Do Great Pyrenees Do Better In Pairs?

a pair of great pyrenees playing

Are you the kind of person who likes to be surrounded by others or do you prefer to have alone time? We all have our own preferences and so do our pets!  Some dogs prefer to live alone, but many enjoy the company of other dogs!  So, what about Great Pyrenees?

Do Great Pyrenees do better in pairs?

Great Pyrenees are definitely a breed of dog that would benefit from a companion.  Their herding mentality makes them naturally social.  This companion can be another Great Pyrenees.  But your dog will also appreciate the company of another dog breed or a different animal entirely- even a cat!

In this article, we’ll discuss why Great Pyrenees might benefit from a companion.  We’ll also talk about the cons of having a pair of Pyrenees and how to help your dogs get along well together!

Do Great Pyrenees Get Along with Other Great Pyrenees?

If you already own a Great Pyrenees, you probably know them as calm and gentle giants with a loud bark!

Did you know that Great Pyrenees worked for thousands of years as guardian dogs?  Some of them still do the same job today!  These dogs were bred to protect large heard of livestock from predators high in the mountains at all hours of the night and day.  Naturally, Great Pyrenees feel the best when they’re around other animals.

Great Pyrenees usually get along really well with one another.  It’s not uncommon for two Great Pyrenees to work and play together.  Splitting the work between two Pyrenees is easier and better for the safety of the herd.

Pros of Having A Pair of Pyrenees

So, what are the pros of having two Great Pyrenees?

There are actually quite a few good reasons to have two of these fluffy giants!  these dogs will thrive mentally in the presence of other animals.  If you find another Pyrenees they like, they’ll feel right at home.  Here are some of the reasons why you might want to consider getting a second Great Pyrenees.

They’ll Both Feel More Secure and Safe

One of the biggest pros you’ll find with having a pair of Great Pyrenees is that they’ll both feel a little safer together.

Great Pyrenees aren’t the most aggressive dogs, but they can become fearful and anxious in the wrong situations.  These dogs aren’t used to being alone.  When you add a second member to the pack your dog will feel more confident and secure.

This good feeling might make them healthier and happier overall, as they’ll have less stress and anxiety throughout the day.

They’ll Entertain Each Other

Another huge plus of having two Great Pyrenees is that they will entertain each other.

This is pretty much true for any situation where you have a pair of dogs!  Your dog will become less dependent on you and spend more time with their new dog friend.  That means that you won’t be responsible for the bulk of their entertainment!

Not only does this make your dog happier but it might give you some extra time back in your day!

They’ll Be Better Able To Protect and Guard

The last big pro of having two Great Pyrenees is that you might end up with a better working dynamic.

Do you use your Great Pyrenees as a guard dog?  Maybe they protect you or your family.  You might even use them as a livestock guardian dog!  If this is the case, two guard dogs are better than one!

A pair of Great Pyrenees will work together to guard property.  They’ll run the perimeter and work together to do an even better job than they would alone!

So, if you do decide you want to get two Great Pyrenees, you’ll see the benefits!  Your dog will probably be happier and feel safer overall.  They’ll entertain each other so you don’t have to.  and, they’ll do a better job and guard dogs!

So, what are the cons of having two of these dogs at once?

Cons of Having a Pair of Pyrenees

Having two Great Pyrenees is a commitment!  Even owning one of these dogs is not for the faint of heart. Let’s discuss the possible downsides of owning two Great Pyrenees at once.

It’s Expensive

The biggest con of owning a Pyrenees pair is that it can get expensive!

Your expenses will definitely double once you get a second dog.  Great Pyrenees are sort of expensive to keep in general.  For one, their grooming can get pretty pricy.  Great Pyrenees have thick coats and shed a lot!   One of the easiest ways to reduce shedding is to regularly brush and groom your dogs.  While brushing is free, grooming is not cheap for these fluff monsters!  Plus, you’ll need to pay for other grooming things like nail trimming, which can get expensive unless you know how to do it yourself.

Food for two large breed dogs will start to cost a significant amount of money, but the biggest expense will most likely be your veterinarian bills!  Both of your dogs will need yearly checkups at minimum. Your dogs will likely spend lots of time outdoors and so they’ll need a good range of antiparasitics, which costs money! Especially if your Great Pyrenees pair is sleeping outside together.  Vaccines, dentals, and other routine procedures will also add up.

So, if you want to get your Pyrenees a friend, be prepared to spend more money too!

You Might Have To Break Up An Occasional Fight

Although it’s not likely that your Great Pyrenees will fight, they could get into a scuffle over something small.

The problem is, if your Great Pyrenees do decide to fight, they’re probably going to do some damage.  Great Pyrenees have an incredibly strong bite force and usually show up as the 13th strongest bite depending on how it’s measured.  That means dogs have a stronger bite than a Rottweiler.  If they get ahold of each other, they could easily injure each other and it won’t be easy for you to break them up.

However, the chances of your Great Pyrenees fighting are pretty low.  They’re more likely to regard each other and teammates or family, not as an enemy.

They’ll Probably Become Dependent On Each Other

The last thing to think about when getting your Great Pyrenees a partner is that they’ll get very used to each other!

While this isn’t necessarily a problem it can make things a little tricky if they need to be separated.  Additionally, if one of them passes away suddenly, you’ll probably need to give your remaining Pyr a new companion, otherwise, they might fall into a depressed state.

How To Introduce Your Dogs To Each Other

Overall it’s a good idea to get your Pyrenees a companion.

These dogs are used to being surrounded by other animals and feel lonely and anxious when they’re not.

To introduce your dogs to one another, you should try starting on neutral ground.  Don’t make the initial introduction to one dog’s territory.  Make sure to keep the dogs on leash at first until you see wagging tails.  After a few good on-leash interactions, you can let your dogs start to interact off-leash.

You’ll want to supervise off-leash interactions at first, but eventually, you’ll want to give your dogs some space to figure out how to cohabitate. In no time, your dogs should start to not only get used to each other but to also start to love each other too.

Do Great Pyrenees Get Along With Other Dog Breeds?

Are you thinking about getting a different breed of dog for your Great Pyrenees to hang with?

Go ahead!  Great Pyrenees are pretty friendly animals and should get along well with other dog breeds.  Because of their calm nature, Great Pyrenees aren’t likely to start any issues.  As long as you make the introduction in the right way and give them time, your Pyr will come to love another type of dog too!

What About Other Animals?

Great Pyrenees also do really well with other animals!  These dogs have been known to get along with cats, ducks, and goats.  At this point, it probably won’t surprise you that Pyrenees find good company even with horses.  If you don’t believe me, check out this sweet video!

Whether or not your Pyrenees gets along well with other animals will also depend on their individual personality.  But most of these shepherd dogs will appreciate the extra companionship.

Final Thoughts

Great Pyrenees will most likely feel better when they have another animal around them.  They might do better as a pair or could enjoy having another kind of dog by their side as well!  If you do decide to get your Pyrenees a new animal friend, keep in mind that it’s going to be a little more expensive and your animal might start to depend on the new addition.

But, if you’re prepared to take on those responsibilities, you’ll probably find that your Pyrenees will be happier with a friend!

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