Pyrenean Mastiff – Complete Breed Guide

Written by: Bojana Radulovic
The Pyrenean Mastiff is a super-sized softie that will let you cuddle him all the time. Moreover, if you are a feline owner as well you can leave them playing together without any worry that your feline is in danger. After all, this dog was bred to protect humans and animals. Read on and discover more about this rare dog breed.
Dog Breed Group:
Working Dogs
Height:
24 to 31 inches
Weight:
130 to 200 pounds
Life Span:
10 to 13 years

Breed Characteristics:

Apartment Friendly

?

How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?

Good For First-Time Owners

?

Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?

Overall Sensitivity

?

Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?

Tolerates Being Alone

?

Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?

Affectionate With Family

?

How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?

Kid-Friendly

?

Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?

Friendly Toward Other Dogs

?

Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?

Friendly Toward Strangers

?

Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?

Drooling Level

?

If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?

Easy To Groom

?

Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?

Overall Health

?

What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.

Prone To Obesity

?

Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?

Trainability Level

?

Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.

Intelligence Level

?

Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?

Prey Drive

?

Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?

Barking Level

?

How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?

Energy Level

?

Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?

Exercise Needs

?

Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?

Playfulness Level

?

Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?

Pyrenean Mastiff is one of the oldest and rarest breeds directly from Pyrenees Mountains in Spain. This breed was bred to guard and protect flocks from bears, thieves, and wolves. Nowadays, this gentle giant guards only his family members. This dog is giant, but also sensitive, independent and loving. Read on and discover what makes this breed so different from others.

Quick Facts

Real name: Pyrenean Mastiff
Origin: Aragon, Spain
Breed type: Guard dog
Weight: 81 kilograms (179 lb) to over 100 kilograms (220 lb)
Height: Males 77 centimetres (30 in), Females 71 centimetres (28 in)
Lifespan: 10-13 years
Color: Snow white, medium grey, marbled, sandy. Red and yellowish-white patches are often seen
Coat: Dense, thick and of moderate length

Pyrenean Mastiff: History

This is a breed whose origin is still unknown, although it’s accepted that the breed descended from molosser dogs. These dogs were originally brought from Sumeria and Assyria to Spain 3,000 years ago. Due to the remoteness of the wide areas of the Pyrenees Mountains (area today known as Spain), the original molosser dogs developed by region into several breeds:

  • Pyrenean Mastiff
  • Spanish Mastiff
  • Pyrenean Mountain Dog, known as the Great Pyrenees

Each breed saved the main traits of molosser dogs, such as strong need to guard and protect. Over the years Great Pyrenees or Pyrenean Mountain Dog built a strong reputation that was based on their strong breeding programs. That’s how they got their popularity. At one moment the mountains were almost completely free from wolves, so the need for guarding dogs was lower to bare minimum. However, with the return of the wolves the need for Great Pyrenees escalated and a small group of enthusiasts for this breed had a plan.

They selected 100 specimens of the breed and narrowed it down to the best 30. Those 30 resembled the standard the most, plus they demonstrated great health and an adequate temperament. Their breeding program resulted in what we know today as Pyrenean Mastiff.

Nowadays, Pyrenean Mastiff is known for its size, strong build, non-aggressive and gentle temperament, as well as graceful movement. In addition, Pyrenean Mastiff possesses strong urge to protect, amazing fighting skills, and willingness to put them in use if he needs to protect his family, pack members or its home.

Overall, around 4,000 to 6,000 of Pyrenean Mastiffs can be found nowadays all around the world. The breed can be seen in following countries:

  • Russia
  • Australia
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • United States of America
  • Canada

A few could be found in some countries in Eastern and Western Europe and Scandinavia.

Pyrenean Mastiff: Physical Appearance

Firstly, this is a really large dog that is muscular and strong. Although he is massive, his body is well proportioned. Surprisingly, this dog is easy in its movement and that’s for sure not something that you would expect from such massive dog. Pyrenean Mastiff has a large and long head, with a skull being slightly longer when compared with the length of the muzzle.

Compared with other Mastiffs, Pyrenean Mastiff has a the lower lip that is a little slack, revealing black gums beneath. In this breed, nose is always black. Interestingly, their hazel eyes are small, almost almond-shaped. In addition, the ears are triangular and medium in size. As a large breed their neck is always broad while the body is robust, with a strong and straight topline and a broad chest. The tail is always set high and its surprisingly flexible and strong.

Their coat is dense, moderately long and thick, and softer in the plumed area. Their coat color is always white, with a darker spots when it comes to facial feature. In addition, their ears are always spotted with color, and may have irregular patches or matching color elsewhere on the body. These colors include:

  • Black
  • Brown
  • Medium grey
  • Golden
  • Sandy
  • Light beige
  • Marbled

For males, the minimum size is 81 cm (32 in), while females are around 75 cm (30 in). When it comes to body weight, it can vary, so it goes from 70-86 kg (154–189 lb) for females to 80–100 kg (176–220 lb) for males.

Pyrenean Mastiff: Personality

For a large breed it’s always surprising how peaceful and calm Pyrenean Mastiff actually is. The Pyrenean Mastiff is a confident, calm, and even-tempered dog. They are great with humans, especially children – they are gentle with children, and it’s difficult to irritate them. Just like with any breed you should make an extra precaution when it comes to leaving your children with dog, especially if they are young and don’t know how to behave around dogs. Therefore, you should always educate your child how to behave around dogs.

Pyrenean Mastiff will probably spend his days lounging around while being nibbled or pounced by smaller family members (children) or smaller canine members. They are so flexible and great with other dogs. The logic behind their calmness lies in their self-realization and awareness of their size and strength, so they rarely use it. But, if they feel directly threatened or if they feel their family is in danger, they will become an entirely different animal – intimidating, fearless, and aggressive if needed. Long story short, if your family guard dog is a Pyrenean Mastiff, it’s unlikely for your home to be high, or at all, on any burglar’s list of targets.

Pyrenean Mastiff Is Great With Other Animals

Temperament of this breed is what makes this dog so unique among large dog breeds. Their calm quality makes this breed dog-friendly, so Pyrenean Mastiff is a great choice when you are looking for a second dog.

Furthermore, this breed is also great with felines, so you can feel free to leave your Singapura or any other cat breed. If you are wondering how it’s possible for such a big dog to get along with a cat, the logic behind it is very simple actually – it’s all about the genes.

Pyrenean Mastiff’s ancestors lived mostly in farms and served as the protector of farm animals for centuries. Protecting other animals is in their DNA. However, their willingness to protect other animals and love toward them doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t track his interactions with other animals.

After all, Pyrenean Mastiff is a strong and big dog, and as any other dog he can easily get carried away. Luckily, it’s easy to control him as he will always obey the commands. However, in order for him to obey every time you must show strong leadership. Also, it’s crucial to socialize him early to ensure only positive traits.

Pyrenean Mastiff: Grooming

First thing that you should know about dog bathing is that less is more. Dog skin is different than humans and they have to maintain their natural oil in their coat. That’s the main reason why dogs never should be bathed too many times.

You can brush your Pyrenean Mastiff at least three times per week to keep the coat fresh and mat-free. Always check for toes as trim mats can appear between the toes. This is a double-coated breed, so you can expect shedding twice a year. During the other days you can expect low-shedding days. Just keep with regular combing and brushing. Just like with any other dog breed you should check the ears always – keep them dry and clean, as well as the area around its eyes.

As for any breed, daily tooth brushing (you can use dogs toothpaste or specially made sticks that will protect his tooth and gums) should be a part of regular grooming sessions. After all, keeping your dogs tooth clean and healthy means that you will prevent any dental diseases, and moreover healthy teeth means that your dog will live longer.

Pyrenean Mastiff Is A High Maintenance Dog

You wouldn’t expect for a mountain dog to have so frequent grooming needs, but with that thick coat and massive body regular maintenance is mandatory. He needs regular brushing to avoid matting and tangling. You will need to have on hand tools that will make grooming sessions easier, including:

  • metal comb
  • pin brush
  • de-matter

Some Pyrenean Mastiff owners even have a de-tangling spray. It’s important to understand Pyrenean’s coat, so you can provide a proper grooming process. One thing is for sure – grooming him isn’t a quick or an easy process. Regular grooming is mandatory if you want to slow down the shedding and keep the hair out from your home as much as possible.

All in all, your Pyrenean is a Mastiff after all, so you can expect some drooling. Don’t mix drooling with foaming. Clean drool regularly off his chin or across your pant leg – it will happen.

How To Train Your Pyrenean Mastiff?

Pyrenean Mastiff is easy to train, due to his calm temper and easy going nature. But, just like with any other breed, it’s important to start training your puppy from day one. In addition, early socialization is crucial when it comes to having a properly behaved dog. But, it’s important to set yourself as a strong pack leader so your dog follows your commands.

Its not all sunshine and rainbow with this breed and training, as this dog was tough to be independent and to be able to make his own decisions. That being said, you can expect some stubbornness, especially if you don’t have enough experience when it comes to handling this breed. He will try to bend you to his will, and you should avoid that.

Never use force with this breed, not ever and specially not during the training sessions. If you feel that you are missing on something in training maybe you should think about hiring a professional dog trainer to help you with tips and training sessions.

Starting learning lessons at an early age is a must for Pyrenean Mastiff owner. If you miss on those he will become untrainable. Great starting point would be to focus on basic commands and progress from there.

Pyrenean Mastiff: Exercise Needs

Your Pyrenean Mastiff will love to be free and run around, especially after a good meal. You need to make sure that you provide enough exercise to this massive canine and that he goes the necessary distance on a daily basis. Extra-large-breed puppies grow fast, and their bones are soft, so it takes time for them to mature and reach their final, adult constitution. If possible, walk your dog on unpaved paths and soil, and always focus on their joints.

Spend enough time in the backyard, fenced if possible. Your Pyrenean won’t hurt anyone, but its better to be safe and avoid moments without an leash as people have a tendency of easily getting scared every time they see a large dog. If you don’t have a fenced backyard, be prepared for walks several times a day.

Pyrenean Mastiffs are a calm breed, but they do need their exercise to remain physically fit and mentally healthy.

Pyrenean Mastiff: Health

Pyrenean Mastiff is still a rare dog breed, so there is not enough information to identify any specific genetic conditions or illnesses that can be prevalent. But, what we know for sure is that with all giant breeds you can expect hip dysplasia and gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV).

Luckily, there are some tests that you can undertake to check dog’s health, including DNA panel for genetic illnesses and OFA Hip and Elbows.

Pyrenean Mastiff – Key Takeaways

If you are searching for a giant dog with gentle heart, you can stop looking further, as Pyrenean Mastiff is your perfect combination of both. If you never heard before about this breed you shouldn’t be worried, as this breed is one of the rarest in the world.

They are full on vivid personality, gentle, and above all, huge and calm protectors.

Popular Pyrenean Mastiff Comparisons

Compare Dog Breeds: