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Great Pyrenees. I could talk about them all day — ask anyone who knows me 
On It’s Dog or Nothing, I’m always trying to educate about the breed to help people decide if it’s the right fit.
Instead of me rambling on again, I asked thousands of pyr lovers for their advice to new or prospective pyrents.
So many people submitted wonderful responses that I couldn’t include them all in this post. However, the links to all the Great Pyrenees tips are at the bottom of this post.
Top Great Pyrenees Tips:
“Get over thinking you can stop the barking. It can be managed, not stopped.” – Karen Pike
“Barking is innate. Just deal.” – Nicole Bethea
“Don’t continuously yell for your Pyrenees to come. They may see or hear something you didn’t; they may be in a trance. Go out and thank them and pet them to get their attention, then walk them inside.” – Cammi Lynn Brown
“Teach them to sleep when you sleep.” – Val Wilkerson
“Leave your ego out of it. They’re not purposefully defying you, they’re operating with an instruction book written thousands of years ago. Don’t fight it, work with it.” – Christi Sullivan
“Positive, consistent training from the beginning! Patience in spades. Their feelings are hurt easily, and they have memories like elephants. Rewards will be a thousandfold.” – Linda Price Romeika
Related: A Beginner’s Guide to Great Pyrenees
“Don’t believe they can’t be trained! They have a different mindset, yes, and you have to learn to be a partner. But they can do amazing things!” – Laurie McDonough Greaney
“Don’t expect your dog to do anything you want it to.” – Cheryl Apfel Wise
“Sense of humour and patience are a must! You will not get by without them.” – Erica Kelly Graves
“Socialize them and expose them to everything while they are young because once they hit 1-2 years old, their guard nature really comes out. You want them to know what is and isn’t a threat.” – Lilly Nguyen
“They have extra toes. That’s normal. Do not chop them off. Also, they have a double coat, which keeps them warm in winter and cool in summer, so do not shave it off.” – Sara Sandstrom
“Fur will become a fashion accessory and a condiment!” – Mona Kracke
“The shed is real. The tail can be destructive.” – mandamoji
“No matter what a groomer tells you, do not shave your pyr! Their dual coat helps keep them cool in the summer.” – hilkey2017
“They’re diggers, so your fence needs to go underground a bit too!” – angel_the_pyr
“Be patient, be prepared to engage in an occasional battle of the wills, and love them unconditionally, and you will be rewarded by the best dog ever!” – Julia Cameron Petrohilos
Related: Great Pyrenees: Myth or Fact?
“Do your research. Be prepared to accept and work *with* the breed characteristics & personality, and not always try to train them out! Everybody seems a lot happier that way.” – Jules Sevenky
“Something a knowledgeable pyr friend told me when we got Odin two years ago: Pyrs are NOT a breed for the first-time dog owner.” – pyrmom_86
“This is not a high energy, go on adventures kind of dog. They’re basically living rugs most of the time.” – Jessica Young
“Don’t be surprised if they don’t like water/swimming/even cooling down on a hot day.” – ourlittleislandfamily
“It would probably benefit potential owners to spend time with adult pyrs to see their personalities and what they are like. I feel like too many people want pyrs for their cute puppy looks and don’t know what to do with them when they are bigger.” – Michelle Kohler
“…Pyrenees are a working breed and need something to do, otherwise, they will find a way to occupy themselves, and often that won’t be something you are happy with.” – Colin Noel Vickers
One final piece of advice that sums everything up perfectly:
“The bigger question to ask is not, ‘is the pyr a good fit for you’, but, ‘are you a good fit for the pyr’?” – Lee Morgan
We received a lot of input when we asked pyrents for their best tips for new or prospective pyr owners, so this isn’t a comprehensive list. To read all the other amazing Great Pyrenees tips, head here on Facebook and .
What advice would you give to people considering a Great Pyrenees?
*Quotes have been edited for grammar and clarity.
The post Great Pyrenees Tips (from people who know the breed) appeared first on It's Dog or Nothing.