When choosing a puppy, look for a
happy, healthy, outgoing puppy. You
do not want a shy, emaciated or sickly-
appearing pup. The coat should carry a
glossy shine. There should be no discharge
from the eyes or nose and the puppy
should be moving along on sturdy legs.
The puppy should be at least 8 weeks old.
You should also inquire about a breed-
er/buyer contract, which explains what
is expected of you, the buyer, and of the
breeder. Your puppy should come from
registered parents, should have a pedigree
from the breeder, a health record showing
when and what inoculations and medica-
tions have been given and also care and
feeding instructions.
Questions to Expect from a
Knowledgable Breeder
Buy from someone who is knowledge-
able about the breed and who is willing to
share this information with you. This will
be the beginning of a relationship that
should last as long as your Great Pyrenees
is a part of your family. You can expect
that a good breeder will ask you about
your plans and facilities for your Pyr. In
fact, buyers should be cautious of breeders
who do not ask questions. It could indi-
cate that the breeder is not very concerned
about the future of their pups.
Do you have a well fenced area?
Pyrs
are roamers and MUST be kept in your
home, in a securely fenced area, or on
leash. Underground or invisible fencing is
not appropriate for Pyrs. Very often it will
not keep them in AND it will not keep
other animals or people out. Remember,
Pyrs are guardian dogs.
Do you have neighbors who many
complain about a barking dog?
Pyrs are
barkers, especially at night.
Do you have the time to give your
dog regular discipline, basic obedi-
ence training, proper socialization and
grooming?
All dogs, but most especially
large guardian dogs, need regular day-
to-day discipline, basic obedience train-
ing, companionship and attention to
ensure that they become a pleasure and
not a problem.
Do you own other dogs? If so,
what breeds and sexes?
Pyrs are territo-
rial dogs. Male Pyrs will seldom tolerate
another large male dog in their territory,
and females sometimes will not tolerate
another large female in her territory. If you
should have this experience, do you have
the ability to keep the dogs separated for
the rest of their lives?
Can you afford to own a giant breed
dog?
While adult Pyrs are not big eaters,
growing pups require more, good quality
food. And while basic routine vaccinations
may not cost more for a large dog than
they do for a small dog, a large dog does
require a higher dosage of medications and
anesthesia than a smaller dog. This can
add considerably to your vet bill. It also
costs more to board a large dog should you
have the need.
Do all family members want this
pup?
It is a mistake to buy a dog for the
kids when it requires the management of
responsible adults to care for a dog. It is
also unfair to the pup if a family member
resents his presence in the home.
Do your research and be patient and
cautious. The first available puppy or the
lowest price may not be the best choice.
Well-bred Pyrs are not constantly avail-
able, and purchasing the right puppy may
mean waiting for a while. They are not
inexpensive, and the price may vary some-
what depending on what area of the coun-
try you live in. People who sell pups for
much less than the average for your area
probably have not put as much time or care
into the breeding or rearing of their pups.
Please be sure you are willing to make a
commitment for the next 10 to 12 years to
meet the physical and emotional needs of a
Great Pyrenees.
These dogs are living, breathing
sensitive creatures that should not be
discarded simply because they have
become an inconvenience, or your living
arrangement or personal life have changed.
Any number of Great Pyrenees end up in
rescue each year because people did not
research the breed thoroughly or did not
take this commitment seriously.
Okay, you’ve done your homework;
you’ve found that puppy and brought it
home. Be prepared. This will be the begin-
ning of a lifelong love affair with a truly
unique and magnificent breed. It might
also be the beginning of a new life with
dogs, a new kennel, a new devotee of this
breed. We all started with one Pyr. I did in
1984
with my Maggie. Now, many years
later, I have fifteen, and have owned and
loved many more in between. They are a lot
like potato chips. You can’t have just one!
For more information about Great Pyr-
enees or Great Pyrenees breeders, please
visit the Great Pyrenees Club of America
website at
www.gpcaonline.org
.
Some information excerpted from publica-
tions of the Great Pyrene
“
we All stArted wIth oNe Pyr.
I did in 1984 with my Maggie. Now I have fifteen...”
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how
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ight
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agazine
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ovember
2012 • 279