Breeds / Large
Great Pyrenees puppies
The Great Pyrenees is a livestock guardian with a thick weatherproof coat, usually calm and patient but independent and quick to respond to anything it sees as a threat. It barks at night by instinct and roams if the boundary is not secure.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Adult weight 38.6 to 49.9 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 85 to 110 lb
- Adult height 64 to 81 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Typical lifespan 10 to 12 years
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Great Pyrenees puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
- Patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, found on a patella evaluation
- Gastric dilatation volvulus, a surgical emergency, risk rises with deep chests
- Inherited eye disorders, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Neurological and immune mediated disorders, which the breed club asks breeders to test for
- Bone cancer and other cancers, which is why persistent lameness should be x-rayed
From Great Pyrenees breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/great-pyrenees/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Great Pyrenees puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Great Pyrenees.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 38.6 to 49.9 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other large breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.