The Great Pyrenees is a dog breed known for its guarding and watchdog behavior, and they are gentle giants. But do you know if they would attack an intruder?
Great Pyrenees dogs ward off intruders by using their huge intimidating size and scary and powerful bark at threats to repel intruders or predators that invade their territories. They are likely to attack when an intruder threatens their flock, their owners, or the property they guard.
In this post, you will know whether a Great Pyrenees dog will attack an intruder.
Will a Great Pyrenees dog attack an intruder?
Great Pyrenees dogs are popular guard dogs that are wired to fend off predators and intruders. It is a product of their instinctive nature to scare off these intruders with their intimidating features. Hence, they are likely to snap and bark aggressively at strangers.
In a bit of a twist, though, Great Pyrenees dogs would rarely attack an intruder unless stuck with no other option.
They only become rogues and attack intruders when they have no other choice.
Are Great Pyrenees dogs known as good attack dogs?
Although they are widely known for their huge size, loud barks, and bravery, Great Pyrenees dogs are not considered “good attack dogs .” As a measure to protect their flock, they tend to scare off predators and intruders with their powerful bark and intimidating size.
Once a Great Pyrenees dog sees, hears, or senses a threat, she will keep barking until her suspicions are cleared or she believes that the suspected threat is gone.
However, in a way surprisingly different from other guard dog breeds, Great Pyrenees dogs rarely attack intruders or predators. If they eventually attack mode, that was the only resolution they could arrive at.
How to introduce a Great Pyrenees dog to other dogs?
Here are two ways by which you can introduce your pup to other dogs without you being wary of possible harm.
Adopt the use of a barrier for their first meetings.
One of the harmless ways to introduce your Great Pyrenees dog to other canine friends is the use of see-through physical obstacles.
This way, you can get your pup to meet with other canines physically but deny them physical touch or interactions. The barrier may be a cage or any other see-through wall.
The use of scent
The Great Pyrenees are known to be hypersensitive to smells or scents. Their noses are very sharp, and their brains mostly revolve around scents.
A great way to introduce your Great Pyr to other canines is by adopting “the scent method.“
You can separate them with a barrier through which they can not see each other but smell each other’s scents.
Following this introduction, you can give your pup objects that bear a strong smell of her new friend for her to sniff. In this way, you can introduce your Great Pyrenees to other dogs without breaking a sweat.
The Great Pyrenees as Guard Dogs
Is the Great Pyrenees a Good Guard Dog?
From the onset, the Great Pyrenees have always been bred to be Guard Dogs. Years ago, Shepherds in the Pyrenees Mountains of Europe bred Great Pyrenees as Guard Dogs, and their primary duty was to protect the flock from predators (like bears and wolves) and other possible threats.
Genetically, the Great Pyrenees is born and wired to guard vulnerable animals and be kind to them. They are enormous in size, cautious, brave, fearless, powerful, and independent. These attributes are the perfect ingredients for a great guard dog.
Their instinct to guard and protect their flock is natural to them. This is great news for owners of a Great Pyr, as you can always rely on them to guard and protect you.
Do the Great Pyrenees need to be trained to guard?
Guarding has always been a natural impulse or inherent behavior for the Great Pyrenees. As such, they don’t necessarily need proper training to be guard dogs. Their natural instinct is to give their “all” to protecting anything or anyone they share a bond.
Like most breeds, you still need to train them in obedience, however, guarding comes naturally to them.
At what age do Great Pyrenees dogs start guarding?
The Great Pyrenees will embrace their protective instincts once they find their voice and realize their bark has a real impact.
The moment a Great Pyrenees starts barking, its protective behavior becomes aroused. They will often find their voice around 5-6 months old.
Great Pyrenees Temperament
Are Great Pyrenees dogs intimidating?
The Great Pyrenees are known for their loud bark and massive size, making them intimidating to most people. In order to protect their family and loved ones, they will not hesitate to confront intruders and may attack them on rare occasions.
This happens only when they feel threatened by the intruder’s presence, where an attack is a last resort.
Can the Great Pyrenees be Aggressive?
The Great Pyrenees can be aggressive at times and can attack if provoked. These large dogs have a protective nature and can become overly territorial if not trained properly. They will bark and growl when they feel threatened or sense danger to their family or property.
As they were bred to protect livestock and property from predators, they may display aggressive behavior towards strangers or other animals that come near their territory.
With proper socialization and proper training, however, the Great Pyr’s aggression can be managed, so it does not become dangerous.
It’s therefore, important for owners to start obedience classes early with their puppies in order to teach them acceptable behaviors around people and animals.
If necessary, additional training should also be sought from an experienced trainer who works with the Great Pyrenees.
Are Great Pyrenees dogs biters?
While the Great Pyrenees are more prone to biting at puppyhood, they are not typically biters.
In fact, the Great Pyrenees was bred originally as livestock guardian dogs rather than attack dogs.
The breed’s natural instinct is to bark when danger is present. In the event of an intruder, they may nip lightly or herd the intruder away without actually biting them.
They can be trusted around strangers in most cases, provided they have been well-socialized during puppyhood.
Are Great Pyrenees dogs protective of their owners?
The Great Pyrenees have always been known for their protective instincts. They are always ready to protect their owner, their owner’s family, and their belongings.
To ensure you optimize your pup’s protective instincts, you need to build a bond with them first (much like she would have bonded with her flock).
Once the Great Pyrenees takes her human handler and their property as her flock, her instinct is developed to protect them with her life.
Are Great Pyrenees dogs easy to train?
Usually, the Great Pyrenees are stubborn and not easy to train. As they were bred to be excellent guard dogs, they are used to making decisions on their own.
Getting your Great Pyrenees to listen to you is not a day’s job, and it is not an easy one too.
Also, the Great Pyr is not a breed that delights in obedience training for a treat or your overwhelming praise. Regardless, they need training and socialization. Without it, the Great Pyrenees may attack other dogs or show aggression at times.
They also prefer keeping it “real.” They love doing things the way they have been genetically wired to. It is pretty tricky (but not impossible) to get them to listen to you.
You might need to put some extra effort into getting that done however it will be a great investment for the future!
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