The Great Pyrenees is a large size dog, thickly coated and full of strength. I have two of this breed at home.
I live on a farm that needs the support of working dogs. Is the Great Pyrenees strong? The Great Pyrenees is a strong breed.
It can deter sheep-stealing wolves and other predators on snowy mountaintops. Today they are used as gentle companions and guards for homes and families.
The Great Pyrenees always exhibit a Zen-like kind of calmness. However, at the shortest notice, they get to the action with speed to catch the predator.
Its coat is lush weatherproof and all-white. Some can be white with markings of a beautiful mix of gray, tan, reddish-brown, or badger.
Is the Great Pyrenees strong?
The Great Pyrenees is usually described as ‘majestic’. It is a big, strong mountain dog. It has an average height of about 32 inches from its shoulder. It has an average weight of about 100 pounds.
The dog is elegant, beautiful, big, majestic, intelligent, kind, sound, and coordinated. Headers originally used it to guide their flocks on the mountain slopes of the Pyrenees.
Physical Characteristics
Great Pyrenees combines strength and agility, which is why it was used to safeguard flocks in steep, mountainous regions. The dog is majestic, imposing, and elegant. It is a medium-built large dog. It is slightly longer too.
When you see its thick coat, you will think it has heavy bones. The double coat comprises a woolly and dense undercoat and a flat white, coarse, and long outer coat that is resistant to weather.
If the Great Pyrenees moves well, it has good drive and reaches. It is a dog with contemplative and elegant expression.
Personality and Temperament
The Great Pyrenees is an imposing and efficient guardian breed of dog. It is strongly attached to its host family and does not trust strangers, humans or other dogs.
Under normal situations, it remains well-mannered, somber, and placid. The dog is very friendly with children and its host family.
However, the Great Pyrenees has a stubborn and independent nature, which is why it tends to bark at, and wants to intimidate the owner if he is not experienced.
Care
Although the Great Pyrenees is family-friendly and loves being indoors with the family, it still survives outdoors in cold and temperate weather.
The dog is allergic to hot weather and needs to be exercised daily to remain fit. A walk is okay for it. The dog has moderate needs.
The Great Pyrenees like it when you take it hiking, mostly in snow and cold weather. Sometimes, the dog drools, and it is a messy drinker. You have to brush it every week. When it is shedding, you have to do every brushing every day.
Health
The life expectancy of the Great Pyrenees is between 10 to 12 years. The possible minor health challenges it normally has are entropion, osteosarcoma, OsteochondrosisDissecans (OCD), skin problems, cataracts, chondrodysplasia, and panosteitis.
Sometimes this breed of dog fall victim to canine hip dysplasia (CHD) and patellar luxation.
The major health risks it is susceptible to are spinal muscular atrophy, gastric torsion, and otitis externa. You need to regularly take the dog to a veterinarian for a check on its hip, knee, and eye.
History and Background
The Great Pyrenees breed is believed to have originated from Asia Minor as far back as 10,000 B.C. It is said to have come from the many white dogs or flock guardian dogs of Asia Minor.
The nomadic shepherds took their heads to the Pyrenees Mountains around 3000 B.C. and took the flock-guarding dogs with them.
The Great Pyrenees were believed to have been patented by these flock-guarding dogs. These dogs did this job of flock guardians for centuries.
The Great Pyrenees was a brave fortress guard in medieval France. As time went on, many chateaux prided themselves in being owners of this imposing dog. Around the 17th century, the ruling class of France found the Great Pyrenees attractive.
This increased the demand for dogs in the Royal Court of Louis XIV for a short time. In 1675, the king of France gave a decree making the Great Pyrenees a Royal Dog. Within this time, the dog became popular in Newfoundland. This may be what led to the growth of the Newfoundland dog breed.
With time the Great Pyrenees continued to spread to England, and other European countries. However, non of them look like the royal, and admirable Pyrenees of France.
After some time the English lost interest in the Great Pyrenees, but a lot of them remained in the native mountainous regions. Dog lovers used them to retain the original stock. They succeeded in breeding them to become the present-day Pyrenees.
It was in the 1930s that the Great Pyrenees was brought to America. In 1933 it was recognized by the American Kennel Club. Americans used the dog for their devotion, fidelity, intelligence, and sense of guardianship.
The dog is still regarded as a dependable livestock guardian in America. Few people use it as a pet.
FAQS
How strong is a Great Pyrenees bite?
The bite force of the Great Pyrenees is great. It has an average bite force of about 500 pounds per square inch (PSI).
This is a stronger bite force when compared to the bite force of Rottweilers, and Pitbulls. However, bite force varies between individual dogs, but the Great Pyrenees still has the strongest biters.
Does Great Pyrenees make good guard dogs?
If you train the Great Pyrenees well, it can make a loyal, and protective guard dog. The dog is gentle and can easily get used to the lifestyle of your family and home.
They are always unfriendly to strangers and intruders. This is why they are good companions and guards.
Is Great Pyrenees defensive?
The Great Pyrenees are naturally guarding dogs. They belong to the great family of livestock guardian dogs.
They are not herding dogs, but they are bred to give protection to the flock in the mountain valleys. You do not need to train them to be guard dogs, and you cannot train them not to guard.