Golden Retriever Great Pyrenees Mix

Great Pyrenees golden retriever mix is a gentle giant that won’t hurt a fly but will always protect its favorite humans. It’s the ultimate guard dog with a loving heart.

The Golden Pyrenees temperament is a blend of the best golden retriever and Great Pyrenees traits. Still, prospective owners should be aware of potential behavior problems that could arise from a lack of training and socialization.

Interacting with a puppy, sire, and dam before making a decision is crucial because crossbreed dogs can take after either of the parent breeds.

Appearance

Like with all crossbreed dogs, there is no standard Great Pyrenees golden retriever mix appearance. Although all puppies will have some distinct traits, some variation is possible, depending on which parent’s genes were dominant.

The Golden Pyrenees are large dogs – males range from 23 to 32 inches in height and females from 22 to 29 inches. Males weigh from 65 to 105 pounds and females from 55 to 85 pounds.

Although the Great Pyrenees and golden retrievers have major distinctions, they also have many similar appearance traits they are guaranteed to pass on to their puppies, including drop ears, broad skull, black nose, and round brown eyes.

Although the most common Great Pyrenees coat color is solid white, these dogs also come in orange, black and white, badger, solid black, and black with markings. Golden retrievers come in all shades of old and red.

As a result, the Great Pyrenees golden retriever cross colors are numerous – puppies can take the color after any of the parents. The coat is always medium or long, with a dense undercoat.

Temperament

The Great Pyrenees golden retriever mix is a gentle, affectionate dog loyal to its owners. A Golden Pyrenees will never let anyone hurt its favorite human but generally isn’t aggressive towards strangers.

Some Great Pyrenees golden retriever mix can be outgoing and quickly make friends with strangers, while others may be aloof because they have guard dog heritage. The Great Pyrenees are highly territorial, but goldens aren’t.

Another distinction in the parent breeds is that goldens are very attached to their owners, and Great Pyrenees are independent. For this reason, some Golden Pyrenees may tolerate being alone, and some not.

The Great Pyrenees can be best described as stoic. Combined with the patience and gentleness of golden retrievers, Golden Pyrenees make wonderful dogs for families with children.

However, they might need time to adapt to other pets in the house.

Overall, Golden Pyrenees are well-behaved dogs without aggression tendencies. They are confident and intelligent, but each puppy is unique.

Intelligence & Trainability

Both golden retrievers and Great Pyrenees are above-average intelligent dogs, so their cross is bound to be bright.

Canine researcher Stanley Coren ranks goldens fourth and Great Pyrenees 64th among 138 breeds participating in the working dog intelligence study.

Golden retrievers excel at every parameter. They are obedient, eager to please, empathetic, effectively communicate their needs, have a fantastic memory, and can resolve complex problems.

The Great Pyrenees, too, are intelligent dogs, but their independent, willful nature makes them harder to train than goldens.

The Great Pyrenees golden retriever mix is generally responsive to training but may sometimes be stubborn.

Still, the stubbornness of a Golden Pyrenees is incomparable to that of a Dachshund or Afghan hound.

Golden Pyrenees make excellent service dogs that can perform challenging tasks. Furthermore, they are physically capable of assisting people with mobility issues.

Because of their intelligence, Golden Pyrenees also make great guard and hunting dogs, provided they receive suitable training from an early age.

Health

Generally, crossbreed dogs are at a lower risk of inheriting severe diseases than purebred dogs. Still, the Great Pyrenees golden retriever mix may inherit some medical conditions from either of the parents.

Golden retrievers and Great Pyrenees are both prone to hip dysplasia – this condition is widespread among large dogs.

Hip dysplasia results from joint dislocation and causes mobility issues. Golden Pyrenees, too, can develop hip dysplasia if they get too much exercise in puppyhood.

Golden Pyrenees are also prone to obesity because both parent breeds are. The best way to prevent health conditions resulting from excess weight is by providing the dog with enough exercise and feeding it a suitable diet.

Like all dogs with drop ears, the Golden Pyrenees are susceptible to ear infections. Infections are especially widespread among dogs that love swimming because water trapped in the ear canal creates a perfect environment for thriving bacteria.

Bone cancer is common in golden retrievers and Great Pyrenees. Cancer is the most common cause of death in goldens, but the Great Pyrenees golden retriever cross is at lower risk than its parents. Still, the chances don’t equal zero.

Many Great Pyrenees suffer from Addison’s disease – a condition caused by kidney adrenal gland underproduction, resulting in diarrhea, lethargy, and increased thirst.

Goldens are prone to epilepsy, and while Golden Pyrenees are less likely to have it, owners must be aware of the possibility.

Grooming

Golden retrievers and Great Pyrenees have one con in common – they are notorious shedders. These dogs shed year-round, with intense shedding phases in spring and fall when they blow out their entire undercoat.

Naturally, the Golden Pyrenees also is a heavy shedder. Golden Pyrenees grooming is simple yet time-consuming – these dogs need daily brushing with a slicker brush to untangle hair and prevent matting.

Brushing also helps spot parasites hiding in the dense undercoat. During seasonal shedding periods, Golden Pyrenees need to be brushed with a de-shedding tool to remove dead hair stuck in the fur.

Regular bathing is crucial, but don’t go overboard. Professional groomers recommend washing a Golden Pyrenees every four to six weeks because frequent bathing can dry out the dog’s skin.

One should never shave a Golden Pyrenees, even in summer, because it can permanently damage the dog’s coat and intervene in thermoregulation. The most breed-appropriate cut is a simple trim.

Exercise Needs

The Great Pyrenees aren’t considered high-energy dogs, but they need plenty of mental stimulation because of their intelligence. Golden retrievers are a hunting breed with immense stamina and high energy levels.

As a result, the Golden Pyrenees is demanding both physical and mental stimulation. They need at least two hours of walking daily but will appreciate fun activities like hiking, swimming, playing fetch, and tracking smells.

The more energy-consuming an exercise, the shorter the session should be. Puppies need five minutes of exercise per month of their life until bone growth plate closure. Otherwise, they may develop hip dysplasia.

Old dogs don’t need as much exercise – they can walk as much as their health state allows. Still, keeping a Golden Pyrenees active is vital even at an old age.

Life Expectancy

Golden Pyrenees’ life expectancy is 10-12 years, in line with that of parent breeds.

Although the cross is generally healthier, such large dogs rarely live longer.

Behavior Problems

Great Pyrenees golden retriever mix behavior problems depend on the presence or lack of such in sire and dam and which parent a puppy takes after.

Golden retrievers are highly attached to their owners, and without proper socialization in puppyhood, they can develop separation anxiety.

The problem is characterized by destructive behavior, potty accidents, attempts to escape, and excessive vocalization.

On the other hand, Great Pyrenees are independent dogs that tolerate being alone, so the odds of a Golden Pyrenees suffering from separation anxiety aren’t as high as with a purebred golden.

Because the Great Pyrenees is a guard dog, some Golden Pyrenees may excessively bark, particularly when they see strangers. Fortunately, training resolves the issue.

Another behavior problem a Golden Pyrenees may inherit from the Great Pyrenees is stubbornness. These frivolous dogs are often uncooperative and ignore the owner’s commands.

Many Golden Pyrenees pull on the leash and jump on people – these habits are prevalent in all active, friendly dogs. Owners can combat these behavior problems with training.

Rarity

Golden retrievers are in the top five of the most popular dogs in the U.S., so finding one for breeding is easy. Great Pyrenees’ popularity varies by state. Consequently, so does the Golden Pyrenees’ rarity.

There’s no guarantee you can find a Golden Pyrenees puppy in your state, but you certainly can find one in the U.S. The cross isn’t in high demand but mating the two breeds is straightforward, so it can’t be called particularly rare.

Price

Most Great Pyrenees golden retriever cross puppies cost between $500 and $1,000, but Golden Pyrenees’ prices go up to $5,000 depending on the puppy’s traits and lineage.

Puppies from champion parents cost more because they are likely to inherit traits that made their sire or dam excel at dog shows, such as obedience or tracking abilities. However, it’s always a toss-up.

The breeder’s reputation and location also play a role. Prices tend to be higher in states where the Great Pyrenees aren’t widely available. Health clearances come at an extra fee, but they are always worth it.

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