The Great Pyrenees are a large breed of dog that rapidly grows from a puppy into adulthood. It can be hard to keep up with their rapid pace of growth rate, but there is a point when the Great Pyrenees will stop growing.
The Great Pyrenees stop growing in height by around their first birthday, but their muscles continue to grow well into their second year and beyond. Their growth curved chart is defined mainly by genetics, although a good diet and exercise play an important role. Their growth plate will naturally occur without having to do much about it.
There are many factors that influence the size of the Great Pyrenees, which we explore further in this article.
How big do the Great Pyrenees usually get?
The Great Pyrenees size is considered large and muscular. Not only are they physically large, but add to that their huge double-coat of fur and their muscles, and you’ve got yourself a pretty giant dog.
“Their average full-grown size and weight are 25-32 inches in height and 85-100 pounds. This depends on whether they are male or female.“
For the most part, male and female Pyrs are about the same height. However, there is a bit more of a difference in weight. Males are considerably heavier and more muscular than females.
The Great Pyrenees don’t seem that tall when you first meet them, but up close, you quickly realize they are long in addition to being tall.
Most people think of St. Bernards and Alaskan Malamutes when thinking about giant breeds, but Great Pyrenees are also in this category. In fact, they are larger on average than both of these breeds!
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Why do some Great Pyrenees grow to different sizes?
We’ve already touched on the first reason – gender. Females tend to be slightly smaller and less muscular.
Diet and exercise can also significantly impact your Pyr’s overall size and weight. However, these factors don’t make much of a difference compared with genetics, which ultimately dictates the final size of the full-grown Pyr.
More than anything else, their height is defined by their parent’s genes, and there’s not much you can do to change this. That’s why it’s essential to check their heritage if you are interested in having a Pyr that’s likely to grow up to be very large.
Most Great Pyrenees will be similar in size to one another once fully grown, so it depends on how much a few inches matter to you.
What is the average weight and height of a Great Pyrenees?
Male Great Pyrenees have an average height of between 27 and 32 inches, whereas females range from 25 to 29 inches. In relation to Great Pyrenees weight, males stop growing at around 100-110 pounds on average, whereas females weigh up to 85 pounds.
The weights are subject to a decent amount of flexibility depending on how much muscle mass they put on. Males naturally put on more muscle mass and are bulkier than female Pyrs.
They are indeed one of the biggest breeds of dogs available. It’s something to keep in mind when considering taking care of such a big breed.
Is it possible for the Great Pyrenees to grow again after they have stopped growing?
Basically, no. However, if the Great Pyrenees stop growing as puppies, this may be due to illness or malnutrition. They will continue to grow after the illness is cleared up, or their diet improves. Having said that, this is an exceptionally rare occurrence.
Once your Pyr has stopped growing at around the one-year mark, it will not grow much more, if at all.
One thing to note is growth spurts. Not all of their growth as puppies will happen smoothly. It is more likely to come in bursts. Thus, until their first birthday, even if they have seemed to stop growing, they may still have a little bit more to go.
Is there anything I can do to help my Great Pyrenees grow taller or bigger?
The number one thing is to know their genetic lineage. Their genes will have the most significant impact on their overall size by a large margin. On average, a larger mother and father will almost certainly lead to larger puppies.
That said, you can look at their diet and exercise to ensure they reach their full potential. When they are puppies, they must get a diet rich in proteins and fats and all the vitamins they need. You can find this in premium puppy food for large dogs.
“You can switch to adult food with a slightly different mix of ingredients at one year old.“
Another factor is building muscle from six months to two years old. This is the prime age to get their body in shape, so it’s essential to get them out and exercise to fill out their musculature.
As working dogs, you can do many different activities to help them build muscle, although they tend to need less exercise than the average large dog, so finding the right balance can be a challenge.
How much exercise should the Great Pyrenees get each day?
Although they are a large breed, they don’t need much exercise. About 40 minutes to an hour of daily exercise is good for the Great Pyrenees.
You can add another 20 minutes of fun activities to get your Pyrenees moving. But keep in mind they have a short attention span! So, it is essential to give them lots to do, smell, and explore when finding activities for them. They love having a variety of toys and activities.
They just don’t quite have the energy to do too much of them.
To avoid boredom, it is essential to try to motivate them to exercise. Walking is an excellent activity for Pyrs because, as giant dogs, many activities can overly strain their joints.
“However, walking and swimming are two activities that put very little strain on their joints and are almost risk-free.“
Jumping activities like fetch and agility training are much riskier. So, you should handle these with caution and not do too much of them until after they’ve reached adulthood.
What type of diet should you provide your Great Pyrenees?
Diet is most important when your Great Pyrenees is a puppy. This is because they don’t stop growing fully until around 1 year of age. Feeding a large breed puppy well is especially important as they need a lot of high-quality calories to deal with their rapid growth.
In addition, they are more susceptible to joint diseases such as hip dysplasia and patella luxation without a good diet.
For this, getting them premium large-breed puppy kibble is crucial. It should have a good balance of calcium, phosphorus, vitamins, and fat, as these nutrients determine bone growth.
“A good minimum protein content for a Great Pyrenees puppy is 26% for a highly muscular dog.“
An excellent minimum fat content is 8%, with good salmon and chicken oil sources.
The protein content can be slightly lower at 23%, and less fat content overall as an adult. By this point, their diet doesn’t affect their growth nearly as much, so the exact nutrient mix isn’t as crucial.
Still, they must get a balanced diet to remain happy and healthy throughout their life.
When transitioning their kibble from one kind to another, always make sure you do it slowly so as not to upset their stomach.
The general rule is to start with a 10% mixture of their new kibble and move it up about 10% more each day until, after about ten days, they are eating their new kibble entirely.
Does a Great Pyrenees’ size affect their health?
The Great Pyrenees has a lifespan of 10-12 years. However, during this time, they can suffer from various health problems, some of which are affected by the Great Pyrenees size.
In particular, hip dysplasia and patellar luxation are diseases of the bones and joints that can come from growing too fast and putting too much pressure on the joints.
The main thing to look out for is not overexercising your Pyr during a growth spurt. This is when their joints are the most vulnerable, and it’s thought that they can be damaged severely during these periods.
You can check with your vet to see what your Pyr is at risk of and if their growth or size will affect their overall health.
Final thoughts
The Great Pyrenees grow rapidly as a puppy; however, stop growing in height at around one year of age.
They will continue to grow their muscles beyond this time and fill out into their second year.
Mostly, their growth is defined by their genetics. How large their parents are will basically determine how large they will end up.
There is not much you can do to change it. However, a well-balanced diet and exercise routine can help them grow as puppies and their muscles as adults.
Like with a human being, there is some wiggle room with stuff like muscles and general health, but not a lot when it comes to height.
