Great Pyrenees Pitbull Mix is developed by crossing two loyal, alert, and intelligent purebred dogs, the Great Pyrenees and the American Pitbull Terrier.
Pyrenees pit, as they are often called, inherits the muscular body from the Pitbull and the attentiveness and an independent attitude from the Great Pyrenees.
Pyrenees Pitbull Mix Specifications
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Height | 21 – 25 inches |
| Weight | 60 – 85 pounds |
| Coat color | Sable, fawn, grey, tan, black, white, silver |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Coat type | Thick long double-coat, short single-coat |
| Temperament | Loyal, alert, protective, loud, stubborn |
| Lifespan | 8 – 15 years |
Appearance of the Great Pyrenees Pitbull mix
The Great Pyrenees Mountain dog is an enormous dog. The Pitbull, on the other hand, is a medium-sized dog breed.
Together, their mixed-breed gives a medium to large dog that is not as large as the Great Pyrenees itself. It is notably longer than it is tall.
On average a male Great Pyrenees Pitbull mix can reach a height of 25 inches and a weight of 82 pounds. Females are relatively smaller and can reach a height of 23 inches and weigh about 75 pounds.
The lighter weight of the female does not mean she is any less powerful than her male counterpart.
The sheer size of this dog makes this Pitbull mixed breed not to be played around with. He can attack and seriously injure an adult person. This can happen for purpose or accidentally during playtime.
They are big-boned like the great Pyrenees and have a wide and strong skeleton foundation. Well-formed muscles surround their body frame making them capable of any activity.
Their wide head features a broad muzzle at the end with low triangular ears or high pricked up (depends on the parent’s traits). A Pyrenees Pit that has more Pitbull features will have a wider head, shorter muzzle, and a muscular build.
Characteristic eyes of either the Pitbull (almond) or the Pyrenees (round) make an appearance. Almost always these eyes are dark-colored, dark brown, or black. Their strong limbs are of medium length.
Coat properties vary greatly based on genes passed down from the parents. Several variations exist and you cannot presume their coat properties.
The coat could be a single-coat or a double-coat and come in several colors as Great Pyrenees and the Pitbull comes in many.
Great Pyrenees Pitbull mix Temperament
They are typically devoted dogs towards their family who can be very protective too. They are initially wary of strangers but will settle down after some time. They do need more time socializing than other dogs.
These are large intimidating animals and playtime involving other small dogs or young children must be under adult supervision.
Both parents of this breed are known for their aggression. Pitbull were bred to fight in hunting games and the Great Pyrenees were originally bred for guarding livestock and families.
Thus we would recommend this mixed breed for experienced owners only who can spend time on training and socialization from the early beginning.
Since these dogs are both confident, strong, and independent-thinker, training them late can prove to be a tough task. He will decide if he wants to learn and behave or not.
Since he is intelligent and thinks for himself, it is in your best interest to get some treats for him. This might just be enough to persuade him to learn and behave.
A stubborn dog will prove to be an uphill battle. It takes a strong trainer to teach this dog valuable lessons. A novice owner will not be very successful in training this dog and should opt for a dog that is easier to train.
Barking will be an issue since he barks at night when anything comes to his attention. It would not be easy to train this trait out of him.
Coat colors and characteristics
The coat colors and length of this Pyrenees mix breed show a lot of variations.
Great Pyrenees Pitbull mixes usually have a medium hair length coat that covers their body. The hairs are straight since both the parent dogs have straight hairs.
Though this can vary based on which parent breed has more dominant genes. If Pitbull genes are strong, the hairs would tend to be short whereas if Pyrenees has more dominant genes, expect longer than average hairs.
Further variation may come in terms of layers of coat. This could either be single-layer like the Pitbull or double-layered like the Great Pyrenees.
This mixed breed comes in numerous coat colors. Here are some colors you can find them in:
Sable- This beautiful coat has a hair coat that has black hair tips on a background of tan, silver, white, or grey. It gives the dog a dark coat appearance.
Brindle- A brindle Pitbull is very common and luckily, it’s mixes breeds also inherit this possible coat color.
Silver- Some people call this color white but it is not your regular white. It appears to have a shimmery finish on the coat making it look silver.
White- The natural coat color of the Great Pyrenees is white, no wonder it also makes an appearance on the Pyrenees Pit mix coat.
Black- The Pitbull is commonly found in an all-black coat. This is why the black Pyrenees Pitbull mix is a possible outcome.
Fawn- Fawn is a pale tan color that has several intensity levels ranging from yellowish to a dark tan color. Any one will make your Pyrenees Pit puppy attractive.
Red- Red can appear in many shades, the most common form is ginger color. It can appear on the top-coat on certain areas or throughout the coat.
Brown- This coat is a regular trait in both parent breeds, this is why the Great Pyrenees Pitbull puppy can have it.
Grey- Pitbull commonly have this interesting shade. Sometimes it falsely appears as bluish in color, this will make your dog unique and easy to distinguish.
Tan- Tan or sand color is a yellowish-brown color seen on many dogs. Both Pitbull and the Great Pyrenees pass this coat color to their puppies.
Do Great Pyrenees Pitbull mix shed?
Yes, they do shed.
Shedding can be intense or moderate depending on the coat that has been given to this dog. Intense shedding from a long hair coat could be a problem to clean up for a family that keeps this giant in the house.
Managing the shedding will take several attempts using suitable cleaning equipment depending on the length of hair that is shed from the coat.
This can include lint rollers, microfiber cloths, rubber gloves, and a vacuum cleaner for carpets, curtains, and other soft furnishings. The key to a clean home is to keep your dog as maintained and groomed as possible.
An interesting pitbull mix – https://yourdogsworld.com/b/shar-pei-pitbull-mix/
Care
Let us look at the aspects that you need to be aware of while taking care of the Great Pyrenees Pitbull mix.
Grooming
Grooming requirements required by your Pyrenees Pit depends upon which coat he has inherited. Both coats are very different and will need different grooming routines to keep them maintained.
If he has a double-coat like that of the Great Pyrenees, a gentle yet effective comb is required. Brush only when required (2 or 3 times a week). This will avoid unnecessary breaking of hair and will inhibit formation of tangled hair.
A single-coat like the Pitbull should be dealt with a gentler grooming tool. A glove of slick grooming brush is adequate. Weekly grooming sessions is enough to maintain a healthy hair coat.
Bathing
Their coat features a natural dirt expelling property and only occasional baths will be necessary. This will be great news for you and your dog as it is not easy to bathe this large dog!
Maintenance
Other than bathing and brushing, other parts of his body also need to be cared for and looked after. Paws should be regularly checked to make sure no stones and sticks are wedged between the paw pads.
Nails require constant clipping to keep him mobile and active without injury.
Brushing teeth keep his teeth and gums free of food bits and plaque build-up apart from foul-smelling breath.
Exercise
The Great Pyrenees Pitbull mix is a moderately energized dog breed. We would recommend an hour walk daily to keep him fit and mentally stimulated.
As large dogs love to walk, they should be taken on hikes in ideal natural locations.
Be careful and make sure he is wearing a strong harness and leash. This will prevent him from giving into chasing small animals.
Apart from walking, other exercises should be provided to your growing Pyrenees Pit mix. Fetch, hide and seek, tug of war, are a few games that test the ability of your dog.
Training
Many Great Pyrenees Pitbull mix owners have complained that it is not easy to train these furry friends. In fact, it is the most difficult task you will encounter when owning one. They are independent, strong-minded, and can be stubborn at times.
They willfully choose who to obey and who to disobey. Because of this character, you cannot let your guard down and must be strict when required.
Potty training will have to be taught with intensity as they will go back to doing what they want if the owner is not around.
Health
Health is a top concern for all dog owners. You will want to assure your canine lives to the full extent of his life expectancy. Here are common health ailments that this mixed dog is prone to.
- Patellar Luxation
- Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
Lineage
Let us also look in brief at the parent breed of this mixed dog breed.
Great Pyrenees
Great Pyrenees is an old dog breed originally bred in the Pyrenees mountains between Spain and France as a shepherd dog. They used their size, intelligence, and agility to guard livestock against predators.
His long double-coat protects him from the extreme cold in his natural mountain habitat. They are large dogs known for their protective, loyal yet alert, and suspicious temperament.
American Pitbull Terrier
Initially used as a bull baiter and a cage fighting dog, the Pitbull has grown to become a companion pet dog. They are quite a popular companion dog breed in the USA.
This medium-sized dog breed has a distinct muscular build and a high energy drive. The face has a wide skull accompanied by a short muzzle and partially raised ears.
Thank your for the information. Fortunately I am an experienced (albeit older) Trainer. My new child of fur is named Zella Born Dec 2nd, 2021. She joins a large family consisting of one two legger, feathered kids, and hooved kids. I also have a Service Dog.
I forgot to add there are several furred children also.