The Great Pyrenees is a big, fluffy dog breed that is known for being gentle and loving. They are also known for being loyal and protective, which makes them great guard dogs.
But what about their interactions with cats? Can they co-exist peacefully? We provide lots of practical tips along with things you must watch out for if they are to share the same household!
Will the Great Pyrenees Get Along With a Cat?
The Great Pyrenees is a gentle giant of a dog, standing anywhere 32 inches at the shoulder and weighing in at 100 pounds or more.
But don’t let their size fool you—these dogs are known for being calm, patient, and good with children. So, what about cats? Will the Great Pyrenees get along with a cat?
Generally speaking, the Great Pyrenees is good with other animals—including cats. They have a natural instinct to protect sheep and other small animals from predators like coyotes and mountain lions, so they’re not likely to see your cat as prey.
However, every dog is different and some individual Great Pyrenees may not do well with cats. The best way to know for sure is to introduce your dog to your cat slowly and see how they interact.
Don’t miss – The Ultimate Great Pyrenees Guide – All Questions Answered!
Best Ways to Introduce the Great Pyrenees with Cats
If you’re thinking of getting a Great Pyrenees as a pet owner, congratulations! These gentle giants make great family dogs.
However, before bringing your new furry friend home, you’ll need to introduce him to your resident cat. Here are a few tips on how to do just that:
Ensure your Pyrenees is Trained
One of the most important things is to make sure your Great Pyrenees is trained. Here are a few tips on how to train your dog before introducing it to a cat.
The first step is to socialize your dog. This means exposing them to as many different people, animals, and situations as possible.
The more they’re exposed to, the less likely they are to be scared or aggressive in new situations. A good way to socialize your dog is by taking them to puppy classes or dog parks.
Once your dog is comfortable around people and other animals, you can start working on obedience training. This will teach them basic commands like sit, stay, come, and down.
This will make it easier to keep them under control around your cat. It will also help you to protect your cat when the dog does not respond to commands or gets scared. Once your dog is trained, you can introduce them to the new cat.
This is a good time to reward your dog with treats. This will encourage them to be on their best behavior. Start slow and make sure that the cat is always in a safe place. If the dog gets too excited and begins to chase, distract them with treats or games.
Keeping in mind, that teaching your dog new things can happen quickly and easily by utilizing some clever online training options.
The training listed below is what we highly recommend for quick results!
Swap the Scents of each Pet
All you need to do is rub a towel on your dog’s body, then use the same towel to give your cat a good once-over.
The scent exchange will help them become more familiar with each other and may just lead to some newfound harmony in your home.
Expose their areas under Supervision
As any cat lover knows, felines are notoriously independent creatures. But even the most aloof of cats can benefit from some companionship—especially when that companion is a Great Pyrenees.
These gentle giants make ideal furry friends for cats, providing them with plenty of exercise and opportunities to explore.
Of course, introducing a new animal into the home can be stressful for both parties involved. To make sure your cat and Great Pyrenees get off on the right paw, it’s important to expose them to each other gradually and in a controlled setting.
Start by letting them sniff each other through a pet gate or wire crate; if all goes well, you can move on to supervised playdates and eventually full-time cohabitation.
Initiate Brief Face-to-face meetings
When you first introduce your Great Pyrenees to your cat, do so gradually and in a controlled environment. Let them sniff each other out while you are there to supervise.
If all goes well, you can then allow them to have brief face-to-face meetings.
“Remember to go slowly at first and keep a close eye on both pets. If either one seems uncomfortable or agitated, end the meeting and try again another day. With patience and a little bit of time, your Great Pyrenees and cat can learn to coexist peacefully”.
Continue Daily meetings
If you want your Great Pyrenees and your cat to get along, continue having daily meetings between them. Set a time each day for them to meet, such as during breakfast or dinner preparation.
Let the dog smell the cat and vice versa, but do not let them touch each other yet. Reward both of them with treats during the meeting. After a few days, let them touch each other briefly before ending the meeting.
With patience and consistency, your Great Pyrenees and cat will become friends.
Have Treats available for Good Behavior
Your Great Pyrenees will love getting treats, and it may just be the incentive he needs to start behaving. Cats are more difficult to train, but they can be bribed with their favorite foods.
Put a treat on the counter and see if your cat will resist jumping up for it. If she does, give her a pat on the head and offer her the treat anyway. With some ongoing consistent effort, you may be able to train your cat not to jump on counters.
Allow pets to mingle together
The more time they spend together, the more comfortable they become in the same environment. Remember to supervise their interactions at first.
This will help ensure that both animals are comfortable with each other and that there is no fighting or roughhousing. Make sure you provide plenty of toys and bedding for both animals.
This will give them something to do when they’re together and provide a sense of security for the cat.
Ensure Your Great Pyrenees is Socialized
A well-socialized Great Pyrenees is a calm, confident, and happy dog who enjoys the company of people and other animals.
This giant breed can be a loyal and loving family pet, but without proper socialization, they can be shy, anxious, and fearful around new people and situations.
Here are some tips to help you socialize your Great Pyrenees:
1. Start early: The best time to socialize your dog is when they are a puppy. Puppies are more open to new experiences than older dogs, so it’s important to expose them to as many different people, places, and things as possible.
2. Be patient: Socialization takes time and patience. Don’t force your dog into any situation that makes them uncomfortable. Instead, let them approach new people and things at their own pace.
3. Be consistent: The more often you expose your dog to new experiences, the easier it will be for them to adapt.
4. Be positive: When introducing your dog to a new person or situation, make sure they have a good experience. If you are worried about how your dog will react, have someone who is confident and positive help you.
5. Be realistic: Don t expect a young puppy to be able to keep their cool around large groups of people, other dogs, or even a cat.
Provide Your Great Pyrenees with plenty of Toys
Your Great Pyrenees is a big dog with an even bigger heart. And, just like any other dog, your Great Pyrenees loves to play. But because of their size, it’s important that you provide them with toys that are durable and can stand up to their powerful jaws.
Here are a few toy recommendations for your Great Pyrenees:
1. Kong Classic Dog Toy: This toy is perfect for stuffing with treats or peanut butter, and it will keep your dog occupied for hours. It’s made from durable rubber, so it can withstand some serious chewing.
2. Nylabone Durable Chew Toy: This chew toy is made from tough nylon, so it’s ideal for dogs who like to chew (which, let’s face it, is all of them).
3. Benebone Real Flavor Wishbone Dog Chew Toy: This toy is the perfect combination of fun and flavor – it even comes in bacon flavor! It’s made from nylon, which is a durable material that your dog will love to sink their teeth into.
4. Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel Puzzle Dog Toy: This toy is a great way to keep your pet occupied. The squirrels will give your dog something to chew on and the treat inside them will make them work for their treat.
5. KONG Squeezz Toy: This is one of our favorite toys. It’s great for dogs who like to chew and have a habit of destroying their toys. They squeak, so they’ll grab your dog’s attention and keep them entertained.
6. Petstages Orka Ball Dog Toy: This toy is a great way to keep your dog entertained. It’s made of a durable, non-toxic material that will last longer than most other toys.
7. Multipet Boz Ball Dog Toy: This is a versatile dog toy that you can play fetch with. It’s a great option for dogs who love to fetch.
8. Multipet Look Who’s Talking Toy: Dogs love squeaky toys, and this one is no exception. It’s a great way to keep your dog entertained for hours.
9. Multipet Floppy Dog Toy: Dogs love to chew, and this toy is the perfect solution for that. It’s a great way to keep your dog busy for hours on end.
How to keep your Great Pyrenees Calm around Cats?
If you’ve ever seen a Great Pyrenees around a cat, you know that they can be quite calm. But how do you keep your Great Pyrenees calm around cats? Here are a few tips:
1. Keep your Great Pyrenees on a leash when they’re around cats. This will help to prevent them from getting too excited and will allow you to better control their behavior.
2. Allow your Great Pyrenees to sniff the cat before letting them get too close. This will help them to become familiar with the scent and will help to keep them calm.
3. If your Great Pyrenees does start to get too excited, provide distraction with treats or toys. This will help to redirect their attention and focus away from the cat.
4. Never let your Great Pyrenees chase the cat. This will only result in a very frightened and anxious cat and could cause your Great Pyrenees to become afraid of cats.
5. Keep an eye on your Great Pyrenees when they are around the cat. If you notice any signs of aggression or stress, intervene quickly and separate them.
How to Stop a Great Pyrenees Chasing my Cat?
If you’re having trouble with your Great Pyrenees chasing your cat, there are a few things you can do to stop it.
First, make sure that your dog is getting enough exercise. A tired dog is less likely to chase a cat.
Secondly, keep your cat out of reach of your dog by keeping it in a room with a closed door or in a cat tree.
Provide your dog with alternative toys to chase so that it doesn’t see your cat as its only target. With some patience and training, you can get your Great Pyrenees to stop chasing your cat.
Make sure your cat has a safe place to retreat to. A cat tree or catio is ideal. This way, if your dog does start to chase your cat, she has somewhere to go where she feels safe.
“Train your dog with positive reinforcement. Whenever he sees your cat and doesn’t chase her, give him a treat or praise him enthusiastically. Over time, he’ll learn that leaving the cat alone results in good things for him”.
Finally, keep an eye on them when they’re together and intervene if necessary.
How to Get a Great Pyrenees and Cat to Bond?
A Great Pyrenees and a cat may seem like an unlikely pairing but with a little patience and understanding, they can become the best of friends. Here are a few tips on how to get them to bond:
1. Introduce them gradually: Start by letting the cat sniff the Pyrenees from a safe distance. Once they seem comfortable with each other, let them approach and interact at their own pace.
2. Provide plenty of opportunities for positive reinforcement: Whenever the two are getting along, make sure to give them plenty of praise and treats. This will help them associate being together with good things.
3. Keep mealtimes separate: To avoid any potential conflict, it’s best to keep their mealtimes separate. That way, there’s no competition for food or attention.
4. Set up a safe space for the Pyrenees: The Pyrenees will need a quiet, comfortable place to chill out when they’re not hanging out with the cat. It’s also important that it’s in an area where the cat can’t get to it.
5. Show the Pyrenees that the cat is not a threat: The easiest way to do this is by pairing them together, under supervision. Again, give plenty of praise and treats when they’re getting along.
6. Keep them separated when you’re not around: If you can’t supervise them, separate the Pyrenees and the cat so they can’t get into any trouble.
7. Feed them separately: Feeding time is just as important for getting to know each other as playtime. If they eat together, they’ll spend more time together than if they’re fed separately.
8. Work on the cat’s behavior: If you’re going to have a cat indoors, you need to work on its manners. Cats are not dogs and they don’t understand commands. Instead, you have to teach them what you want them to do through association.
For example, if your cat wanders into the kitchen and jumps on the counter and starts jumping on you and the Pyrenees, say “No,” pick up the cat, and put it outside as quickly as possible.
Then take the dog to a different part of the house and feed it. Don’t let the cat back into the kitchen until he’s been outside for at least five minutes. After a few weeks, you should see improvement in his behavior.
When Should you Seek Profession Help?
When two pets in the same household don’t get along, it can be frustrating for pet parents. Great Pyrenees and cats are two very different animals, but with a little patience and understanding, they can learn to exist peacefully.
However, there are times when professional help may be needed to help them get along. If your Great Pyrenees and cat are not getting along, it is important to first assess the situation.
If there is any aggression or violence between the two animals, professional help should be sought immediately. The professional can determine whether the aggression is due to territorial issues, fear, or dominance.
Territorial Issues – If your Great Pyrenees feels as though his territory is being invaded, he may become aggressive towards the cat. The cat may have wandered into the Great Pyrenees’ yard, or an area that the dog feels should be his.
The Great Pyrenees may become more protective and aggressive towards the cat if he is not getting along with him. If this is the case, you should try to find a way to channel your Great Pyrenees’ energy.
Taking him for a long walk or playing games with him will help release his pent-up energy and aggression.
Fear – If your Great Pyrenees is afraid of the cat, he may become aggressive towards him. In this case, you will need to work with both animals and try to help them overcome their fear of one another.
The anxiety may cause the Great Pyrenees to feel as if he needs to protect his home and family.
Dominance – If your Great Pyrenees has an issue with dominance, he may feel like he needs to be the alpha dog in the house. This can cause him to view the cat as a threat and try to assert his dominance over him.
To help prevent dog aggression toward the cat, you will need to work with both animals. Work on training your Great Pyrenees to ensure he is a well-mannered dog. Provide him with plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, and attention.
A professional can also assist you with other ways to help with dog aggression, and in no time, your dog and cat will be happy and well-adjusted.
If the situation is not so serious, you can try some of the tips above at home to help them get along better.
The Great Pyrenees can co-exist with cats if they are properly introduced and supervised.
