One of the largest dog breeds in the world, the Great Pyrenees (also known as Patou in France) can grow as tall as 32 inches. The Dauphin of France during King Louis XIV’s reign in 1675 declared it the “Royal Dog of France”.
It originated from the Pyrenees Mountains of southern France and was initially used by shepherds. Boasting a majestic white double coat, this large breed of livestock guardian dog (LGD) can weigh as much as 130 pounds.
Nowadays, the Great Pyrenees is raised mainly as a family companion. Its intelligence and strong build make it an excellent guardian for your home.
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Great Pyrenees One-time Expenses
- Initial Buying Price
The average buying price of a Great Pyrenees is between $300 and $1500. The price varies depending on the dog’s pedigree, gender, and age, and the location and reputation of the breeder.
The Great Pyrenees is not that expensive compared to other breeds. Nonetheless, you should be prepared to pay the price for a healthy, high-quality dog. You can find one from several reputable sites such as the Next Day Pets and Lancaster Puppies.
The Great Pyrenees Club of America also has a database of trusted Great Pyrenees breeders that you can check out if you are searching for superior quality puppies near your location.
You can also get one from adoption centers and rescue centers if you don’t want to buy one. Adoption is usually cheaper than buying, but it can be difficult to find a Great Pyrenees, especially a puppy, and there’s often no assurance of pedigree or registration.
The National Pyr Rescue has a list of Great Pyrenees just waiting for their new families. You can also visit Petfinder or the Great Pyrenees Rescue Society to find more dogs that are available for adoption.
- Accessories
As with all dogs, a Great Pyrenees needs different accessories for a good quality of life. The primary ones are food and water bowls, a leash and collar, and toys.
Normal food and water bowls can be bought for as little as $5. But there are some with special features, such as the Harmony Elevated Dog Bowl Double Diner, which costs about $35.
The Great Pyrenees is not really an active breed. It does not need a lot of training accessories so simple chew toys and dog balls are enough.
The problem with the usual chew toy is that it can get destroyed easily due to the large size of the Great Pyrenees. A recommended toy for this breed is the Kong Classic Dog Toy. It’s a very durable chew toy that prevents your pet from being bored. This costs around $3.72 to $10.99 on Chewy depending on the size.
Since the Great Pyrenees is large and strong, a durable leash and collar are needed. The world-famous dog whisperer, Cesar Milan, designed the Pack Leader Collar that considerably eases training and walking with your dog. This is useful for large breeds that are hard to train like the Great Pyrenees. The downside is it costs $45, but other high-quality options are also available for around $20 to $40.
- Shelter
Your pet’s shelter is essential in maintaining its well-being. It needs bedding for sleeping at home, and a crate for traveling. The Great Pyrenees requires at least an XXL-sized bedding (48” x 30”) and Giant-sized crate (48” x 32” x 35”).
High-quality XXL-sized dog bedding can be bought at prices ranging from $30 to $85. They come in different shapes and sizes. It’s up to you to choose which one you think will make your pet most comfortable.
Giant-sized crates average around $185. You can also get a do-it-yourself 700Plus Kennel Extension Kit that doesn’t require the use of tools or hardware. The extension kit can increase the height of the crate by up to 5 inches.
What Is Included in the Great Pyrenees Price?
Contract of Sale – this serves as a legally binding agreement between the breeder and the buyer. It should contain certain conditions which all those involved in the transaction agree with.
Medical Records – these contain details regarding the dog’s medical history and current medical condition. These should also contain information on the breed’s possible genetic health problems. These are important since the Great Pyrenees is prone to inheriting hip dysplasia, some eye problems, and heart diseases.
Pedigree Certificate – this shows the family tree of your dog. It contains information on the previous generations of the dog’s heritage.
Other Freebies – several breeders or rescue shelters include freebies when you receive your pet. This may include things like a few packs of dog food or some accessories (e.g. food and water bowls, leash and collar, etc.).
What are the Recurring Expenses?
- Food
All dogs deserve the best quality dog food and low-quality dog foods must be avoided as much as possible. An active adult Great Pyrenees needs at least around 2,200 calories daily to maintain its health.
One of the recommended dog food for the Great Pyrenees is the Fromm Gold Large Breed Adult Formula (Grade A). It’s enhanced with probiotics to improve your pet’s digestions and is perfect for dogs that weigh more than 50 pounds. It’s priced at about $50 per 33 pounds.
Another one is the Victor Yukon River Salmon and Sweet Potato Grain-Free Dry Dog Food (Grade B) which costs around $60 per 30 pounds. It contains just the right amount of proteins, Omega 3 and 6, and carbohydrates needed by your pet.
- Healthcare
Although the Great Pyrenees is prone to several health conditions, it will grow into a strong and healthy adult if given adequate medical attention (spay/neuter, vaccinations, and overall grooming).
Spaying or neutering your dog has a lot of health benefits such as preventing uterine infections and the possibility of cancers (e.g. breast, testicular). You can get your pet spayed or neutered for up to $200 and you can often get vaccinations done at the same time.
Vaccinations are important for the Great Pyrenees due to the different health conditions that it’s prone to. Most vaccines are priced between about $10 and $20 depending on the type.
- Grooming
Aside from different medical procedures, your pet also needs to undergo overall grooming to stay healthy. This not only makes your pet healthier and less prone to diseases, but it also makes it smell good and look more beautiful. This includes trimming its nails, brushing and/or trimming of hair, and ear cleaning.
Trimming your pet’s nails helps prevent accidental injuries especially during play times or scratching itself. This also makes it more comfortable for your dog when walking and helps avoid damages to your carpets or pillows.
Professional grooming service packages including bathing, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and anal gland expression run around $55, but simpler packages cost less, while more inclusive packages cost more.
Tips and Facts About the Great Pyrenees
The Great Pyrenees is an independent breed. This means that it is a reliable companion but hard to train. It requires an experienced and patient owner to effectively train it.
It only needs moderate exercise. Daily walks or jogs (and sometimes with the help of the training accessories mentioned previously) are enough to keep its body in shape. Due to its independent nature, the Great Pyrenees has a tendency to wander around and thus needs to be kept on a leash during outdoor walks.
The Great Pyrenees is a bit more serious and gentler compared to other breeds making it suitable for apartment settings. Due to its protective personality, early socialization is needed. It can live with other small dogs and pets comfortably as long as it was taught from an early age.
Its double coat makes it resistant to cold weather, although this doesn’t help much during hot weather. On the other hand, it’s not that laborious to groom – thirty minutes of brushing per week will suffice.
Also, keep in mind that it’s one of the breeds that naturally has a double dewclaw. This is relatively rare among dog breeds and may come off as a surprise to unsuspecting owners. It’s not advisable to trim them off unless due to some medical or health risks and conditions.
The Great Pyrenees may sometimes be stubborn, but with enough patience, it can also be an extremely affectionate and gentle companion.
