I have often ran into owners of dogs they claimed were "part Great Pyrenees". Upon vocalizing my affection for the breed, they immediately perk up and ask, "So, what do you think my dog will grow up to be like?" To this question my answer is often the same: "It depends."
When owners adopt "mutts" they begin a quest to understand the influences in the gene pool and what that may mean for the dog's temperament. Usually the Great Pyrenees mixed dogs I meet are mixed, in theory, with a breed people tend to know a lot more about. Uncovering the Pyrenees mystery becomes a pursuit for that new owner. On the whole, the breeds I have seen Great Pyrenees most commonly mixed with (either on purpose or by accident) are Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, and the occasional Saint Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog, or Anatolian Shepherd. This finding may be unique to my area, I cannot be sure. And, honestly, we have only theories. I must add that often owners *think* their Pyr is a mix due to coat color, and they are merely undereducated about the potential for darker colors to naturally appear within the coat of this breed, in moderation.
Ultimately, we never know what breed traits will influence our mutt pups more than others. I feel like I have been able to identify certain traits as "that probably comes from the Pyr side", but it's not been with any consistency. For example, some "Lab" mixes have displayed the enthusiasm, trainability, and energy of a lab, while demonstrating the leaning, night barking, and double dew claws of a Great Pyrenees. I have met herding dog mixes where the dogs have behaved wholly like Great Pyrenees, they merely resemble their mix and have a bit more energy than a typical Pyr.
As with all dogs, some are just anomalies within their own breed: Labs who are low energy, Pyrs who never bark. Who's to say what the parents of your dog were truly like? And of course the eternal truth: we mold our beloved canines. A lot of unwanted behaviors may be due to our lack of attention and training, and we cannot so easily blame a "breed" on the quest to deflect blame.
I can only say, with a great amount of certainty, there is 1 trait that I have experienced with nearly all Great Pyrenees mixes: they are gentle, loving, and affectionate. Many dogs are. Of course, I assume having a "Pyr in the wood pile" can only help the cause for gentle temperament.
Bottom line, "You never know". You have to watch your dog grow and change, and realize that certain traits may counteract that of the other assumed breed influence. Your Pyr mix may offer a lower energy level and a gentleness with children and other animals. The only advice I give to Pyrenees mixed breed owners is this: beware the naughty traits, as they may rear their heads. Upon meeting a Labrador/Great Pyrenees puppy owner, I suggested she watch her pup closely. While Labs are renowned for being responsive to commands such as "come", I cautioned her to look for a Pyrenees influence which may bring more stubbornness.
When adopting any mixed breed dog, do your breed research on both. Be prepared to have to address the positive and negative influences both genes may bring. There is no magic answer for what to expect when a Great Pyrenees is in your dog's gene pool. Hopefully you will get "the best of both worlds".
I have a Pyr mix (mixed with Collie and/or husky, we think -because of her appearance...)...best dog ever!!!...gentle and affectionate, super with kids, smartest dog I've ever known, and super intuitive...after acquiring her as a "shep. mix" when she was 6 months old (she "picked us"!!), the vet set us straight about her breed...(her double dewclaws, elegant posture and distinctly-Pyr coat gave it away!), I did some research, and have determined that she definitely has super Pyr qualities...knows when to chill, and when to be on her guard, etc...she is very impressive to watch, and makes us feel very secure...she can be somewhat stubborn at times, but she is a well-mannered girl...Could not ask for a better dog; wish everyone was lucky enough to experience a dog like her...anyone (including those with children, cats, etc.)...who wants a super smart, loving, gentle (and protective when necessary) dog, consider a Pyr!!!
ReplyDeleteI just adopted TUCKER.....He is 1/2 Pyrenees and 1/2 German Sheppard. I am excited to see how this gentle giant will grow. He is almost 9 weeks and he is so loving and to our other dog who is 7 months old (Abby) he has been very docile with her which is good cuz she is too.....I have 2 great furry babies!!!!!!
DeleteMy Tanner is also half Shepherd. We adopted him at two years of age and he just turned six. He is wonderful, very loving and has a bark that makes you think he is 10' tall - the very thing you want at night or other occasions where he stands guard over us. He was completely undisciplined on the leash when he got him and with his stubbornness in this area, that has never changed.
DeleteHe is so absolutely loyal and loving and we have a lot of room to roam though, so this is a non-issue for us. He has had no health issues except for hotspots, which we were able to remedy with a diet of coconut oil and a dog food that has meat as it's first ingredient.
Enjoy your Pyrenees/ Shepherd puppy, they are a wonderful mix!
I just took to great pyreneese in. The owner was moving and didn't want to take them with her. One is four and the other one will be a year old on the 25th of December. I didn't want these two dogs to go to the pound and that was where they were headed. My two daughters drove over four hours one way to get them. I don't know how she could just let them go after having one of them four years. The female is spayed and the male isn't. I am considering doing that for him. They are two of the sweetest dogs. They stay in the house with us at moment. They love the outside. I have been trying to read up on them to learn all that I can. I will keep these babies as long as I am or they are alive. Lillie is a little sad she misses her other owner. Sherman is just a big ham. Lillie is getting a little happier each day it seems. They were kept in a small fenced in yard. I live on a farm so no more fences for them. These like I said are the two sweetest dogs. I love them both dearly. Lillie has won my heart. Sherman as it also, but Lillie I guess because she has had a little harder adjustment. Could not ask for a better dog. Loving and loyal. They do like to go off for about two hours each morning but them they come home. Worried me to death the first several days I had them. Now its just a thing they do.
ReplyDeleteHi, I just adopted a collie/Pyr mix puppy. He apparently comes from a farm in Alabama and the K9 Rescue people told me his dad was a Pyr. We kept the name they had for him, and that name is...Sherman. I couldn't help noticing this huge coincidence when I read your comment. Maybe it's his son? Mine is an 8 and a half week puppy who is adorable, with a white coat and tan ears. Ring a bell? Cheers!
DeleteHi there, our Pyr/Eng Setter mix is from a rescue in north Alabama and she looks like a smaller pyr except for her tan ears.. her tan spots become obvious when she's wet.
DeleteThe rescue said she came from TN just over the stateline. Hey, maybe they're all related in some what.
I just adopted a lab/pyr mix named Dexter, who has double dewclaws, doesn't bark, is extremely gentle and loves to fetch as equally as he likes to dig and hide all his bones and toys. We think his negative traits are due to him only being 11 or 12 months old and can be mitigated with training. He is a bit shy and has taken a couple weeks to warm up to my husband, but overall I am so pleased we rescued him. My kids are truly in love with our new dog and he couldn't be anymore loving towards them.
ReplyDeleteWe had a great pyrenees/collie mix for several years. He was the best dog ever!! He looked like a big buff, tough collie with a flatter face. A breeder was trying to cross the 2 breeds. My favorite memory of him was when a young male shepherd mix was barking at a cat up a tree, he simply strolled up next to the tree, let out a low rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, and then stood as the cat came down the tree, and walked down the sidewalk behind the cat and in front of the shepherd as the cat left the yard. Starkey was very playful, wonderful with children, and he let you know if someone pulled up in the driveway.
ReplyDeleteHi, Do you recall who the breeder was? I have a great pyrenees/collie mix and he has been the best dog. Would love nothing more than to have another but have yet to come by one.
DeleteMy pyr/lad is just like the first one meantioned...a super lady best qualities of both mixes.
ReplyDeleteWe just adopted a Great Pyr mix who is 8 months old. He is very sweet and very gentle and calm. His DNA test shows him to be 100% great Pyr on one side of his line, and 1/2 Lab 1/2 Dachshund on his other side (so for him, 1/4 lab, 1/4 Dachshund and 1/2 Great Pyr). We rescued him, and he had already been housebroken and through two obedience classes. He is great! He does try to snip at my 8 year old playfully, and I am learning now how to train him to understand that my 8 year old is "ahead" of him in the pack and not a litter mate. He does not try to do this with my 5 or 2 year old, but instead is very protective of them. We have had several labs before, but never a Great Pyr or a Doxie, so it will be interesting to see how his traits play out as he is ages.
ReplyDeleteI agree, however, that most dogs it's more the training (or lack there of) that they receive that is the biggest influence.
We adopted a Great Pyrenees/Lab mix. She is absolutely gorgeous! Sweet, extremely smart, gentle. When we go for walks we pass a horse farm. She will just sit down and watch. Same response if she sees deer, rabbits, other dogs, etc. When my boyfriend takes our other dog out (Pit Bull mix), she will sit by the screen door and wait her turn. No jumping, no barking. She is amazing. At some point I will have a DNA test - just out of curiosity. I had a full bred Pyrenees way back and just love their temperament. I did crate her in the beginning which made housebreaking a breeze. I also needed to acclimate her to my boyfriend's dog (extremely aggressive) I found her on PetFinder. She was a rescue along with her siblings from Tennessee and ended at a shelter upstate NY. She is 6 months old and presently weighs 60 lbs. Our gentle giant. What a gift to our family!
ReplyDeleteI have 2 puppies who are GP mixed with lab, they are amazing!! At 6 weeks they are each about 12 lbs. However I'm concerned. I had an older kennel that I had sat in my garage, (which stays a good 20 degrees colder than my house) to make room for a new kennel. In the middle of going in and out, the pups escaped the house and climbed into the kennel. It was hard to get them out, they did not want to come. Around 11 pm, bed time, they whined at my dining room (which leads to the garage) and that's not the door we let them out to go potty. I couldn't figure it out. I took them out the "potty" door and they ran to the door leading into my garage from the outside. I opened the door and they darted for the kennel. It's about 32 degrees over night, 68 degrees in my house, and probably 42-50 degrees in my garage. They want to stay in that kennel, and will sit at the door till I go put them in. What should I do?? Are they just made to be in that temperature? The only thing I can think to do is fill it with several blankets, and put a big thick, heavy comforter draped over it (leaving some open for air of course) to make it warm enough? The last thing I want to do is leave them out in our garage, but it's clearly where they want to be!
ReplyDeleteI have a rescue Great Pyr mix (had him DNA tested -- there's mutt on one side and GP on the other). He looks like a small GP (80 pounds) and gets attention everywhere I take him because he is gorgeous. He's the gentlest, most loving dog I have ever had. He only barks when there's a reason and has never dug or chewed anything except his own toys. He is very laid back and good with kids. The only negative -- he sheds and sheds and sheds. Anytime I brush him, I have enough fur to knit a medium-sized dog! We have a large, fenced yard and he stays outside, has no desire to come in, loves the snow and cold. He isn't very active in hot weather, but it doesn't really seem to bother him. Great dog, Great Pyr.
ReplyDeleteWe purchased a Great Pyr/German Shepherd mix puppy. He is now 5 mos old. He is very loveable, comes when called, but he is very leary of people outside of our family which is my husband and I. I have read that Great Pyrs are not the type of dog to come running up to greet you and this is what I am seeing. My vet told me to start taking him to parks and walking him around, socializing him but he's terribly afraid to approach anyone. Can anyone give me any suggestions on how to help my puppy accept strangers. I've read if Great Pyrs aren't socialized right, they can become very protective. Thank you
ReplyDeleteOurs was a rescue that had been beaten, so we understand what you mean. First and foremost, positive reinforcement is the only way to go. shock collars and harsh correction could make him act more aggressively. The very first thing we taught was to sit for greetings - they love to jump up. That we taught with lots of treats. The other is to keep him around a variety of people young, old, etc. Teach the humans around you how to approach a dog correctly and I always ask them to wait for me to have her sit and to let her sniff their up/open hand first. Since he doesnt want to approach others, have him sit/stay and ask them to slowly approach and if you see him giving them a hard stare or licking his chops/yawning - thats a sign of stress. just have them stand to the side and talk to you while he relaxes. A good trainer that uses positive reinforcement makes a big difference and they will train you on how to do all this.
DeleteOurs is very protective after a lot of work and socialization she was attacked by an agressive dog and arogant yelling owner and it undid a lot. It's also good to have him around children of all ages while young - our dog only accepts teenaged kids, squeeky littles freak her out so we just stay back. That said, she is the most loving fur face and loyal well behaved dog. She will accept new people more easily if they just casually greet her then we ignore her and she goes to lay down. I've written an essay here but I hope this helps. Do the work now, it's harder (but not impossible) later. Enjoy him!
Nice article on pyrenees mixed dogs, very informative glad i discovered your website. Have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteCathy XoXo
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Does it have to have dew claws to be a great pyrenees mix? We have a pup who's mom is a blue tick, they're were four pups in the litter. Three have dew claws, one looks like a great pyrenees, 2 look like hound dogs. Everyone thinks ours is a lab though and she doesn't have any dew claws.
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