Great Pyrenees are often considered a great addition to families with kids, but it's essential to understand their needs and temperaments. They are naturally protective of their young, but this doesn't necessarily mean they're good with kids.
Great Pyrenees are large dogs that require a lot of space to roam and exercise, which can be a challenge for families living in small homes or apartments. They also need regular grooming to prevent matting and tangling of their thick coats.
While Great Pyrenees can be gentle with children, they're not always the best fit for families with very young kids. In fact, their size and strength can be intimidating to toddlers, and their protective instincts may lead them to defend their family's space.
If you're considering bringing a Great Pyrenees into your family, it's crucial to socialize them well and teach them to interact calmly with children. With proper training and care, Great Pyrenees can make wonderful companions for families with kids.
Are Great Pyrenees Good with Kids?
Great Pyrenees are often a great match for families with kids. They get along well with kids, which is a big plus for many families.
One reason Great Pyrenees are a good fit for families is that they're natural guardians. This means they'll be protective of you and your kids when needed.
But don't worry, they're also incredibly loyal and relaxed. They make a great addition to many families because of this calm nature.
Great Pyrenees are also known to get along well with pets and livestock, which is a bonus for families with multiple animals.
Training and Socialization
Great Pyrenees are intelligent dogs that can be trained with good results. They rank #64 in intelligence on a list compiled by a canine psychologist, but their strong instinctual intelligence allows them to reason and make decisions.
With proper training and discipline, Great Pyrenees can be easily taught to behave. This is especially important for large dogs like the Great Pyrenees, where the consequences of aggressive behavior can be much higher.
Proper training is crucial for any dog, but it's especially important for large dogs like the Great Pyrenees. Socialization is also key, and it's best to start early on.
Socializing your Great Pyrenees to new people and animals is essential in their young years. This allows them to understand that people and animals are okay and not a threat. The more people and dogs your dog meets, the less likely they will be to act aggressively towards strangers.
Even if you weren't able to socialize your dog when they were young, it's never too late to start socializing an adult dog. Just be aware that it might be a little more difficult and you'll need to keep a stronger hold on your furry friend just in case they have a reaction.
Educating your kids on how to act around a dog is also crucial. This will help ensure a safe and harmonious relationship between your dog and your children.
Considerations for Families
Great Pyrenees are natural guardians, but they're also incredibly loyal and relaxed, making them a great addition to families.
They're tolerant of smaller animals and kids because of their breeding as livestock guardian dogs. In the past, Great Pyrenees were surrounded by smaller prey animals like sheep, cows, and goats, and they learned to be calm and relaxed to coexist with them.
If you're worried about your Pyr snapping at a kid out of irritation, the odds are pretty low. Great Pyrenees are generally a safe combination with kids, dogs, and even cats.
Great Pyrenees are intelligent, but they can be stubborn. With good training and discipline, they can be easily taught to behave.
To prepare your dog to meet your kids, or vice versa, you can work on training with them beforehand.
For your interest: Crate Training vs Not
Final Thoughts
Great Pyrenees are really good with kids, they're gentle, loyal, and obedient.
They're also independent and will keep themselves entertained without you having to do any work, which can be a huge bonus for busy families.
If you pay attention to your Great Pyrenees and socialize them young, they should do really well with kids.
Every individual dog is different, but this breed tends to do just fine with small humans.
Their size can be intimidating, but with proper socialization and care, Great Pyrenees can make wonderful family pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the cons of owning a Great Pyrenees?
Owning a Great Pyrenees can be challenging due to their high shedding rate and need for frequent grooming. They also require consistent training and may develop warning barking habits.
Sources
- Dogs and Kids (nationalpyr.org)
- never too late to start socializing (animalhumanesociety.org)
- Great Pyrenees Dog Breed Information (akc.org)
- 7 Things to Know Before Getting a Great Pyrenees (& an ... (hannaheliseschultz.com)
- Kimberly Gauthier (keepthetailwagging.com)
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