Animal register · DogIn the app
Pyrenean Mountain Dog
Great Pyrenees, Pyrenees, Patou, Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées
The Pyrenean Mountain Dog — called the Great Pyrenees in the United States — comes from France; the FCI lists it among the mountain-type molossoids (group 2) and describes a dog of great size, imposing and strongly built, but not without a certain elegance. Its coat is white, or white with patches of badger, wolf-grey, pale yellow or orange on the head and ears. The FCI standard gives a height of 70–80 cm for dogs and 65–75 cm for bitches; the PDSA gives an average weight of 40–50 kg. Like other giant dogs it is fully grown at about 18–24 months (PetMD).
The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to an hour of exercise a day, says the breed suits a large house with a large garden, needs grooming more than once a week and sheds, and gives a lifespan of under 10 years (PetMD and VCA give 10–12 years). The PDSA calls them gentle giants — calm, good-natured dogs that tend to get on well with everyone — and says training needs patience and reward-based methods. VCA says the Pyr is devoted to its family, especially to children, and that early socialisation is very important; PetMD says it lives well with other pets but may be best in homes without smaller children, and advises avoiding vigorous exercise around mealtimes because of the risk of bloat.
Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- large — The Royal Kennel Club S600
- Adult weight
- males 40–50 kg, females 40–50 kg — PDSA S603
- Daily exercise
- up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S600
- Brushing
- more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S600
- Shedding
- sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S600
- Lifespan
- less than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S600
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Exercise
- Daily exercise: up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S600
Coat and grooming
Meals
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Lifespan
- Lifespan: less than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S600
Life stages
- Reaches adult size at: about 18–24 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Size and weight
Training
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does a Pyrenean Mountain Dog need?
According to our sources, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog needs this much exercise: up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S600.
How long does a Pyrenean Mountain Dog live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the Pyrenean Mountain Dog is: less than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S600.
How big does a Pyrenean Mountain Dog get and how much does it weigh?
Size and adult weight of the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, according to our sources: Size: large — The Royal Kennel Club S600; Adult weight: males 40–50 kg, females 40–50 kg — PDSA S603.
How much grooming does a Pyrenean Mountain Dog need?
Coat and grooming of the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, according to our sources: Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S600; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S600; Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S600.
Who is the Pyrenean Mountain Dog a good fit for?
Our sources describe the Pyrenean Mountain Dog as a good fit for: families with children — VCA Animal Hospitals S605; a large house and garden — The Royal Kennel Club S600; homes with other pets — PetMD S604. Keep in mind: large dog — not for homes with small children — PetMD S604; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club, PetMD S600S604; needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S600S603; shorter lifespan — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S600S603.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 6,000 from month 6 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 6,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 6,000 steps |
| Senior | month 90 (7.5 years) | 2 | 4,500 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 1 hour, so 6,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands more slowly than the mixed breed of the free plan (0.7× its speed).
- Becomes a senior in month 90 (7.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing twice a week.
- Care: trimming the nails once a week — a task for the child.
- Care: checking and cleaning the ears once a week — a task for the child.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S600S604S605
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Hip dysplasia, a loose, poorly developed hip joint, occurs in the breed and can eventually lead to arthritis. — PDSA S603
- Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach twists, can occur in the breed — it is an emergency that needs a vet straight away. — PetMD S604
- Deafness in one or both ears occurs in the breed; puppies' hearing can be checked with a BAER test. — PDSA S603
- Epilepsy, a brain disorder that can cause seizures, occurs in the breed. — PDSA S603
- Panosteitis, a painful inflammation of the long bones that usually affects young, growing dogs, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S603
- Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. — PDSA S603
- Entropion, where the eyelids turn inwards and irritate the eye, can occur in the breed; ask for eye-checked parents. — PDSA S603
- Certain cancers can occur in the breed. — PDSA S603
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum
- Genetic diversity — check the inbreeding coefficient — The Royal Kennel Club S600
Further tests for best practice
- Elbow X-ray screening for elbow dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S600
- Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S600
- Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S600
These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S599FCI — FCI-Standard N° 137 Pyrenean Mountain Dog (Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées), English (PDF; valid standard published 13.03.2001)https://fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/137g02-en.pdf
- S600The Royal Kennel Club — Pyrenean Mountain Dog (Breeds A to Z)https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/pastoral/pyrenean-mountain-dog/
- S603PDSA — Pyrenean Mountain Dog breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/pyrenean-mountain-dog
- S604PetMD — Teresa Kho-Pelfrey, DVM, reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM (updated Sep. 18, 2024) — Great Pyreneeshttps://petmd.com/dog/breeds/great-pyrenees
- S605VCA Animal Hospitals (LifeLearn, created May 29, 2014) — Great Pyrenees (Know your pet)https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/great-pyrenees
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
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