alone. This can lead to the development of destructive behaviour and barking because they are stressed. It is said online that a moderate length of time should be alright.
A large majority of Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppies absolutely love to swim. They especially enjoy water in hot weather, but always let the dog choose to go for a dip. They can become stressed if forced in. Additionally, take care near dangerous-looking water if they are off the lead, as they may jump in and not be able to get back out.
The average life expectancy for a Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppy is 10-12 years.
Around 1.5-2 hours a day (depending on intensity) is enough, but they would happily do more. Be sure to consider that their bones are a little more brittle than average, so regular intense exercises are not advised over a mixture. Also, be sure not to over-exercise them when they are still growing. It is the case since the breed is low energy that they may decide themselves when they have had enough.
Compared to other breeds, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppy’s health risks are a little higher than average. The following are issues that are most likely to develop or display:
Bloat
Brittle Bones
Deafness
Degenerative Myelopathy
Entropion
Epilepsy
Factor X1 Deficiency
Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia
Hip Dysplasia
Multifocal Retinopathy
Osteochrondrosis
Osteosarcoma
Panosteitis
Patellar Luxation
Tripocuspid Dysplasia
As is the case with any dog breed that you get, it is advised that you familiarize yourself with the risks.
At least a small or a medium-sized garden with good boundaries to tackle their knack for escaping is enough. They love to play outside.
Their weight varies a lot from the smallest female to the largest male. Consequently, look up what is best for the dog depending on its weight and activity. A 36kg inactive Pyrenean Mountain Dog needs 364g of food, whereas a 54kg active one requires 653g. Please split this into two meals and do not provide a meal soon after exercising.
They have a double coat, and the outer coat of the two requires a large amount of upkeep to prevent tangles and mats. This is best achieved through daily brushing.
Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppies shed heavily in the Spring and Autumn but do shed all year round.
As a rough guide in pricing: Cost to buy: It often costs £1000 or more for a well-bred Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppy. Few are registered in the UK in a year. Other costs (Vet, Food etc): Food and insurance should see the dog costing around £120-160 a month, depending on insurance.
You can read our general buying guide here (/advice-on-buying-a-puppy/), with the most important thing is going to view your Pyrenean Mountain Dog Puppy, seeing the puppy with its mother, and checking the quality of the breeder. More specifically, here is some Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppy buying advice:
Bear in mind that if you are to be a first-time owner, this probably isn’t the breed to start with.
Please be aware of online scams. Never choose to pay for a puppy unseen from a source that is not reputable.
A big thank you to the following sources who helped to shape this article:
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/pastoral/pyrenean-mountain-dog/
