Pyrenean Mastiff: Livestock Guardian Dog Breed
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If you are looking for a gigantic breed that is loyal, gentle and full of personality, the Pyrenean Mastiff may be for you. They are still a relatively rare breed in the United States, but are absolutely worth considering.
Does the Pyrenean Mastiff make a good livestock guardian? Yes, Pyrenean Mastiffs are an ancient livestock guardian dog breed that is very capable of defending stock against predators due to its large size, formidable bark, and fearless nature.
Does the Pyrenean Mastiff make a good pet? Yes, Pyrenean Mastiffs make great pets for people who are prepared to take care of a very large dog and have the space for him to play. They make excellent family pets. Be sure to note that they do shed quite a bit and also drool a lot.
Read on to see if the Pyrenean Mastiff is the right match for you. And for information on how to train livestock guardian dog breeds with positive methods, check out a review of my favorite online training program here.
Other Names: Mastín de los Pirineos, Mastin d’Aragon
Pyrenean Mastiff at a Glance
| Characteristics | Pyrenean Mastiff |
|---|---|
| Male Size |
Height: 30.5"+ Weight: 150-180+ lbs |
| Female Size |
Height: 28.5"+ Weight: 120-150+ lbs |
| Barking Frequency | Moderate - barks when necessary |
| Fencing Required | High and strong |
| Exercise Needs | Low-moderate |
| Human Aggression | Friendly if properly introduced, suspicious of strangers, friendly to children |
| Other Dog Aggression | Low-moderate |
| Training | Needs early people and dog socialization |
| Coat | Double coat |
| Grooming | Moderate-high |
| Lifespan | 10-14 years |
| Age to Maturity | ~2 years |
| Cost (in U.S.) | $1000-$1800+ |
| Food Requirements | 2610-7910 cal/day |
| Health Problems | hip and elbow displasia, entropian/ectropian conjunctivitis, bloat |
| Similar Breeds | Spanish Mastiff |
| Availability (in U.S.) | Uncommon |
Pyrenean Mastiff Personality/Temperament
The Pyrenean Mastiff has been described as dominant, independent, calm, noble and intelligent. These dogs tend to be lower energy and have lower reactivity than many other livestock guardian dog (LGD) breeds.
Pyrenean Mastiff Livestock Guardian Dog Traits
The Pyrenean Mastiff takes his work very seriously and is highly capable of guarding a large homestead and flock. This breed is aware of their size and strength, but rarely uses them. These dogs are often able to deter predators by their presence alone. Most predators don’t want to go up against such a formidable opponent or work that hard for their meal!
However, if Pyrenean Mastiffs feels like their charges or their family are threatened, you’ll see this dog go from calm, gentle and quite sleepy looking to alert, fearless and aggressive. Pyrenean Mastiffs also do perimeter patrols as part of their guarding strategy, but most often can be found lounging around with their flock or herd.
This breed is not known to bark a lot, which is a plus if you have neighbors. However, they will bark when necessary to alert their shepherd and charges to strangers and potential threats. If you happen to have an overzealous Pyrenean Mastiff that does seem to bark a lot, it can be helpful to let your neighbors know that you have an LGD, what their purpose is, and ask them to come to you if there are any issues. There have been far too many unfortunate “incidents” with grumpy neighbors – it is always best to communicate. For more on barking (what it means and how to control it if necessary), check out my article, Livestock Guardian Dogs and Barking.
Because the Pyrenean Mastiff is suspicious of strangers, it is important to properly introduce them to any newcomers. If you plan to have a lot of visitors to your land, it is important to socialize your LGD puppy early so they are not aggressive towards benign visitors. This dog should eventually be able to tell the difference between a friendly visitor and someone who is not supposed to be there.
Pyrenean Mastiffs have been known to be great with children and other dogs. They even protect family cats! However, strange or feral dogs and cats will cause the Pyrenean Mastiff to further investigate and he may decide they are unwelcome intruders…
Training this dog can be tough, as with any LGD breed, as they are very strong-willed, independent and possess tremendous intelligence. However, many Pyrenean Mastiff owners have said they were easier to train than other LGD breeds they have owned. Pyrenean Mastiffs are food and reward motivated and learn best from positive reinforcement (like all dogs!).
For help with obedience training using positive methods, I highly recommend the online program, Brain Training for Dogs (affiliate link). For a thorough review of what the program includes, the things I love about it, and the things I dislike about it, see my review article here.
If you are thinking of getting Pyrenean Mastiffs for livestock guardian purposes, you may also be interested in:
Pyrenean Mastiff Pet Traits
Because of their calm nature and their tendency to be less active than other LGD breeds, Pyrenean Mastiffs can make great family companions in many situations.
One characteristic of this breed that is truly amazing is its natural instinct to love and protect all living creatures in its territory, even as a family dog. Pyrenean Mastiffs are great with children, and owners have said they will guard them with all of their being. Because of their size, you do need to be careful with them around small children, not because they will intentionally hurt them, but because they are absolutely enormous creatures. This breed also gets along with other familiar dogs. One Pyrenean Mastiff owner even said that they have watched their smaller dog crawl all over their lounging Mastiff, and their Mastiff would even let him nibble on his ears!
As a pet, the Pyrenean Mastiff does not need as much exercise as some other LGD breeds. However, he will become bored and restless without a very long walk or several short strolls every day. These walks are also a great way to socialize this breed – every dog, human, and child he meets along the way will make him more trusting and gentler.
In addition to being less active, Pyrenean Mastiffs also tend to bark less than other LGDs. However, they will still bark at disturbances or if they feel threatened. If you have neighbors, this dog shouldn’t be much of a problem when it comes to barking. This breed, other than in puppyhood, does not tend to dig or chew, which is also a plus if he will be a family dog. However, all dogs are individuals, so don’t count on a new puppy to fit this mold! For information on how to train your dog not to bark, check out my article, Train Your Pyrenean Mastiff to Stop Barking: When You Don’t Want Fido to ‘Speak.’
All of this sounds great, right? Sure, but there are downsides to owning a Pyrenean Mastiff as well. First, they are BIG droolers. When they are eating, drinking or are really hot, they are going to drool all over the place which can be a turn-off to owning this breed for some.
Because of their instincts to patrol and roam, this breed is also an incredible escape artist. A 6-foot chain link fence is no match for a Pyrenean Mastiff with a mission. These dogs need to be safely confined with high, strong fences. For more information, check out my article, How to Keep Your Pyr in the Yard or Pasture.
These dogs are absolutely not suited for apartment living. They also do very poorly in hot and humid climates.
Pyrenean Mastiffs will need to undergo some obedience training due to their massive size. If you want to learn how to obedience train your dog using positive training methods, check out the online program, Brain Training for Dogs (affiliate link). This program is perfect for people who want to raise a livestock guardian dog as a pet. If you want to know why, see my review article here.
One thing can be said for sure about the Pyrenean Mastiff – homes who have one on their property are unlikely to be at the top of any burglar’s list!
…And just because, look at these Pyrenean Mastiff puppies, they are SO CUTE!
If you are thinking of getting a Pyrenean Mastiff as a pet, you may also be interested in:
The Ultimate Obedience Training Program for Pet LGD Breeds: Brain Training for Dogs
Raising Pyrenean Mastiffs as Family Pets: Too Much Dog for Your Household or Just Right?
Train Your Pyrenean Mastiff to Stop Barking: When You Don’t Want Fido to ‘Speak’
Pyrenean Mastiff Livestock Guardian Dog History
Place of Origin: Spain, southern slopes of the Pyrenees
Traditional Livestock Guarded: Sheep
Traditional Predators: Wolves, bears, thieves
Pyrenean Mastiff Livestock Guardian Dog Lifestyle
The Pyrenean Mastiff is an ancient breed. It dates back at least 3,000 years – this is when their ancestors were brought over to Spain by early Phoenicians. In the Aragonese Pyrenees region in Spain, they were bred to protect flocks and to be companions for shepherds as they migrated from the mountainous valleys during the summer to the plains in the winter.
Traditionally, the Pyrenean Mastiff had a lot of responsibility – five mastiffs and one shepherd were assigned to guard and transport a flock of 1,000 sheep. Their job was not easy. Because they were guarding against large predators, such as wolves and bears, they also usually wore spiked collars, called carlanca, around their necks for added protection. In addition to working as LGDs, they also were employed as home and castle guardians.
Throughout the mid-19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the Pyrenean Mastiff faced near extinction. The wool industry began to decline, which hurt the rural sheepherding communities in Spain. This, of course, reduced the need for LGDs and thus begun the Pyrenean Mastiff’s steep decline.
In the midst of all of this, the Spanish Civil War was also wreaking havoc on the country’s already damaged economy. Many of those who still kept Pyrenean Mastiffs were no longer able to afford to feed them. This depleted their numbers even more.
During the 1970s, wolves began returning to the area, which prompted an upsurge in the breeding and use of Pyrenean Mastiffs as LGDs once again.
Additional History of Pyrenean Mastiffs
Until 1946, the Spanish Mastiff and the Pyrenean Mastiff were lumped together as one breed. People began to realize that they really were two distinct breeds. The Spanish Mastiff, who lived in the southern part of the country, was smoother, had a heavier head and tended to come in more solid colors (for more on the Spanish Mastiff breed, check out my article here). The white, longer-coated dogs who were from the north were then named the Pyrenean Mastiff.
At the same time wolves were returning to Spain in the 1970s, there was a group of people who loved the Pyrenean Mastiff and had a certain fascination with it. They decided to search the country and find this breed’s most prized dogs. They ended up with about 30 that fit the bill – they displayed the right temperament for an LGD and seemed to be in very good health.
In 1977, a Pyrenean Mastiff club was formed and a standard was written for this breed. The selected dogs were then registered and carefully bred to become LGDs. This breed was finally recognized by the FCI in 1982.
It wasn’t until 1996 that a pair of Pyrenean Mastiffs were transported to the United States to be bred. Because of this, they remain a pretty rare breed in this country, although the population is growing both in number and in popularity as LGDs.
Even more recently, they were recognized by the UKC (2006) and finally received their AKC FSS status in 2014.
Other Pyrenean Mastiff Jobs
In addition to being worked as livestock guardian dogs, Pyrenean Mastiffs have also found work as guard dogs, wild game hunters, bodyguards, and even cart dogs. Of course, they have also been kept as show dogs and companions as well.
Pyrenean Mastiff Appearance
Pyrenean Mastiff Size
Height: 30.5 – 32” minimum (male), 28.5 – 29.5” minimum (female)
Weight: 150 – 180+ lbs. (male), 120 – 150+ lbs. (female)
The average male Pyrenean Mastiff’s weight is about 180 pounds, but there are dogs of this breed out there that weigh over 220 pounds!
For more on LGD breed sizes, check out my article, Livestock Guardian Dog Sizes.
Pyrenean Mastiff Colors
The Pyrenean Mastiff’s primary color is always pure white. However, they tend to have well-defined patches of other colors as well. These colors include gray, golden yellow, brown, black, silver, beige or marble-colors. They also have a “mask” that covers their eyes and ears.
Pyrenean Mastiff Coat
The Pyrenean Mastiff has a double coat. Its outer coat is coarse and moderately long. It’s not as long as the coat of the Great Pyrenees, but is longer than that of the Spanish Mastiff. Their coats tends to be longer on the tail, neck, chest, and the backs of their legs.
The undercoat is very soft which helps keep them warm in very cold temperatures. However, because of this, they are not usually able to handle humid climates. If they have a place to escape, they can handle dry heat, although this is still uncomfortable for them.
Pyrenean Mastiff Head
Pyrenean Mastiffs can have a sleepy, lazy look to them with their drooping lips and small, dark eyes that often show some membrane in the lower corners. They have a long muzzle that ends in a black nose and their head is fairly wide set. Their ears are medium sized, flat, and pendulous. They should never be cropped.
This breed has double dewlaps, which helps them defend against bites and tears from large predators (like the wolves and bears they traditionally fended off). In addition, they also have very pointed teeth.
Pyrenean Mastiff Body
The Pyrenean Mastiff is a very large dog – one of the largest of the LGD breeds in fact. Their body is naturally broad, and their double dewlaps give the impression of ever greater size and power. Surprisingly, they are quite light on their feet and their movements often appear effortless. One Pyrenean Mastiff owner said if her dog got lost and she tried to follow his footsteps, she probably couldn’t because he walks so lightly on the ground!
On a side note, they also commonly have double dewclaws.
Pyrenean Mastiff Tail
The Pyrenean Mastiff’s tail is plumed and typically hangs fairly low with a little curve at the tip. However, when the dog is at attention, it is carried up and curved slightly more. Their tail does not ever carry over the back like some dogs with a curve in their tail.
Pyrenean Mastiff Grooming
The Pyrenean Mastiff has a fairly long coat that requires brushing and combing on a regular basis. They do shed quite a bit as well – the more they are brushed, the less they will shed. Their heaviest shedding times are in the spring and fall – it is likely they will need to be brushed daily during these times.
To learn everything you need to know about grooming a Pyrenean Mastiff, check out my article, Grooming Livestock Guardian Dog Breeds: The Ultimate Guide.
The hair between the dogs’ foot pads should be trimmed at least once a month – especially if they are working dogs. They can easily pick up dirt and foreign materials that can get lodged between the pads of the feet. This can get uncomfortable and can cause more serious problems if not taken care of.
The dogs’ ears should be kept clean, again, especially if they are primarily living outdoors. Pyrenean Mastiffs also tend to have droopy eyes, so the area around their eyes should also be cleaned regularly.
As for any breed, tooth brushing is recommended at least every few days. Whether you decide to brush your dog’s teeth or not, they will need a professional tooth cleaning once per year to keep their chompers in tip-top shape!
If working, this breed’s nails will file down naturally, but you should keep an eye on them to prevent them from overgrowing or cracking. Because the Pyrenean Mastiff has very thick nails, you will want to use a professional nail clipper that is meant for giant dog breeds.
Pyrenean Mastiff Diet/Eating Habits
The Pyrenean Mastiff’s caloric needs will vary depending on their size as well as their activity level. Males will require between 3530 – 7910 calories per day. Females will typically need fewer calories – between 2610 – 5930 calories per day should suffice. Refer to the table below for more specific estimates:
| Pyrenean Mastiff | Light Activity | Moderate Activity | High Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 3530-4745 | 4080-5535 | 4760-7910 |
| Female | 2610-3560 | 3010-4150 | 3510-5930 |
The Pyrenean Mastiff has one of the heartiest appetites of any livestock guardian dog breeds. This dog should be fed a high-quality dog food that is high in protein (for working dogs especially). Up until about 1 ½ – 2 years of age, it is very important to feed this breed a large-breed puppy formula. This will prevent them from growing too quickly and will prevent some health issues you often see in large breed dogs.
Whether your dogs are working as livestock guardians or are family companions, it is important to watch their weight. These dogs can easily become overweight if they are overfed. This is especially true of non-working dogs who may not be burning as many calories per day.
For advice on how to properly feed your Pyrenean Mastiff, check out these resources:
Pyrenean Mastiff Lifespan
Pyrenean Mastiffs typically live to be between 10 and 14 years of age. Some will live longer than this and others, if working in harsh conditions, may not live as long. Most take about 2 years to reach their full growth and will continue to fill out past then. Some have said that males can take 4-6 years to reach their full adult size!
For more information on livestock guardian dog lifespans, what to expect from puppies, and how to care for older dogs, see my article, What is the Lifespan of a Livestock Guardian Dog.
Pyrenean Mastiff Cost
Pyrenean Mastiffs typically are sold for $1000 – $1800 in the United States (from breeders). However, one Pyrenean Mastiff owner said she paid nearly $2500 for hers!
If you are interested in adopting a Pyrenean Mastiff from a rescue, check out my article, Rescue Livestock Guardian Dogs – Should You Get One?
Pyrenean Mastiff Health Problems
Pyrenean Mastiffs, as with any giant breed, have a history of hip and elbow dysplasia. They also can suffer from entropion and ectropion, as well as conjunctivitis and bloat.
Livestock Guardian Dog Breeds Similar to Pyrenean Mastiffs
The Pyrenean Mastiff is closely related to both the Great Pyrenees and the Spanish Mastiff. The YouTube video below provides more information about similarities and differences between Pyrenean Mastiffs and Great Pyrenees dogs:
For more on Spanish Mastiffs, check out my article, Spanish Mastiff: Livestock Guardian Dog Breed.
You May Also Be Interested in:
Brain Training for Dogs: The Best Online Obedience Training Program for Livestock Guardian Dogs
The Ultimate Obedience Training Program for Pet Pyrenean Mastiffs: Brain Training for Dogs
The Best Livestock Guardian Dog Toys: Top Recommendations from DOZENS of Great Pyrenees Owners!
