Great Pyrenees temperament is loyal, affectionate, patient and calm. These stubborn, strong willed dogs make excellent watchdogs and guard dogs too. Although they can be aggressive with strangers, they are strongly bonded to their families and very chilled out when in an environment they are relaxed in. They are good with kids, dogs and animals they know, but less so with others.
Contents
- Great Pyrenees temperament with children
- Socialization and training
- Are Great Pyrenees friendly or aggressive?
- Behavior towards other dogs and animals
The giant, majestic Great Pyrenees is immensely powerful and strong, often tipping the scales at more than 100 pounds. They can stand nearly 32 inches at the shoulder. They sport thick coats that help them blend in with the sheep they were bred to protect. But don’t let their appearance or personality fool you. Many owners even describe them as Zen-like, which is a far cry from their rough, intimidating exterior. But how true is this description of their personality? Are these huge dogs really as laid back as some people claim?
Typical Great Pyrenees Temperament
The Great Pyrenees is often described as a majestic, stately dog. They carry themselves with confidence and have a hint of gracefulness despite their large size. They are also thoughtful, vigilant, and alert. Originally bred to guard sheep, they still have those innate instincts today.
The Great Pyrenees can also be quite destructive. They are chewers and require lots of chew toys and bones. Otherwise, they might start chewing on something you don’t want them to.
They are alert dogs, so they may bark at anything they think might be a threat. This can be trained out, but doing so is often more difficult than it is with other breeds.
Are Great Pyrenees Good With Kids?
The Great Pyrenees is fiercely protective of their territory, family, and belongings. They are good with their own children, but might not appreciate rough play with others.
Socialization Can Change Great Pyrenees Temperament
Socialization is an important part of training for any breed. They need to learn how to recognize a friend from a foe. Introduce them to a variety of people. Invite friends over regularly while they are young. Training makes a big different too.
Are Great Pyrenees Easy to Train?
The Great Pyrenees is usually not easy to train with traditional methods. They were bred to independently guard sheep. At a moment’s notice, they would have to decide whether an approaching animal or person was a threat and what to do about it – all without the guidance of their owner.
They have been reported to greatly reduce the death of livestock. This trait often makes it difficult to convince a Great Pyrenees to listen to you, however. Get the habit of listening into your dog at an early age. The longer you wait to train a great Pyrenees, the harder it will be.
Positive Methods Work Well With Great Pyrenees Temperament
Positive reinforcement works best with the Great Pyrenees. They need to be convinced that it is in their best interest to listen to you.
Negative reinforcement can often have the opposite effect. Instead of convincing your dog to listen, you might just convince them to become stubborn and ignore you altogether.
Training should specifically focus on teaching your Great Pyrenees to react appropriately to visitors. If they are not taught how to recognize a welcome visitor, they can very easily interpret them as an intruder.
These dogs are often described as becoming bored with standard obedience training very quickly. They are not a breed that will love performing tricks for your praise.
Instead, they are a working breed and enjoy performing actual “work.” Involvement in agility trials and other dog sports helps them feel needed and stimulated.
Are They Friendly?
Great Pyrenees temperament makes this breed well suited to guard flocks of sheep. This means when they’re herding they can determine which animals are under their care and which animals are intruders.
This behavior carries over to their modern, family life. Even if your Great Pyrenees isn’t trained to guard sheep, they will often behave as if their family is their “flock” and everyone else is an “intruder.”
They are commonly friendly with those inside the home and those who they consider in their family. They will interact calmly and gently with children and are often very patient. However, this is often not true with outsiders.
Guarding Instincts
If a new, unusual person approaches your door, the Great Pyrenees will automatically think they are an intruder that is there to hurt their family. They will guard their home and family with extremely courage, even when the intruder isn’t actually an intruder at all.
It is important to teach them at an early age that not everyone who comes to the door is necessarily out to get them. Early socialization is key to making this happen. But it often takes consistent, focused training as well. Many Great Pyrenees dog owners train their dogs on a command that lets the dog know the new person is not a threat.
Are Great Pyrenees Aggressive?
The Great Pyrenees can be aggressive if not properly trained and socialized. They will attempt to defend their home from intruders, even if they happen to be one of your friends or family members. However, most of the time, Great Pyrenees are not blatantly aggressive.
They will not attack other people on sight, and there are not many cases of the Great Pyrenees biting other people. Only about 22% of Great Pyrenees are aggressive towards strangers.
Instead, the Great Pyrenees temperament can be described as confident and tolerant. While they might not be friendly towards visitors, they do not automatically become uncontrollable the moment someone walks through the door.
They are aloof and reserved, not aggressive. With that said, some Great Pyrenees are more aggressive than others.
Causes of Aggression
Aggression levels are a mixture of genetics, socialization, and training. Whether or not puppy’s parents were aggressive has a direct effect on whether or not the puppy will be aggressive.
When possible, we recommend meeting any puppy’s parents you are considering adopting. The parents should not be aggressive, even if they might be somewhat standoffish.
Training and socialization are also important. Even a Great Pyrenees who is genetically calm can display signs of aggression if not socialized or trained properly.
At the same time, a dog that is genetically predisposition to aggressiveness can become calm and tolerant when trained and socialized.
Basically, the Great Pyrenees temperament can be more aggressive than some other breeds of dog. But early training and socialization go a long way to making this dog accepting of outsiders.
(paid link) Do Great Pyrenees Like Other Animals?
If you have another dog as a pet that has been around longer than the Great Pyrenees, the Pyrenees will often consider that dog as part of his or her “flock.” Treating other pets just like the rest of the family is part of the Great Pyrenees temperament.
The same goes for cats, rabbits, goats, and any other animal. If the Great Pyrenees sees them as part of the family, they will get along with them.
However, trouble may arise when you try to introduce your dog to an outside dog.
Do Great Pyrenees Like Other Dogs?
It is not uncommon for dogs to be intolerant of other dogs they have not grown up with. Sometimes, this intolerance can display itself as aggression. Of course, early socialization and training play a huge role in this.
Natural Instincts in the Great Pyrenees Temperament
The most prevalent natural instinct the great Pyrenees has is their intense, flock-guarding instincts. They were bred to guard sheep and will translate that history into their family life. These dogs will guard their family, territory, and property against whoever they deem is a threat.
These guarding behaviors are innate; they do not need to be trained and will exist whether or not your dog has even been taught to guard.
Socialization and training can help these instincts translate better into everyday family life, however.
Stephanie says
Hi, I have a 15 month old male GP. He is not fixed yet but is scheduled to in 6 weeks. He is the most loving goof ball with everyone! That being said we have 2 puppies that were born in our home, where he lives. The female puppy he seems to love but the male puppy he feels the need to guard me from him. He will growl and pin the puppy to the ground sometimes. My husband says they have no problems at all when I’m not home. Then other times the 2 are playing together. The male puppy has attached himself to me and follows me everywhere. He would rather be with me then the other dogs. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated!
elaine enriquez says
My rescue Lilly is 2 yrs old ,we were told she was Anatolian Shepard /GP mix. Her DNA test from Embark to our surprise ,we were told that she is 100% GP. She is gentle and obediant, walking her is a different story . She loves to walk outside but I have to watch her like a hawk. She is 75lbs of pure muscle and very strong ! I have to pay attention to see if another owner is walking their dog . I can distract her to a point but if I take my eyes off of her , the hair goes up on her back , she pulls and lunges! The other day she pulled me off my feet to get to the other dog .
Is this a protective characteristic ? I’m at wits end ! I’m considering getting a shock collar . Does anyone have any advice ?
Maria G. says
DO NOT GET A SHOCK COLLAR. Just hold her back and say “NO” or “BE NICE”.
We’ve had the same issue, so we don’t walk our GP in public. Instead, we’ve fenced her in the yard.
In the beginning we walked her along the border of our yard and there is a spot that is a low fence and our neighbors have dogs on the other side. We walked her for about 2 months before we were comforable with her not trying to jump the fence. She still has her moments being a little too interested with the neighbors, but for the most part she is perfectly fine on her own now. We let her out to roam the front and back yard, she uses the bathroom and comes back quickly most times. Sometimes she sleeps on the deck for about an hour in the sun. Doesn’t bark unless it’s a loud sound (like a FEDEX truck) or someone who is too close that she doesn’t know. If a stranger is calmly walking down the street minding themselves and not showing any threat our GP will not bark or be bothered.
And BTW, GP are OK with large non-aggressive dogs walking by with their owners. However, they DO NOT LIKE the little barky dogs whom they see as predators that can get underneath them and bite their soft pink bellies.
Turns out, GP don’t need a lot of walking & exercise the way other dogs do.
They need some walking and some exercise, but too much of both will actually be detrimental to their elbows and hips. Don’t overexercise these dogs. They spend most of their time on a farm sitting and hanging out with sheep as a protector not a herder.
Do keep in mind that GP are EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT. They can get used to almost any other pets. They are loyal only to THEIR HUMANS and will always have your back. For example, they are not as interested in people as people are interested in them. They “tolerate” more than “like” visitors.
Also, from experience, GP do not like reptiles and turtles too much, especially if they are on the small side. Our GP is ok with our large turtles but never could get used to our small juvenile turtle whom she attacked and almost killed. To this day we keep our small turtle in a tank away from our GP whereas our adult grown turtles walk around and the dog is mostly uninterested in them.
Hope this helps.
Kate says
I am an owner of a fixed 4 yr old Great Pyr as well who seems to becoming more aggressive. When he doesn’t want to do something there is no way you’re changing his mind. He does not listen either and will do what you ask when he’s good and ready. He has growled and snapped at my husband when he tried to put him in for the night and didn’t want to go and has growled at me as well. He has started growling at people who come in our yard that aren’t strangers and has recently started to chase after and bark at anyone biking or walking by our house. It makes me nervous that he might bite or attack them. He has growled at me as well during grooming sessions or if he just does not want to be groomed any longer. A sedated groom is the only way to get him cleaned up as he hates water and a bath is out of he question and will not let me near his back end. It’s not worth the risk of getting bitten because I do believe he could possibly bite. We really thought based on the information and research before getting him, this breed would be a big gentle giant but sadly that is turning out to be the case. We also live on a large farm and he has plenty of space so being cooped up is not the issue.
Bob Stewart says
You need to take him off site to train him. Use ever increasing linear distances and eye contact and tone.
Richard Coombs says
I have an 18 mo old female Pyrenees and she does not obey me (at all). My main problem is we are in Texas, she lives outside and it has been between 100 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit for over 6 weeks. She will NOT allow me to cut her hair or even wet her hair. She injured me a week ago when I tried to cut her hair. She pawwed me with her dew claws and seriously cut me.
I will admit that I cut her behind her ear about a year ago with a pair of scissors. But she is unreasonable now. I fear she will die in this heat but she will not get near me. She is extremely rebellious and ignores me when I talk to her.
Can you recommend a way to calm her down and how to repair our relations?
A neighbor recommended I have a groomer sedate her and cut her hair for 150 dollars. This would be 2 or 3 times a year? I feel it’s just out of the question.
Either we learn to live together or she can go. What do you think? I am 73 years old and never had a problem with a dog. And i’ve had many dogs. I live on a farm.
I welcome any comment or input.
Bob Stewart says
We’ve have rescued 5 Great Pyrs… the secret is to train them off site with a stern command. They will reject any corporal punishment. My wife is 4’2” and has trained 3 155 + lbs boys. Her secret is the word “Loooove” and then waits. It always, always works.
Cross says
I have a GP/Anatolian Shepard mix, and we live in Oklahoma. You should not cut the fur on their main coat. This protects them from the sun. I recommend getting a small kid’s pool and put it in the shade and fill it with water.
Jon P Remalia says
Shaving is not the right thing to do GP are a white dog which typically means sensitive skin. I ruined my 2-year-old when it was 110 outside and I brought him to cool off. I should have set up a kiddy pool for him to cool off. He loves the water.. Next year he will share a water fountain of 1,000 with Koi and my goats. If he sees a mud puddle, he is not happy until he lays in it. His picture is in the dictionary under DORK. But, I love him to death
Joy says
I have a female Great Pyrenees who is almost 18 months old. She’s sweet as pie – not aggressive in the slightest, good with kids, and friendly towards most people. I’m taking that as a sign that she’s a happy, confident girl. She is a bit shy and submissive around other dogs and I don’t think she realizes just how big she is. We go to the dog park every Saturday and she’s everyone’s darling.
She displays almost every personality trait associated with her breed. She’s independent and intelligent, she barks for hours, she digs, she can’t be off leash, shes a bit nocturnal, she’s amazingly protective and guards her family like it’s her job. She seems to have little desire to please me despite the fact that she loves me with every fiber of her being.
You’re absolutely right, you can only train with positive reinforcement. Great Pyrenees are smart, stubborn, and sensitive I did a lot of work with her as a puppy, but she no longer has much interest in obeying commands. She only cooperates because she loves me and she knows I have her best interests at heart.
I adore my big, beautiful Pyr but she’s not an easy dog at all.
Brent Pack says
My neighbor has 2 large Great Pyrenees back in the summer never had been aggressive I would mow on my side with no problem
Now they run at me being very aggressive that I am afraid of them
I have talked to them about it because one day they came into my yard I’m about a football field away from them being aggressive to my 6 y/o grandson
They happen to see this
And try to call them back but the dogs ignore them I had to chase them off
What can I do to prevent them being so aggressive
I don’t want to cause problems they do a good job of protection of their property but I don’t need the aggressive on me or my family
Bob Stewart says
Sit next to fence and talk to them gently
Jeannette says
We just adopted a 3 year old Great Pyrenees/lab cross. He is very good with people but becomes very aggressive when a strange dog comes around. He is a big boy and I’m not sure how to curb this problem.
Steve says
Most dogs become aggressive when strange dogs enter their territory. My Pyr and Collie live outside in a fenced in area. The Collie is much more aggressive than the Pyr towards strangers. Other animals such as coyotes, possums, cats, anything that enters into her territory is in trouble. Just a couple of weeks ago she fought off 2 coyotes and they left her territory in bad shape.
MRainey says
GP grow fast. One day you’re holding this cute fluffy massive puppy and the next you are dealing with a giant that my wife describes as a bull in a China shop. Our GP is named Ghost and he gets a lot of attention from family and visitors especially on his looks. These dogs need a lot of space to roam. Ours patrols 8.5 acres and has resting bunkers that he has dug at four different spots on the property. He spends most of his time at the house during the day, laying around outside with the wife and kids, but at night he is VERY active and barks ALL NIGHT and sometimes I have no idea where he goes but he always comes home (we live out in the country). He is very brave and serious but also insanely chill and relaxed most of the time.
These are strong dogs. I live on top of a big hill and he climbs it in full speed like it is nothing. This big dog is fast and agile and looks magnificent when it is showing off it’s strength. As calm as ghost is, every now and then he likes to play and he will fetch from time to time but this is not regular behavior from him. When he gets excited it is very hard to control him and get him to calm down and can be dangerous for children and small animals that get in the way. Ghost can be food aggressive from time to time and he has become aggressive over cow bones he finds in pastures and unfortunately he had to learn the hard way for lunging at me at one very brief moment. You have to be consistent with their feedings and need to respect this time. My GP prefers to eat alone and I respect that. I make him sit and wait until I tell him it is okay to eat and once he has obtained that permission I allow him to eat in the same feeding spot. Sometimes he likes having me around when he is about to eat and prefers to roll on top of me and give him a good rub.. FYI These dogs are very expressive with their paws. If they want your attention and you are ignoring they will hit you with their paw.. I have always heard this is a classic pyr trait. Falls true with mine. All in all I have had a variety of furry members in my family but the GP takes the cake. Amazing dog with traits that you can sit and admire for days and hopefully years. Honestly, if he wasn’t so big and hairy, me and my wife would love to have him inside to snuggle which would be a dream come true for him. He loves and I think needs to be held. I cannot describe the zen and peace this dog appears to be in when he is held.
They can be very hard headed and will make up their own minds. This can be very challenging. If you are getting a GP and keep them outside they are very hard to keep clean. I think my dog is now permanently dyed orange from all the clay he rolls around in on the ground and in the creeks. Anyways, enough GP talk! Don’t bite off more than you can chew with a dog like this but if you think can handle it you will not regret it!
Apollo’sMom says
This response was a great read. I rescued a 3 yr GP 6 months ago & this has been offered some of the best insights to this breed. TY for posting.
Denise says
I adopted a GP/Border Collie mix 3 yrs ago.
I have had dogs all my life and I’m 72.
Rory was shy when I brought him home from the shelter but honestly he rescued me.
My husband was sick and going through chemo and Rory never left his side. He was with him until he passed in 2019. I was a mess after my husband passed and Rory brought me so much peace and emotional comfort. He missed his buddy as well .
I have had a lot of Border Collies through the yrs and the way they say hello is by putting your fingers in their mouth. It’s their way of connecting and sensing you. Most people react by pulling back and this can result in a tooth catching skin.
My GP/Border Collie does exactly this. I tell people just ignore him, don’t try to pet him, he will either put your fingers or hand in his mouth if he likes you or he will just walk away. Most people are OK with that. Only you know your dog so always let others know if it’s OK to pet them. It’s mostly up to the dog whether he wants to be touched or even acknowledged.
We also had chickens, goats and a small chihuahua. As soon as he got introduced to each of them and he felt at home, we were his property and that’s the way it will be until this 100 lb gorgeous guy passes over the rainbow Bridge.
I call him my boyfriend and he sure is our protector.
Susan says
Hi, we have a Great Pyrenees puppy. Her full name is Grand Nuage Blanc, it is french for Large White Cloud. We call her Nuage. She is 10 weeks old. My husband and I have never had a Great Pyrenees before. I used to be a dog groomer, but haven’t been able to work for a good while due to medical reasons. We have a Toy Poodle, and we usually have Chow Chows. Unfortunately we lost our last Chow Chow this past December. She was 15 years old. The breeder that we get Chow Chows from happens to be in Indiana, where we are originally from, but we live in North Carolina. Our breeder doesn’t have any puppies and we couldn’t go home last year when there were puppies. We decided we would go ahead and get a big dog now and get a Chow Chow when we can. We started researching other breeds, and decided we would get a Great Pyrenees. After reading some of these posts, I think, Oh My Goodness, what did we get ourselves into? lol We have been taking her out to socialize, and we have been taking her to the grooming shop so she can get used to baths and other people putting their hands on her. We can already see the independence in her, and the strong will. If she doesn’t want us messing with her she turns her back and gets out of reach and lays down. She is getting really good at coming when we call her. She knows her name, and most of the time she responds to it. We are used to Chow Chows and they are so easy to house break! Every Chow Chow puppy we have ever had has been 100% housebroken by 10 weeks old! Nuage is very different! She is being very difficult in the house breaking department! Has anyone else had trouble with house breaking their Pyrenees? We love her so much, and she is a wonderful addition to our family. I just hope we don’t have these issues. We did have a food aggressive issue when we first got her! She would growl like crazy and push our hand away when we put our hands in her food bowl, and tried to take food from her. We worked on that, and we constantly put our hands in her food bowl and try taking a handful of her food away, or take away a bone or something she is chewing. She doesn’t give us any trouble any more, but you can guarantee we are still going to constantly mess with her while she’s eating and put our hands in her bowl while she’s eating, and take her bones and chews away from her and give them back so we don’t have food aggression. We love her and those eyes and that sweet face just melt us, but we still have to show her who the boss and alphas are in this pack!
Hunter Olson says
Our pyr is a week shy of 1 year old. She is quite loving and playful to us, but has had a friend backed into a corner and has had other friends a bit uneasy. I WOULD NOT SAY SHE IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS, there is more than enough warning. When she’s in protection mode, it is quite obvious and menacing. I would never challenge her bluff, but if you have and any knowledge of dogs or common sense you would already know that. She has never bitten anyone. In the a real world dangerous situation, I have no doubt She would not hesitate to turn someone to ground meat. Her expression of distrust toward an outsider is both blatant and obvious. She is not an aggressive dog and is very vocal in her protective reaction. Calming her down is best when relaxed and petting her shhhhhing her. She is certainly FAR from afraid of confrontation when my girlfriend and I are around her or at home. At dog daycare she has not had any issues and is very playful. Her instinct for protection seems hyper sensitive only at home and occasionally when we are around outside the home on a walk. She has becoming increasingly proactive to discipline in recent times. Definately unlike the retrievers, labs, and German shorthairs I grew up with. The first time (one of the fee times) I hit her she fled and hid from me. Another time when she snapped at another dog I kicked her in the butt much harder than I intended too. I could feel effects of the kick for the rest of the day and she was completely unaffected if not more aggravated. The pyre breed IS NOT A LAB LIKE BREED. Patience and bonding is key. The more time I’ve spent with her, even going to the store and back seems to help if the weather allows. An assertive voice and firm stance helps, but Pyres are not people pleasers. Listening is an issue. She takes commands from me better than by girlfriend. I often wonder if this is because of simple acts such as a firm knee when she jumps on me and a more assertive voice or because I spend more time with her. I may never know. My girlfriend i can attest she is a great dog, but a heavy barker and can be disobedient at a moment’s notice. With that said, we would 10/10 consider another Pyre, however they are not for everyone. THEY ARE NOT A LAB. Other notes about the breed: 1) living in Minnesota she does very well in the winter. Summer days with our high humidity and heat approaching 100+ can be rough. It’s the only time she has been willing to go inside the house. Expect extreme water consumption in hot weather. In winter, her fur is always ice cold to the touch for the amount of time we allow her outside, which tells me the heat is not escaping her double coat. Cold weather does have an effect on her. She becomes increasingly hyper and active even or unsurprisingly down to -30°F (capped their since that was actual temp this year). It seems the colder/crappier the weather the more she flourishes. Freezing rain, dangerous wind chill, and heavy snow cause the zoomies. Only concern I have had in cold weather is her paws; when I bring her in her paws we often fanned out with snow clumps caught between each toe. Thick double coat protects the body well, but does not necessarily the appendages.
Christina says
I have a one year old great pyrenees hes been socialized but he sometimes snaps at others and has terrible food aggression. We love him so much we just have to be careful
Lon says
Same here, 15 months old, girl, bad food aggression , we have been handfeeding since day 1. She now lets us take toys etc away, but she was banned from doggy day care for attacking another dog who came within 4ft of her stick.
Sweetest and most affectionate pup ive ever had. She is an asset to our family and we love her to pieces.
john noe says
Hello,
After reading this article, my conclusion is that parts of the article do not match what I have seen. I have never owned or been around a Great Pyrenees, and all of my opinions are based on the many YouTube videos I have seen regarding this amazing breed of dog. In this article, there are many places where the claim is made with differing levels about the aggressiveness of the G.P.
For example: “Basically, the Great Pyrenees temperament can be more aggressive than some other breeds of dog…” I have seen them in herding and home settings many times, and aggressiveness is not an accurate description IMO unless you consider warning barks to be aggressive. This breed does not engage unless necessary, which makes them a perfect herding dog. It has the effect of removing the intruder without physical contact. This greatly reduces VET bills for the owner.
In one instance, a G.P had a fox boxed into an area close to a house where it couldn’t safely get out due to the cameraman’s physical position. For a good 5 minutes, all the G.P. did was bark at the teeth barring fox.
I never witnessed even one G.P. being aggressive in the multitude of videos I watched.
Cheers,
John Noe
Lon says
Stitches were needed in our house when my husband ignored her warning and tries to remove her from a dangerous situation ( for a 6 month old pup). You are correct, the dog sends plenty of signals. My pup has gotten better with training, a lot of it. Still sketchy at times. We will not give up.
Chuck says
Be careful if you have intact male and female LGDs. My Pyr/Anatolian male attacked me when I got too close to our female Pyr in heat. When she’s not in heat, he’s very friendly with me and others. But he has even growled at my wife when the female is in season.
John Ponder says
I recently lost my half bulldog half blackmouth cur puppy to coyotes it was all out war on coyotes in my mind I started reading about Great Pyrenees and purchased a 8 week old puppy 🐶 I gard him with my life take himevery with me. I have a small farm I just purchased an hope to raise animals mostly chickens I believe this breed of dog will help on the farm I am going to purchase 3 females pups to help him
Hunter Olson says
Excellent to have him with you. Bonding is highly important
Leena says
I have a female great pyrenees whom we have had for almost 2 yrs. she was given to us and has been part of the family and very protective since the beginning. She is now 5 to 6 yrs old. She is not fixed, and really does not allow any other dog near our farm on herself. She gets in ” moods” every 6 months or so where she will carry around something and be very anxious. the something could be a piece of a toy, or a piece of anything.. like a stick or a piece of something from the barn, like dried placenta from a calf just born. She is very attached to the piece of whatever,burries herself under the porch, and just wants to stay there, not eat, and be very anxious. She is quite a talker,,always is excited to make her thoughts know…especially when I come home from work. Just not sure if she is grieving form something, as I just get that feeling that she is extremely sad. This mood usually lasts a week or so.. but honestly it breaks my heart to see her this way. We also have an old lab, soon to be 14, and she becomes very agressive to him during these moods.
Hunter says
Is it possible she suffers from not having pups? I mean their cycle I believe is bi-yearly
Bayron Maldonado says
I have a 6 year old Great Pyrenees, Rocko. He was 8 weeks old when I got him. Yesterday, he attacked my wife after he growled at my son when he was passing by his food. She decided to push him out of the way and that’s when lounge at her attacking her several times. He has had issues with being food aggressive but never to this extent. He lounge at my wife and bit her several times. The neighbors called the 911 and the emergency came. I’m devastated because he attacked my wife and I’ve had him since he was a puppy. I’m considering putting him down but that’s my last resort. I want to retrain and if it fails I will have to resort to that. I love him very much and couldn’t have asked for the sweetest dog. It’s really tearing me inside but I need to consider the best for my wife and kid. Any suggestion will help a lot.
Karen says
Feed him only in an area he is not by anyone. Garage-outside. have you changed his food, something new in the house or neighborhood. It is the holidays and maybe new things or new people around. That could be disturbing to him. Feed him at same times everyday. Is he sick?
Kaylyn says
Hi Bayron. Just based on what I’ve read about training this bread, it sounds like he thinks he’s the alpha of the pack, or at least that your wife and son are below him on the social ladder. I think this can be corrected but it will be hard because of his age. You should definitely contact a professional dog trainer if you haven’t already because they will be able to give you the best advice on this and work with both you and Rocko. Best of luck!
Sharron says
This is my 4th Pyr,, and the first female. I got her at 8wks. We had 4 other dogs ( Japanese Chins) at the time. They accepted her right away. Everything was fine until she was about 18 mos. She then started to become aggressive towards the female Chin, eventually she injured her badly. My Pyr is now 4 and she has repeatedly attacked the other dogs with no warning.
It started with her guarding the doors and if someone came to the door she approach first and not let the others near the door. But they still would try to go to the door if a family member was on the other side. It was at this point that she would growl and if they kept trying she would nip/bite drive them away from door. Now she attacks at any thing she perceives them doing against her wishes. My family thinks I should possibly have her medicated or re-home her. I DON’T. She has never displayed any negative behavior towards, she responds to the commands she’s been taught, loves to cuddle, get belly belly ( belly rubs), etc.
ANY SUGGESTIONS??
JACQUELYN WELSH says
I have a 18 month pyr.i have had him by myself for my husband passed shortly after he got him for me…I have a new friend which beau seems like hes jealous or something…he started now that we cant set together or he gets mad and crazy…twice now he got somewhat aggressive with me…goes after my feet and my hands and bites me….if I can get any advice on what I should do I would appreciate anything….I love my pup but I dont know why hes doing this…
Barbara Crumpton says
i have a 7 month old female pyrenees we got her when she was 3 months old. I have a Aussie mix( border colie/austrain shepherd mix) 7 yrs old. Everything was great when we 1st got Myah(pyrenees) Now she is just going after Sadie( aussie) it doesn’t matter what she does. My vet told me not to have her fixed until she was at least 1 because of some problems down the line with hip and legs and some other things. I am wondering if this could be why she is going after my other dog? I am seeking out a trainer for Myah to see if that helps, I have trained her up until now, but i was wondering do i need a behavior trainer or what? I really dont want to give her up, but if something don’t change and soon i will have no choice but to let her go. The only reason we even got her was because we lost our other dog and my vet told me that Sadie was grieving and she would not pull out of it so i needed to look into another dog. I love myah and she really is a great dog i just wish i knew what to do about this aggressiveness toward Sadie. I mean it really comes out of the blue. Please any advise would be appreciated
Amanda Bennett says
I have a male Great Pyrenees that is 6 years old and 134lbs approx. I don’t know how tall he is but tall enough that he turns a lot of heads and gets a lot of comments about his size. We adopted him from a shelter when he was a 4-month old puppy. For 2 inexperienced dog owners (myself and my husband) it was a wild ride learning how to train and adjust to this pup who quickly became a polar bear. We have been extremely fortunate with him and only have minor issues with him compared to the other posts I read here. He has never jumped on people, ever. He does not try to get up on beds or couches. Despite getting professional training sessions with him though and spending months working with him on my own, his recall still sucks. He will come when he damn well feels like it, and not a second sooner! I have given up on that. The one other issue though is aggression towards other dogs who do not back down when he growls at them. We spend a lot of time at the dog park, and 90% of the time all goes well and everybody loves him. But if a dog gets up in his face staring him down and sniffing his junk too much, he will growl. Then the other dog has about 2 seconds to back off or the cute white fluffy dog turns into a grizzly bear. It seems to be primarily unfixed dogs that trigger him. There is not much I can do about those situations other than watching out for the dogs I know he doesn’t like and avoiding the park if they are there, or if something happens while we are there, I keep him in a harness with a large handle at the top so I can grab him and pull him off when a fight breaks out. It has been interesting to see how his behaviour has changed over time. He used to be less aggressive towards dogs, but more aggressive to dog-less people walking through the dog park, especially boisterous teenagers. Now he shows more aggression towards other dogs who try to challenge him, and rarely pays any attention towards humans. Overall though we couldn’t have picked a better dog for our family. He is so loving and gentle with our children and 2 cats its unbelievable. I hope he lives for many more years.
mike says
See similar behavior with our three year old Pyr Kylo. Very affectionate dog and gentle with our cats and also any little kid. He never was much for playing with other dogs when younger though he would be social and do the weird Pyr bunny hop around them. Once he turned three he seemed to lose most interest in other dogs. Like you mentioned he is ok with a little sniffing but if another dog gets too much into his face he lets forth an impressive growl that soon turns into a snarl. Most dogs back off. He walks good with a harness and ignores other dogs passing by. Great dog so long as you realize it has a reserved, serious temperament. It will think anyone walking onto your property is coming to murder you.
kennedypilgrim says
hello when i was younger i had a male pyrenees that was so calm and loving that we saved from a shelter. A few years after he past away we decided to get a new pyrenees and she loves us but as soon as someone pulls up she barks and has tried to lung at my friends. I have tried all the methods on teaching her not to do it the treat method worked for a while but then she grew uninterested in the treats i don’t know what to do i love her so much she is my baby but i cant have her lung at my friends what should i do how should i train her
Marie Bergen says
I have a 1 1/2 year old great pyrenees and up until recently he has been very sweet and loving to other dogs. I make sure to have regular play dates with other dogs in the neighbourhood and walk him multiple times a day.
However he has now started lunging and snarling at dogs on our walks and at the park. It seems to be random, as he doesn’t do it with all dogs. Just some.
It’s concerning to me that his behaviour is so unpredictable, as it is making going to the park harder and harder. He used to always be complimented at the dog park for having such a sweet disposition, but now I’m scared to bring him there. I don’t know how to approach the situation, especially since it is behaviour that I can’t predict. He’s friendly to another dog and lunging at another.
Any advice would be appreciated!
January says
Wow I’m surprised at all the aggressive trouble. I’ve had 3 Pyrenees. One from a pup she was such an awesome loving being when she broke my heart and passed I rescued two more females. I have never had agression problems. They have always loved anyone who they came into contact with. They all have the PAW!! This is the worst I can say about them they were great with kids and as long as I introduced other dogs wisely they have been great. I’ve been Blessed.
Kathy says
I have never seen aggressive behavior with my Pyrenees/Shepard mix. She loves children so much that they can crawl over her. She loves other dogs and has some “buddies” at the dog park. I call her my socialite because she wants to visit all the humans and the dogs. Koda is my best dog ever!
Sue says
Hi Marie,
I’m starting to experience the same issues with my now almost 2year old Pyrenees! I was wondering if anything you’ve tried has improved the situation. My pup has recently started to bark at large dogs when we’re out walking. He does this randomly and not to all dogs. Before this he’s always been playful and friendly with other dogs. Im not certain what’s shifted. We have had a large Doberman move in next door and he’s been that way with that dog since day 1. Please Let me know if anything you’ve tried has helped! Thanks!
Darlene Kraemer says
I have two shepherd mixes ( Zoie and Lexie ) and when they turn around 8 years old we got a great pyrenees pup ( Saphria.) She grew up with these girls and they showed her the boundries as I have undergone fencing that works great . She has been with these 2 dogs from the beginning and everything was going very well. They are all spayed. She is now 2 and a 1/2 years old and has attacked the timid one ( lexie ) several times. Lexie goes out of her way to avoid Saphria.
I always pull her off , no harm done and disapline her. But yesterday as Lexie walked across the yard she attacked her so bad and I had to take Lexie to the vet for stitches in her stomach. Honestly , had I not been there I think she would have killed her. Of the two sheperd ( sisters ) she is the most skittish and timid she does not bother Zoue ,the other one. I am afraid to leave them alone now. Considering putting Lexie in a stall at night for safety as Saphria guards against coyote’s very well and Zoie is always right there with her. Than in the daytime put Saphria up so Lexie can get out some. What a mess. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
what can I do.
Kathy says
In General it has been my experience that more than two females dogs can create pack behavior. I would seek out a trainer for help. Your pyre may be asserting her dominance.
I had two females dogs before, I had gotten a male pyre and it with the larger female had gone after the smaller female.
I had to keep my small girl as an inside only.
Important to seek help or find your dog a better situation.
Mike Alvarez says
I have a Great Pyrenees male 4yrs old. Love this breed and absolutely love my Great Pyrenees, Gemini. He is the most faithful loving and has a very positive personality in a dog that I have ever had or have been associated with. The only concern is his mannerisms upon greeting new people or fairly new people he has come to know. He jumps and he wants to put his front paws on everyone’s shoulders. And if it’s a female (human) the jumping leads to other things. Now I understand why he is attracted to females .what I’m at a loss for are his jumping on males (again human). He gets very hyper and resorts to jumping. How can I get him to stop this behavior?
Kathy says
We have a Great Pyrenees also she is wonderful she is now 4 yrs old she is in house and outside we have fenced in yard but I also noticed when someone comes up to the fence she gets ferocious especially if they try to pet her We also have a cat which we had before her it’s touch and go with them when they are both in house they behave pretty well but when the cat goes outside and Sheba is outside she go nuts after this same cat but we love her and hope she is part of our family for years to come we got her as a puppy boy has she grown😃
Kathy says
We have a wonderful pyreneese that is unbelievably sweet, until someone comes over to our yard, or to our home. Then she is frightening! Viscious is a good description. I don’t understand what brings this on. We adopted her 3 years ago. She was abused and neglected, but we don’t know any specifics. She came to us afraid of her own shadow, and still has many fears, but is better. Her agression towards everyone outside of the immediate family has only increased. It’s scary! Any suggestions?
Rosa says
Kathy, I have a half Great Pyrenees whom I have raised almost since birth and he started doing the same thing around 15 months old. He is now almost two. My dog lives with me and a cat, but I have worked hard to get him around other dogs and people. I hired a trainer who has helped me be more assertive, but the behavior has worsened. While on walks, my dog now attacks people instead of just other dogs, and it is a monumental feat for me to keep him under control. I am now avoiding people and dogs he doesn’t know, which isn’t good, but I need to regroup. I had a lovely chat with a gentleman who lives on a farm with his working Great Pyrenees and he told me that my dog is in his teenage years and will settle down and be a different dog in six months. I sure hope so! He did say it was important to be the boss in the relationship, but to train with the breed characteristics in mind. Diversion and patience are your friend. Good luck and I hope we both have a different story next year!