The Great Pyrenees is not common in daily life mainly because in most cities it is listed among restricted or prohibited breeds. It is one of the largest dogs still in existence. An adult male may exceed 80 centimeters at the shoulder and weigh up to 100 kilograms. It is enormous, and it also has a certain level of aggressiveness, so it is not surprising that many cities restrict or ban it.
Why is the Great Pyrenees restricted or prohibited?
There are usually two reasons a dog is restricted: either it is too large, or it has a fierce temperament. The Great Pyrenees has both. It has exceptionally sharp teeth and claws and a relatively strong bite force, so many major cities classify it as a powerful breed with high attack potential and place it on restricted lists. In addition, its adult shoulder height greatly exceeds 35 centimeters, fully meeting many official restriction standards. For this reason, it is difficult for most owners to keep a Great Pyrenees legally in restricted urban areas.
How strong is the Great Pyrenees protective instinct?
Some people say that the Great Pyrenees is one of the strongest owner-protective dogs. This may be slightly exaggerated, but there is some truth in it. The breed’s history can be traced back to ancient Roman times. In its early history it mainly lived in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain, and its main role was that of a guard dog, protecting homes and sheep from bears and wolves. Although it has been separated from that original job for hundreds of years, the protective instinct remains. Among common pet dogs, the Great Pyrenees is still one of the strongest in terms of protecting its owner.
Great Pyrenees temperament
Although its appearance looks extremely fierce, the Great Pyrenees is intelligent, gentle in temperament, and very confident and independent. Compared with many small dogs, it is much steadier and can remain calm in most situations. At the same time, however, it is highly alert toward unfamiliar people and unfamiliar things, and it has a very strong sense of territory. If trained improperly, accidental injuries can easily happen. For that reason, anyone considering a Great Pyrenees should think carefully first.