Since time immemorial, the Great Pyrenees (Pyrs) dogs have been bred to guard sheep, thus making them a good watchdog and guard dog.
So, if you want to tap on your Pyrs guarding traits and you are asking yourself ‘Are Great Pyrenees good guard dogs?’ then read on as this article got you covered.
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Are Great Pyrenees Good Guard Dogs?
Yes, Great Pyrenees make good guard dogs when they are adequately trained at a younger age.
Both the male and female Pyrs will diligently do their guarding tasks.
However, for maximal protection in your home, consider adopting a male and a female Great Pyrenees and let these two sharp-witted dogs combine their unmatchable guarding power!
Are Great Pyrenees Protective?
Yes, Great Pyrenees are very protective to those they consider family.
However, it’s good to differentiate when a dog is protective (in a good way) and when it’s overprotective (this is the opposite of good).
An overprotective Pyrs can terrorize you and those around you by displaying aggressive behaviors, which can sometimes be life-threatening.
Below are some of the signs to watch out for if you suspect your dog is becoming increasing overprotective;
- It barks excessively in a low range voice when people or other animals come near or around you
- It displays signs of distress when other people are around you
- It may engage in a hostile attack even without provocation
Things You Can Do To Salvage The Situation When It Comes To An Overprotective Dog:
- Enroll your hound into a socialization class for at least 4 months
- Ensure that you have a dog behaviorist specialist confirm to you that your dog is thoroughly socialized and that’s its overprotective habits have been tamed
- Always have a fully equipped [amazon link=”B00T72ST1Y” title=”pet first aid emergency kit” link_icon=”amazon” /] in your home- have at least 3 placed in different rooms in your home
- Have security cameras installed in all the entry points in your home-this helps you keep a close watch on what it’s doing
- Baby proof your house if you have kids around- this ensures that your kids are protected just in case your dog decides to act up and throw some unwanted tantrums on your kids
- Train your dog to be independent- set boundaries, place them in a [amazon link=”B000QFWCLY” title=”big enough dog crate” link_icon=”amazon” /] with enough clean water and food and have people come around while your dog is watching
Extra Tip
Don’t let your Great Pyrenees sense any weakness in you as it makes it its business to protect you from anything or anyone who they perceive as a threat.
Let them know who the Alpha is in the house by reinforcing positive protective behaviors with treats!
How Do You Know If Your Great Pyrenees Is A Good Guard Dog?
Knowing if your Pyrs is a good guard dog is of immense importance as it will help you adjust its training to suit its guarding nature.
Below are some of the few things you can look out for in your dog that pinpoint that your canine friend can make an excellent guard dog;
#It Always Sits Next To You Or Near Your Feet
If you observe that your Pyrs loves sitting next to you or near your feet, this is a good sign that it’s a good guard dog as it’s already standing guard to protect you in case of a threat.
However, it’s good that you don’t over encourage this behavior as you may make your dog assume that it’s the only one who should be around you and nobody else.
#It Gets Excited When It Hears Your Voice Or Any Familiar Voice
Just like a toddler, a dog will also be excited when they hear your voice, even before they see you.
If you see your dog spinning in circles, wiggling its tail, panting, grinning with its tongue out, or jumping around, then know your dog has a sweet spot on you and won’t hesitate to go to any extent when it comes to guarding you or those around you.
#Its Always Maintaining An Eye Contact
Dogs instinctually maintain an eye contact with humans when they want to express their affection.
Dogs will use their adorable stare to let you know ‘that they got your back. Dogs hate hugs, so they hug you through their eyes.
So, if you notice that your dog is always staring into your eyes, then our congratulations are in order, as you are a dog parent of a good guard dog!
#It Mimics Your Actions
The great Pyrenees will go to any extent to please you if they feel that you are special to them, and this includes mimicking your actions even if it doesn’t benefit them in any way.
So don’t be surprised if your hound wants to do some push-ups with you, sleep in a position that you like or even try and talk like you (of course, the words won’t be audible).
#It Senses When You Are Moody Or Sad
When it comes to sensing your mood changes, a Great Pyrenees aces at it.
It will automatically know if you are sad or happy by checking out your facial expression, body language, and tone of voice.
Dogs are so extraordinary as they can easily pick a change in your hormones’ scent which may tell them in which mood you are in.
A good guard dog won’t ignore your feelings; instead, it will try to lift your moods when you are sad by licking your face or arms or even cuddling up with you.
#It Keeps Bringing You Its Favorite Items
A dog won’t share its favorite things with anyone unless it feels it can trust you or you are worth it.
So, if your dog keeps bringing you its favorite toy to play with, then count yourself lucky as you got yourself a Great Pyrenees that won’t hesitate to guard you.
How To Train Your Great Pyrenees To Be A Guard Dog?
Below is a summarized and easy to implement guide that will help you train your Great Pyrs to be a good guard dog;
#Invest In All The Necessary Training Tools
Before you even consider starting your pup’s guarding training, ensure that you have all the necessary training tools, which include;
Leash
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A strong, elastic, easy to remove and put on leash will help monitor your pup’s movement.
Collar
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A durable neck collar provides you with a place to fit your dog’s leash and also control its balance and movement during training.
Clicker
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If your dog performs in the desired way, you should click the clicker; this helps your dog understand what behavior its required to exhibit.
Target Stick
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A target stick- aids in facilitating your dog’s movement to a particular direction during training
#Begin With The Essential Or Foundational Training
Don’t overwhelm your pup by teaching it complex commands when it’s young but instead, train it simple commands like, ‘sit,’ ‘come,’ ‘no’ or ‘drop.’
Ensure that your pup understands these commands before you proceed to any other training, as the basic knowledge will substantially influence how well your Pyrs adheres to its future training.
#Get Rid Of Anything That May Disrupt Or Distract Your Dog
Eliminating any form of distraction during your Pyrs training will help it focus even more and thus reduce the amount of time spent during training sessions.
Extra Tip;
An empty room with adequate lighting and ventilation is highly recommended.
You can also train your doggy in the backyard, provided the fence doesn’t let it pick from time to time on what’s going on in the streets or in its surrounding environment.
#Practice Patience And Consistency
Patience and consistency are two values that have to be practiced during dog training if you are to achieve positive results.
Consistently train your dog without skipping a day and be patient with it.
Remember, different dogs catch up with training at different rates, so don’t overwhelm your pup unless you want it to relapse on its training.
Key Takeaway
Are the Great Pyrenees good guard dogs?
Yes, they are.
These dogs are the true definition of beauty with brains, as they ace at performing their guarding tasks without hiccups when trained adequately.
If you notice that your dog senses your moods, keeps bringing you its favorite things, gets excited when it hears your voice, or always wants to sit next to your feet, then count yourself lucky as you are a dog parent of an excellent watchdog!
Ensure that you start training your dog at an early age (when it turns 4 months at least) to reinforce positive guarding behaviors’.
Be sure that you closely monitor your dog’s behavior, especially when you notice that it has started exhibiting aggressive behaviors toward people who come near or around you.
If these negative overprotective behaviors don’t subside, consider hiring a dog behaviorist specialist and let them help you revert your Pyrs negative protective nature to the desired positive guarding nature.
