The Joy and Responsibility of Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog Ownership
Owning a Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog as a pet is an amazing and rewarding experience. A tremendous amount of patient, gentle, firm, persistent, assertive training is required to raise a dog that has social skills and confidence and displays the accepted Great Pyrenees temperament. Wherever you go with a Great Pyr, people will stop, look and engage you in conversation about your dog. That is where all of your hard work pays off as the dog is neither aggressive nor timid and is quite tolerant of the affection of strangers.

Behind the scenes you have prepared your Pyr well. As a result of your gentle and consistent training, your dog knows its place in your pack and is a faithful companion. And to keep those good looks, grooming a Great Pyrenees requires brushing once or twice a week as required, especially when blowing coat in the spring and fall. It is important to prevent the undercoat from matting by removing lose hair during this time. Nails and dewclaws should be trimmed regularly. Also, as for all dogs with folded ears, regular examination and cleaning of the ears is required. There are other realities. You will be reminded constantly that these dogs like to bark. It’s their job. And yes they shed… twice a year and most months in between. And sometimes they drool… especially when a favourite treat or any food is presented. Hey… let’s face it… every treat is a favourite treat to a Pyr! Oh, and don’t forget, they are big and take up a bit of space. They particularly like to lie across any doorway or entrance. Must be that guarding instinct at work. A regular daily walk is important in establishing and maintaining a healthy bond with your Great Pyr. It is also great exercise for both of your. Let's face it… fish like to swim, birds like to fly and dogs like to walk. Pyrs generally like a set routine, even though they are up to spur of the moment events. If you establish a routine of walking your dog at 6:00 a.m. before you go to work, be ready and willing to take your Pyr for a walk at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, even though you would rather sleep in a little. It is so important to them that they will get you up! Honest!

Often they decide what their routine will be. By this we mean they will be Okay with things in general, but want it a certain way. One of our club members reports: "I walk Wizard every morning and evening before dinner. But Wizard wants a walk with "Dad" after dinner. It is like this is his special time with Dad. He will go with me if I insist but he goes to Dad every night for this walk. He established this… not us. Either of us was prepared to take him initially, but this is what he prefers."Pyrs like to explore a lot of territory and are very apt to roam if they get loose, so a pen (at least 5ft by 10ft) and/or securely fenced yard is a must for times when you have to leave your Pyr outside. And those fences for the yard and the pen need to be at least 6 feet tall and should be constructed so your Pyr cannot dig its way out. Yes… they like to dig and those big paws mean business. Yes, a Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog is a big commitment so be prepared. If you want a dog to tie on a rope and feed once a day, the Great Pyrenees is definitely not for you. Most important, Pyrs love to be with their people, so be prepared to have your Pyr with you in the house. At home you will enjoy this gentle giant, as these dogs are very affectionate. They are the companions and protectors of their family and are very protective of the home and those that live in it. You will marvel at a Great Pyr's instinct and ability to evaluate threats and sense danger.

A great Pyr is an amazing companion that will love you and protect you even at the cost of its own life. What is it like to have a Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog? It is like nothing you have ever experienced. Once you have one, no other dog will do.
Do You Own A Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog?
Do you swell with pride whenever you are with your Great Pyr in public? It is almost impossible to take a Great Pyr out in public without drawing attention isn't it?
We are always amazed how people are drawn to these beautiful dogs and are compelled to ask questions about the breed.
Every Pyr owner has wonderful stories to tell about their dog and we bet you are no exception.
Why not share your Great Pyr story with us here?
Read Great Pyrenees Stories Submitted By Other Visitors To Our Site
Click on the links below to see some great stories about Great Pyrenees Mountain Dogs. They were all written by other visitors to this page."
Watchdog
We lost our beloved rescue Pyrenees Asti (Spumonte) last September at 10 1/2. He was 140 lbs. of grace and gentleness with a courageous heart. We had many ...
Frank and the Big Mac Attack
Owning a Great Pyrenees Dog as a pet, I am often reminded of her innate need to GUARD what she believes is “hers.” Frank, like all Great Pyrs, is quite ...
"Spring is in the air...so is the HAIR"
"Spring is in the air"...and so is the HAIR!
If you have a Great Pyr then you can relate.
Last year it started in April; this year its mid May....
A Really BAD IDEA...
Our Great Pyrenees is a true “pack dog”. There have been a few times when Frank, a 3 year old female, has tried to vie for my position as Alpha Female....
Training Frank... by Hand
We spent about 2 years researching before we made the decision to get a female Great Pyrenees. We had a female German Sheppard who made it to 16.5 years ...
About Town with Frank
Has this ever happened to you?
You go out for a short walk around the neighbourhood with your Great Pyr and you are gone for over an hour. The actual ...
Fearless Frank and the Midnight Intruders
We are fortunate to own a beautiful 3 year old female Pyr. Her name is France, but we call her Frank. We live in a nice quiet neighbourhood with a fully ...
Everyone Needs A Hero
We lost our German shorthaired pointer two months ago. I kept saying I had a hole in my heart that only another dog was going to fill. My husband and ...
Kali and Mandy - Great Pyrenees Mountain Dogs
I absolutely love both of our Great Pyrenees! They have completely opposite personalities, but get along pretty good. I try to walk them every day. I ...
Gus Goes to Market
We live in the Ottawa area and we are blessed to have a Farmers' Market a short 15 minute drive away in the village of Carp. I say we are blessed because ...
Love at First Pyr
My first encounter with a Great Pyrenees was over ten years ago in Peterborough, Ontario.
I was visiting one of the city's parks with my one year old ...
The Day Bear Bear Came Home
My husband and I adopted Bear Bear last year. The ride home was interesting because we were in a small car and Bear, I think, decided that he would like ...
Is a Great Pyrenees for you? Here is the ultimate test!

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