Just Pyrenees

Great Pyrenees bark a lot, usually around 6 months they will find their voice, some may take longer, and begin his job of guarding and protecting. Unlike most guard dogs, they are not "attack" dogs. They very rarely attack and typically only as a last resort. They prefer to scare off predators by intimidation through barking and their extra large size. Because pyrs have very sensitive hearing, they are able to detect the faintest sounds from miles away. A Great Pyrenees will let you know he has heard something and bark until he feels the threat is gone. Their guarding instinct doesn't lessen when the sun goes down, in fact, it increases. The pyr is nocturnal by nature in order to safeguard their flock during vulnerable hours. Patience and a proper nighttime routine are critical to overcoming this for in-house dogs.

Maturity doesn't occur until about 3 years of age. Maturity refers to your dog's mental capacity, not energy level (an energetic dog is not necessarily an immature dog). Giant breeds take much longer to mature than average sized dogs. For example, a one-year old medium to large breed and a three year old giant breed have very similar levels of mental maturity. A Great Pyrenees can reach a triple-digit weight before even turning a year old; a 100+ pound puppy is not for everyone! Since pyrs mature very slowly and have little interest in obedience, they can be a challenge. It's not uncommon to ask a pyr to sit, only to have the dog look at me, walk 5 feet away, and then slowly lower himself into a sit. If you don't have a sense of humor with your adolescent pyr, you'll never survive;).

Grooming is a must. Once a Great Pyrenees gets his adult coat (around 6-8 months), weekly brushings are essential. A pyr's coat is remarkable in that it keeps him warm in the winter and cool in the summer. However, a good brush is necessary to pull out the dead undercoat that can prevent proper air circulation. Shaving a Great Pyrenees eliminates his ability to regulate his body temperature and also greatly increase risk of sunburn to their fair skin. It's also important to remember to trim the double dew claws on a regular basis. The double dew claws should never be removed, they are attached by bone which means removing them is akin to removing a human thumb.