The Great Pyrenees is an amazing dog breed, and deciding to bring one into your family is very exciting.
However, you will likely need to be making a lot of decisions around your new pet such as what their name will be and whether you will be adopting a male or female dog.
This will leave new Great Pyrenees owners wondering: should I get a male or female Great Pyrenees?
There are some slight differences between male and female Great Pyrenees including their size, temperament, and ease of training. These differences in temperament and trainability are more noticeable when males are still intact, however.
In this article, we will explain all of the differences between male and female Great Pyrenees dogs that you will need to know before deciding which you should adopt.
We will also be answering some other commonly asked questions about the Great Pyrenees that are important to know as well.
Here are the differences between male and female Great Pyrenees dogs.
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Health Differences
There are some slight differences in health depending on the sex of your Great Pyrenees. These differences mainly affect the different anatomy between male and female dogs.
Regardless of a dog being male or female, adopting your dog from a reputable breeder reduces your Great Pyrenees’ risk of developing these kinds of health problems.
Great Pyrenees Male vs Female Size Differences
Males tend to be a bit larger than females when it comes to the Great Pyrenees. The average male Great Pyrenees sits at 27 to 32 inches tall and weighs around 100 pounds and up.
Meanwhile, female Great Pyrenees tend to be 25 to 29 inches tall and weigh around 85 pounds and up.
As a result, you may want to go with a female Great Pyrenees if you do not want a larger Great Pyrenees. However, this is not always a guarantee as females can still commonly reach 29 inches tall.
Temperament Level Differences
There tends to be a difference in temperament levels depending on whether a dog is male or female, and this includes the Great Pyrenees.
This is especially true for male dogs who have not been neutered. Intact male Great Pyrenees tend to act more territorial and excitable than neutered males and female Great Pyrenees.
Intact females can have similar behavior tendencies when they are in heat. However, this only happens three or four times a year instead of all year round.
As a result, being non-spayed or neutered tends to have a greater effect on a dog’s temperament than whether they are male or female. Male and female dogs that have been neutered and spayed show little behavior differences.
See Also: 6 Reasons why your Great Pyrenees Sits on You – And How to Prevent It
Training Differences
Male and female dogs that have been spayed or neutered do not show differences when it comes to trainability when it comes to the Great Pyrenees.
However, intact males can sometimes be easily distracted, and this can make training difficult.
This is especially true if you are training in a group class with other dogs. Intact females can behave similarly when they are in heat, but as we have mentioned this only occurs a handful of times a year.
How about for the Children?
For the most part, the sex of a dog doesn’t make a huge difference on whether or not they are good with children. However, unneutered males can sometimes be too excitable and rowdy for small children when they are playing.
As a result, a female may be better for those who do not plan on fixing their dog.
Neutered males and spayed females are much more similar in temperament though, and this means that either of these dogs can be good with children.
Male vs. Female Great Pyrenees – Which is Better for the Family?
Like when playing with children, unneutered male Great Pyrenees can sometimes be too excitable and energetic when around the elderly. As a result, females and neutered males are best for homes with the elderly and small children.
For spayed and neutered male and female Great Pyrenees, the difference in behavior is greatly reduced making either a great choice for families.
However, if your family unit contains only adults and/or older children then the sex of your Great Pyrenees doesn’t matter as much. This is especially the case for families that don’t mind and have the time to work with an energetic intact male dog.
See Also: Can A Great Pyrenees Be An Inside Dog?
Behavioral & Energy Level Differences
Male Great Pyrenees tend to be more energetic and harbor more rowdy behavior than females, and this type of behavior tends to be more intense for males that have not been neutered.
Similarly, female Great Pyrenees have been described as being more “moody” and irritable than males, especially for those who are not spayed and are in heat.
Check out this related article: 20 Stimulating Jobs for Your Great Pyrenees
Questions to Ask Yourself
There are several questions that you will need to ask yourself before bringing home a Great Pyrenees regardless of if the dog is male or female. Here are some questions to ask about yourself and your lifestyle before adopting the Great Pyrenees.
Are You a First Time or Long Time Dog Owner?
The Great Pyrenees is not a recommended dog breed for first-time dog owners. This is due to their independent nature and their harder-than-average trainability.
When you include the Great Pyrenees’ size along with these factors then it is not difficult to see how this dog could quickly become overwhelming for novice dog owners.
However, this dog is great for owners who are not new to having large and independent dogs. It also helps if you have dog training experience and already have an idea about the Great Pyrenees before you adopt one.
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Are You Ready to Adopt a Large Dog?
The Great Pyrenees is a very large dog, so you will need to be ready for that if you are planning on adopting one. These dogs need plenty of exercise to stay healthy, fit, and happy.
An unexercised Great Pyrenees can quickly become overexcited and engage in some destructive behaviors like digging and chewing things.
Do You Already Have Pets in Your Home?
When adopting any new pet like a dog or a cat it is always important to make sure that they will get along with the pets that you have already.
You will need to introduce your new Great Pyrenees cautiously to your pets to make sure that your new addition is a good fit.
It is important to note that same-sex dog pairings tend to cause the most problems in the home, and it is common for them to not get along.
As a result, it is not always the best idea to get a female Great Pyrenees if you already have a female dog, and the same goes for males.
For those who already have one male and one female dog, then adding a third can be a bit trickier than adding a second dog to your family.
It is recommended then that you base things off of temperament instead, and it is always important to introduce your new dog to your other pets properly and safely.
See Related Article: Are Great Pyrenees Good with Other Dogs?
Are You Planning on Spaying or Neutering Your Great Pyrenees?
There is no question on whether or not fixed dogs are easier to handle vs. unfixed dogs. Spayed and neutered dogs tend to be calmer, less territorial, and have a greater attention span than those that are intact.
This is especially true for male dogs, as they are experiencing surges in hormones all of the time, unlike females who only experience this while in heat a handful of times a year.
The decision to fix your dog could impact whether you should adopt a male or female Great Pyrenees. Unspayed females tend to be easier to handle than unneutered males, so those who are not planning on fixing their Great Pyrenees may want to go with a female.
Meanwhile, either a male or a female Great Pyrenees would make a great choice for those who want to neuter or spay their dog.
Is your Home Equipped for a Great Pyrenees?
Great Pyrenees are very active and agile dogs. As a result, it is recommended that these dogs have a safe and secure yard to run around in.
They require a tall, secure fence if you do not want your Great Pyrenees running around the neighborhood. In addition, you may need to put in some rocks or wire meshing around the bottom of your fence to discourage digging.
How Do I Choose a Great Pyrenees Puppy?
When choosing your Great Pyrenees puppy it always helps to ask yourself the questions that we have mentioned earlier in this article.
This will help you decide if a Great Pyrenees will be the right dog for you. In addition, these questions will help you decide if you would like to go with a male or female puppy.
After you have asked these questions, you should just go with the puppy that appeals to you.
For example, if you want an outgoing dog then you may want to go with the first dog that walked up to you. If you want to go with the more shy and calm type, then the puppy that seems to sit there unnoticed may be the dog for you. Just go with what you like!
Do Great Pyrenees’ Need a Companion?
The Great Pyrenees is a dog breed that is naturally very independent, and this means that they do not need to have another dog in the home to be happy or have their social needs met.
In fact, these dogs often thrive in households where they are the only dog. They are very similar to dogs of other working and guarding breeds in this way.
This does not mean that a Great Pyrenees cannot live happily with another dog though. Many people have more than one Great Pyrenees or a Great Pyrenees and another type of dog living together.
When your Great Pyrenees is properly socialized then there shouldn’t be too many problems.
This is especially true when you introduce your new dog properly and your Great Pyrenees has been socialized.
See Related Article: Do Great Pyrenees’ Need a Friend? – Should You Get Another Dog?
Conclusion
There are several key differences between a male and female Great Pyrenees. For starters, males tend to be larger than females. In addition, there are some differences in temperament and trainability between male and female dogs as well.
Male Great Pyrenees tend to be more territorial, excitable, and easily distracted than females, especially if the male in question hasn’t been neutered.
As you can imagine, these behaviors can make training an intact male Great Pyrenees fairly difficult. This can also make these dogs not ideal for families with small children or elderly family members living in the home.
However, when neutered the differences between male and female dogs are usually greatly reduced. In addition, there are few differences in health and lifespan between male and female Great Pyrenees, especially for those adopted from reputable breeders.
Related Questions
Are female dogs calmer than males?
Female dogs tend to be calmer than males.
This is especially true of males that have not been neutered as these dogs tend to be much more energetic, territorial, and excitable than the average female dog. There are always some anomalies that exist in the world, however.
As a result, there are some energetic, excitable, and even territorial female dogs out there. It all comes down to a dog’s personality.
Do male or female dogs live longer?
There are some slight differences in the health concerns of male and female dogs due to their differences in anatomy and reproductive organs.
However, this does not make one statistically live longer than the other. When it comes to the Great Pyrenees both males and females have an average life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.
The key to having a healthy pet is adopting one from a reputable breeder.
References
“Battle of the Same-Sexes!” Battle of the Same-Sexes! | National Pyr Rescue, www.nationalpyr.org/same-sex-aggression.
Greenberg, Aurora. “Great Pyrenees Dog Breed Information.” American Kennel Club, 6 Nov. 2017, www.akc.org/dog-breeds/great-pyrenees/.
Cutts, Shannon. “Male or Female Dog: Pros, Cons and Comparisons.” The Labrador Site, 19 Mar. 2019, www.thelabradorsite.com/male-or-female-dog/.