When considering adding a Great Pyrenees to your family, one of the most important factors to consider is their compatibility with children, especially babies.
With their gentle and protective nature, many families wonder if this breed is suitable for households with young children.
But what is the real story behind the Great Pyrenees and their interaction with babies?
Let’s dive deeper and explore the traits and characteristics that make this breed unique and what you should consider when evaluating if they are a good fit for your family.
The Great Pyrenees are very fond of kids, and this includes babies. They are naturally tender and sweet towards everything that appears to be “small” and “weak.” They devote their lives to protecting their loved ones. However, some rules need to be established to ensure babies can safely interact with this breed.
Read on as we look into the personality traits of the Great Pyrenees, and outline some key risks and dangers that owners need to be aware of. Let’s get started!
Are Great Pyrenees Good With babies?
The Great Pyrenees are typically loyal to their owners, family, and their property. They are always ready to protect them from anything dangerous or threatening in nature.
But sometimes, it can be a little difficult to establish a relationship between a Great Pyrenees dog and babies.
Babies are fond of dogs. They want to touch them, play with them, pat them on the back, feed them or give them treats.
The Great Pyrenees, on the other hand, are not always comfortable with babies.
They are not generally playful and are considered a more serious dog.
The concern is that they can become restless at times, especially when being forced or bothered to do things against their will.
This is potentially dangerous around a baby that doesn’t know any better!
Are Great Pyrenees Dangerous For Kids?
Great Pyrenees dogs are beautiful breeds. They are gentle, calm, loving, affectionate, and protective.
They are typically not dangerous; however, they can sometimes react with aggression in certain situations.
Here are some factors to be aware of that could result in the Great Pyrenees being dangerous around children and babies:
Clash of Interest
While this breed is quite active, they are considered serious rather than playful dogs. They like to spend their time on productive things.
Whereas kids love to innocently play with dogs a lot, leading to a potential conflict.
Kids may pester the Great Pyrenees to play with them when the Great Pyr is focused on something else that interests them.
This can sometimes be a problem, especially if this breed has a problem with its temperament and hasn’t been socialized.
They may respond in an aggressive way that can result in the child being bitten or injured.
Boredom
The Great Pyrenees are an active breed, that likes to focus on things that interest them.
That is why they want you to devote your time and attention to them and get them actively engaged in productive activities.
Pyrs are always frustrated when they are bored.
Hence, they tend to create activities for themselves if given none, which can result in destructive behavior at times.
Destructive behavior can also be dangerous. This can include digging, destroying things in the house, or even rough play around children.
Unfamiliarity
Pyrs are family dogs that are loving, calm, and generally patient around others they are familiar with.
On the contrary, they will act a little differently around strangers as their protective instincts kick into gear.
If your pup is not friendly with your kids, don’t leave them all alone together!
There is a critical need to socialize and train your Great Pyrenees from a young age.
This includes exposing them to all family members early and often, along with many other dog breeds.
Unintended collisions
Due to the sheer size of the Great Pyrenees, their force can do some damage if they have sudden bursts of energy and make contact with something.
Unfortunately, this also includes children and babies.
While they have a gentle temperament and are loyal to their family, rough play shouldn’t be encouraged. This is especially the case if a baby or small child is present.
This breed should be supervised at all times when there are young children or babies in the area.
The last thing any family wants to hear is their Great Pyrenees has collided with a young member of the family or caused a nasty injury.
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Do the Great Pyrenees get jealous of babies or young kids?
Similar to humans, the Great Pyrenees have emotions too. They can get jealous of young kids or babies if they’re not familiar with them.
Your Great Pyr needs to be trained and socialized from an early age to accept new situations. This includes being comfortable with new people and new family members.
There are some obvious changes in character and habits to be aware of when your pup is jealous of babies and young children.
Watch out for growling, sharing, or any other type of aggression.
This includes when they try to divert your attention away from your kids or leave once they notice that you are with your kids.
If these behaviors occur, they are most likely jealous. This behavior needs to be addressed immediately to ensure it doesn’t escalate.
Obedience training and proper socialization will make a huge difference in their temperament. This can happen quicker than you think and is worth the investment in time.
Are Great Pyrenees Good For First-Time Owners?
The Great Pyrenees are typically not a good breed for first-time owners. Some of these reasons include:
- Pyrs are stubborn and may give a first-time owner a tough time
- They like being independent (which will be a problem for a first-time owner)
- Grooming the Great Pyrenees is easy but requires extra care.
- They bark a lot at night, and it may take a first-time owner a while before getting adapted to it.
- Pyrs are not sociable pets. A first-time owner may be frustrated by their overly protective nature.
- They are difficult to train.
Will the Great Pyrenees Be a Good Choice for Families with Babies or young kids?
The Great Pyrenees is a good choice for almost every type of family.
They care a lot for weak and small people or animals, and they will guard your babies well.
Although this breed is strong-willed and loves being independent, they are also calm, affectionate, loving, and protective pets.
As long as they receive proper training and socialization early, a Pyr can be a good fit for the entire family.
How to Train your Great Pyrenees to be Good with Babies or Young Kids?
Ensure that you train and socialize your Great Pyrenees to accept new people, family members, conditions, and their environment. Establish rules and boundaries early, and you shouldn’t have too many issues.
Introducing the Great Pyrenees to young children and babies should be done slowly and steadily.
Include lots of positive reinforcement and doggie treats each time they show the proper behaviors,
Let things happen naturally but under supervision.
It is also important to train your pup not to jump on people. Their size can be quite dangerous, especially when young children and babies are in the home.
Benefits of Kids Owning a Great Pyrenees
Here are five benefits of getting a Great Pyrenees for your child:
- He will protect your child with his life when situations call for it.
- He will aid your kid’s mental health, especially if he has behavioral issues.
- He will keep your child active, help him out of boredom, and build self-confidence.
- He will always be loyal to your child.
- He will make your child a good partner and guardian in your absence.
When choosing a dog for your babies, here are some factors you may need to consider:
- The Breed – Choose a dog from a child-friendly breed.
- The dog’s size – Large dogs may not be suitable for babies as they could accidentally knock them over.
- Protective Instincts – A dog with a significant protective instinct will make a good choice for your child. Such a dog will protect your child from possible dangers.
- Social Adaptation – Choose a friendly dog. A dog that won’t comfortably socialize with even your child’s friends is not a good choice.
- Behavioral Compatibility with other family dogs – Ensure that you go for a dog with a compatible temperament. Getting a playful dog when you have a tired, old dog may not be a good match.
Best ways to Socialize your Great Pyrenees with a baby or young child
To socialize your Great Pyrenees dog with your baby, you should:
- Socialize him with the family right from his puppyhood. He should learn to accept new members into the fold.
- Don’t force your child on your dog. It may lead to resentment instead of affection. Let things happen naturally.
- Use treats and praises to help your pup build and encourage good (and positive) behavior.
- Let him have a safe place to go whenever he feels the need to isolate himself from your child.
- Do what children do. Act like a child. That way, your pup won’t find your child’s actions strange.
- Train him not to jump on people so he won’t jump on your child as well.
- Get him acquainted with baby sounds, smells, and so on.
- Establish ground rules, and ensure that your pup and child stick to them.
- Ensure proper supervision when your Great Pyrenees is with your child.
Final thoughts
The Great Pyrenees are generally quite friendly with children and babies, as they are kind, loving, and loyal family companions.
However, they can accidentally injure a small child due to their large size and are not always in a playful mood.
It’s best to caution kids not to disturb them while they are sleeping, eating, or playing with their toys.
This also includes not climbing on the Pyr or touching them unnecessarily.
If these basic rules are followed, along with early socialization as outlined, there shouldn’t be any concerns with the Great Pyrenees around babies and young children.
