Life Span:	9-12 years, though some have lived to be 15
Litter Size:	6-9 puppies with the average being 8 puppies
Group:	Pastoral, Utility, Working Dogs, Working, Guardian Dogs.
Recognized By:	CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR
Color:	Grey with white spots before the age of two, then they grow into their adult coats that may be pure white, cream or light tan with darker markings around the face and ears. The skin, nose and claws are black.
Hair Length:	Long
Size:	Extra Large
Shedding:	Heavy Shed
Male Height:	Dogs - 27-32 inches (68-81cm)
Male Weight:	Dogs - 100-160 pounds (49-59kg)
Female Height:	Bitches - 25-30 inches (63-76cm)
Female Weight:	Bitches - 85-115 pounds (39-52kg)
Living Area:	This dog was meant to roam and will range as wide as 15 miles when left to his or her own devices. Great Pyrenees are able to jump or dig under many fences, so if you're going to keep the dog contained on anything other than a ranch with livestock (they won't leave the flock), you'll need a very strong fence. When kept as companion animals, they can come to enjoy living in the house with you but will certainly get the entire place covered in long white hair in short order. While they don't like being separated from the family, they do often like to have their own spot outdoors, too. They are certainly not suited to apartment living and will very quickly become destructive if not allowed to get the kind of exercise they need to not be nervous in such situations. Even if they do, such a small space makes these dogs far more nervous and aggressive than they need to be.

About this Breed

The great, white, mountain dogs have been guarding sheep in the Pyrenees and serving in the French Royal court for hundreds of years. They have been very carefully selected to not only herd sheep, but also to protect them from any danger. They can even take on bears if necessary. Great Pyrenees dogs are also bred to fend off human attackers, so they make very good and loyal guard dogs. In slightly less rural situations, they will usually be aloof with people who visit the house and let them. The Pyr, as they are affectionately known, are massive dogs, with males weighing up to and over 160 pounds. Their fur is white or light colored and can be a few inches thick. They shed and so much that a veritable flurry of downy undercoat can moult in the summer. As such, the Great Pyrenees are not typically house dogs. Aside from their exercise requirements, which are great, they often prefer to be out of doors, running around and on the alert. Most Great Pyrenees dogs have very good eyesight and are tall enough to see trouble coming from a distance. Their heads are large and broad, supporting large jaws. Because they're so large it will take two years for these dogs to reach maturity. One distinguishing characteristic of the breed is the double dewclaw found on each back leg. They sometimes have more than one, but a vet typically removes those in excess of the usual two. They also have a unique metabolism that can actually produce an ailment if they're fed too rich a diet. They are still used widely for herding purposes with animals other than sheep, such as llamas, goats, horses and cattle. In the last 20 years they have become companion animals for some people, mostly those living in suburban areas. Special measures need to be taken to ensure they don't escape and range about.