About Us

We have been around for a long. long time. Great Pyrenees are a very old breed of dog. We’ve been used for hundreds of years by shepherds, including those of the Basque people, who inhabit parts of the region in and around the Pyrenees Mountains of southern France and northern Spain. Talk about world travelers! These days, we prefer to be a part of a compassionate, loving family and enjoy the time and attention of humans and other animal companions to the life of a herder.

We males grow to 110–120 pounds (50–54 kg) and 27–32 inches tall (69–81 cm), while females reach 80–90 pounds (36–41 kg) and 25–29 inches tall (63–74 cm), and we live to 10–12 years of age, (or longer with lots of love, exercise and healthy food. 

Our coats are white – hence “BIG WHITE DOG.INFO” – and can have varying shades of gray, red (rust), or tan around the face (including a full face mask), our ears, and sometimes on our body and tail. The color of our noses and on our eye rims is jet black. We like to call this Mother Nature’s “eye liner”.  Hey, some humans pay big bucks for this look, but we Great Pyrenees have this high fashion look a la natural! We are a gorgeous breed, even if we do say so ourselves! If you or anyone you know is thinking about adopting one of our friends from theNational Pyrenees Rescue, know that you will be adding a wonderful addition to your family and saving a very precious life!

Is a big white dog for you?

Is a big white dog for you

You’ve seen us big, beautiful white dogs. You’re impressed, naturally. You think you want one. This is understandable. But . . . are we the breed for you? We are not the ideal companion for everyone!

The mature, sedate Great Pyrenees which you have seen here did not just materialize suddenly. We grew from a cuddly, lovable ball of fluff which at 8-12 weeks of age is most captivating. From puppy hood to adulthood is a great distance and a considerable time. As a breed we are remarkably healthy and long lived. We have few major genetic problems and usually live to be 10-12 years old.

We combine a great intelligence with a deep devotion to family and home, and a natural-born instinct to guard and protect. While trustworthy, affectionate, gentle and tractable, we can become, when and if the need arises, protective guardians of our family and our territory. Thus, we command respect as watch dogs as well as admiration as pets.

We adult Pyrs are placid by nature and calm in the house, enjoying quiet periods in which to rest and sleep. But we are a large breed and as such are not always suited to life in a small apartment or urban setting with little yard space and lots of activity around. We want our life to be consistent and predictable.

The addition of a dog to your family is a major decision and deserves a great deal of time and thought. We is placid by nature, so despite our size, we are excellent house dogs. Yes, us adult Pyr’s are a beautiful, calm dog, but there are other considerations-have you thought of these?

Considerations

Are you physically able to handle a very large dog? Basically gentle, we are strong, and during the phases of puppy hood can be a real challenge.

Does dog hair around the house bother you? If so, forget the about us. While with routine grooming we are not much different than any other breed, we do shed and there are white hairs in Pyr homes and on Pyr people.

We need love and attention on a daily basis. Are you and your family able to provide this? A lonesome Pyr is a bored dog, and a bored dog can become destructive.

Great Pyrenees are at heart guard dogs and members of the great family of livestock guardian dogs. As such, we share with them certain strong characteristics. Pyrs were bred to be left alone with the sheep up in the mountain valleys. We are a guard dog by instinct, not by training. Our basic personality is different from most breeds, since most breeds were bred to take commands from people, while Pyrs were bred to work on their own.

A Great Pyrenees is an intelligent, sometimes willful animal. We have minds of our own and are not easily obedience trained. Things that you consider important may not be the same things we consider important. Many of us are almost cat-like, in our independence.

If you require a dog who will be a great “off-leash” companion for your outdoor activities, if you want a dog who will follow your every command, or if you want a competition obedience dog, we are probably not for you.

Do you have room for a Pyr? We are large and must be confined in a well fenced area, or we will exercise our powerful instinct to establish and patrol a large territory. When out of the fence we must be kept on lead at all times.

Like all livestock guardian breeds, we are barkers, especially at night. The amount of barking varies from individual to individual, but the instinct is there and in some cases can cause major problems. Most Great Pyrenees in urban or suburban settings must be kept indoors at night.

Us Great Pyrenees are guard dogs and as such cannot be expected to welcome uninvited intrusions onto your property. We will accept anyone whom you invite into your home. We are not “attack” dogs, but can be very intimidating to the surprised visitor. It is an owner’s obligation to maintain a Great Pyrenees so that our guarding instincts can be exercised in a responsible way.

These are things to think about, and if  you are still interested in bringing one like us into your home contact National Pyrenees Rescue.