A Great Pyrenees dog house is an essential item for your large-breed dog. These dogs tend to favor the great outdoors, which means that they want to be out there even in inclement weather. Give them a comfortable place to retreat to with a dog house designed uniquely for large-breed dogs.
Great Pyrenees need dog houses to protect them from the weather, give them a safe place to retreat, and keep them comfortable. I recommend the Petmate Indigo Dog House because it is affordable, durable, and helps to prevent your Great Pyrenees from getting wet with a raised floor and side moats.
If you have been thinking about buying a Great Pyrenees dog house, here is what you need to know about the leading options.
Why Great Pyrenees Need Dog Houses
Before we take a closer look at the best dog houses for Great Pyrenees, it’s important to have a clear idea of why they need one. Their double coat can make them too hot in the summer, even though it serves as an advantage in the winter. They need a dog house that offers some ventilation and protection from the elements.
I recommend the Petmate Indigo Dog House as the best dog house for Great Pyrenees, but we’ll look at the details in a later section.
Of course, finding a dog house for Great Pyrenees is more of a challenge than you may expect. This breed is upwards of 100 pounds for males or 85 pounds for females. Many dog houses simply aren’t engineered to accommodate a dog this size.
This breed loves to be outdoors, even in bad weather. The right dog house gives them a place to rest where they can be safe from the elements.
A dog house also allows them a safe space that is truly their own. Despite their large size, they need some place where they can feel secure and confident. A dog house is a great way to give them the ability to retreat when life inside your home becomes busy and chaotic.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dog House for Great Pyrenees
When it comes to shopping for a dog house, there are a few things you should consider that are specific to the Great Pyrenees breed. Here are some of the factors that you’ll want to include in your search for the perfect dog house:
- Size: Great Pyrenees are extremely large dogs, so you need a dog house with plenty of space. Most dog owners recommend getting one with an entrance roughly 10 centimeters taller than your dog so that they can sit down inside of it.
- Material: Many owners favor a heavy-duty plastic dog house because it stands up to the wear and tear of the elements. However, you can also find wooden ones, but they may not be as durable.
- Insulation: This breed is quite tolerant of the cold weather, but they can be extremely hot in the summer weather. Look for a dog house with vents to keep air circulating in warm weather.
- Ease of cleaning: Large dogs with heavy coats often lead to more mess, so make sure that your dog house is easy to clean.
- Durability: Given the size and strength of the Great Pyrenees, the dog house needs to be extremely sturdy and durable. Some have removable roofs so that you can get inside more easily.
- Location: Think long and hard about where your dog house is placed, taking shade and even wind direction into account. Some dog houses have adjustable feet so that you can place them even on uneven ground.
Review of the Best Dog Houses for Great Pyrenees
To help you in your search for the perfect dog house for your Great Pyrenees, here are some of the best options on the market.
Our Top Pick – Petmate Indigo Dog House
Hands down, the Petmate Indigo Dog House is my favorite option for a Great Pyrenees. I’ve owned several of these Indigo dog houses throughout my lifetime and I continue to find new things to love about them. This brand offers a very durable dog house at an affordable price tag.
My dogs are just as fond of this dog house as I am, and they consider it their safe space.
This dog house has been used outdoors of my home for several years and has very little wear and tear. Because my dogs are primarily outdoor dogs, this dog house also provides excellent shelter from the elements. It provides insulation for them in both hot and cold weather, as well as sheltering them from the rain with the doorway.
One of the main issues with dog houses is that they can accumulate water on the floor, leading to a major mess. These dog houses have raised floors and moats to drain the water and keep your Great Pyrenees from getting wet.
Again, this is my personal favorite when it comes to dog houses. If you’re looking for an all around top quality dog house for a great price, I’d go with this one.
Click here to see the price of this dog house on Amazon.
Lifetime Deluxe Large Dog House for Great Pyrenees
When spending a little more to get something durable and heavy-duty is an option, then this dog house should make your list. The Lifetime Deluxe Large Dog House is virtually indestructible, even if your Great Pyrenees decides to test it with their powerful chewing.
Much like the Petmate Indigo, the Lifetime Deluxe is engineered to keep your dog dry in all types of weather. It even has vents that allow air to flow through the dog house. Vents can be closed in the winter to keep warm air in. The top opens up to allow diligent owners to clean it out on a regular basis.
A unique feature of this dog house is that it has a divided interior to help them stay as warm as possible in the winter. The divider is removable, so you can always take it out if you live in a temperate area or your Great Pyrenees’s coat keeps them warm enough.
The only downside to this dog house is the price, but it’s well worth the investment.
Petmate Precision Extreme Outback Log Cabin Dog House
Keeping your dog comfortable in the elements means that they need to be dry in rain, snow, or even sleet. The Petmate Precision Extreme Outback Log Cabin Dog House offers the possibility of doing just that. Uniquely made with sealed solid wood and stainless-steel hardware, this “cabin” delivers on the promise of keeping your dog dry.
It comes with a raised floor so that it doesn’t collect rainwater, as well as a slanted roof made of asphalt – just like the roof on your own home.
One thing to note is that it has adjustable feet. If your yard is a bit uneven of you have trouble with balancing a dog house in your desired location, these feet help you to steady it for your Great Pyrenees.
The complaint that many people had about it is that the wood is a little thinner than they would have liked. If you need something super heavy-duty for extreme elements, you may want to invest a little more money into the Lifetime Deluxe that will keep your dog warmer in winter weather.
Still, it’s an affordable option that many people are completely satisfied with for mild weather.
Read Also: 20 Stimulating Jobs for Your Great Pyrenees
BestPet Large Doghouse Insulate Kennel
The BestPet Large Doghouse Insulated Kennel is perfect for both winter and summer weather. Engineered to be strong and durable, it is easy to put together without sacrificing quality. You will find that it has sealed connections, an elevated floor, and even a detachable roof.
Much like the Petmate Indigo, this model from BestPet is made of thick plastic that can readily stand up to sun, rain, and snow with minimal wear and tear.
This kennel boasts great ventilation so that air circulates even in the most extreme temperatures. The only downside is that these vents remain open year-round which can be a negative in the winter. They recommend placing a blanket over the kennel to keep your Great Pyrenees warmer when the temperatures drop.
Petsfit Wooden Dog House Extreme Outback Log Cabin
If you want something simple and affordable, you can’t go wrong with the Petsfit Wooden Dog House Extreme Outback Log Cabin. This dog house is constructed of Finnish spruce panels, and they boast that their walls are thicker than some log cabin dog houses on the market. Plus, it uses all stainless-steel hardware for added durability.
It comes with some nice features like an included door flap that helps to keep rain and inclement weather out of the dog house. Like some of the others, it has an open-up roof with pneumatic braces to make cleaning this dog house a breeze.
One unique feature of the Petsfit dog house is that it has a removable floor with supports so that you can fully clean and sanitize it. The adjustable feet are great for uneven surfaces. As a bonus, they are also made of plastic so they are less likely to rot over time with exposure to water.
How to Introduce Your Great Pyrenees to a New Dog House
While you may be excited for a new dog house for your four-legged friend, the feeling may not be mutual. It can take a Great Pyrenees some time to get used to his or her new house. The good news is that there are some things you can do to make the process smoother:
- Familiarization: Make the new dog house feel like a real home for your pup, starting by placing in items that they are already familiar with. For example, you might place their existing dog bed or a blanket inside for them to curl up with. Allow them to move slowly as they explore the interior.
- Move Slow: Spend some time just sitting outside your new dog house. Whenever your dog shows an interest in it, reward them with a treat. Gradually increase the threshold for how they will get the treat, eventually requiring them to go inside to get the treat.
- Positive Reinforcement: A dog who is initially resistant to the dog house may benefit from a little bit of positive reinforcement. Toss high-value treats into the dog house and watch your dog eagerly climb inside to retrieve their prize. You can also place their favorite toys inside such as a Kong ball stuffed with peanut butter.
You should never force your dog to go into the dog house. Instead, it is all about persuading them that this is beneficial for them. Forcing is a type of negative reinforcement that will skew the way your dog views their dog house and may ruin their future use of it.
Additional Accessories for Dog Houses
While the dog house itself can be a great way to make your dog feel more comfortable, you may want to invest in additional accessories that enhance their experience of the dog house. Here are a few additional accessories you can consider:
- Heated Dog Beds: Even though a Great Pyrenees has a thick double coat that insulates them from the cold, they may still like the warmth and comfort of a heated dog bed.
- Chew-Proof Mats: If your dog is a major chewer, then you may want to invest in a chew-proof mat that protects the floorboards of your new dog house. If they do manage to cause damage to it, this is less expensive to replace than a full dog house.
- Door Flap: If your dog house doesn’t come with a door flap, you may be able to purchase one separately to keep rain and pests out of your dog house.
- Insulation Kit: Some dog houses have separate insulation kits that you can install to keep your dog warmer in the winter, keeping cold air from coming in the vents and circulating.
Final Thoughts
Your Great Pyrenees deserves the very best – and that starts with helping them to stay outdoors where they prefer to roam. A dog house gives them a safe place where they can hang out and hide from the world whenever they need to.
Make sure you purchase something large enough to accommodate your dog, investing in the best dog house you can (I recommend the Petmate Indigo). Start with this list of the best dog houses and some of the accessories you can add to get your dog started.