Great Pyrenees have a strong independent streak—it’s what makes a Pyr a Pyr. If you’ve owned one, you will know they are not easily trained. We joke that “Come” is only a request for most Pyrs. Training a Great Pyrenees can be a challenge for some owners. If you require a dog who will display unquestioning obedience, you should probably look at another breed.
Be a Good Leader
We urge adopters to follow the rules of “Nothing in Life is Free” training and being a pack leader. These two concepts go hand-in-hand. It’s all about who controls the resources (food, treats, attention and toys). It’s important the dog does not equate him/herself) as having equal status with any of the humans in the family (including children). Make every day training day by incorporating these basic techniques. Dog should:
- Sit and/or do a “watch me” for every treat and every meal.
- Sit when you put on his /her leash or when visitors enter.
- Wait, not push his way through the door; you decide who goes first.
- Be given attention at your discretion.
Getting up on furniture (and particularly the owner’s bed), gives the dog the same status as the owner. This should be avoided, at the very least, until your leadership is established. Once your Pyr knows who’s boss, you can invite him/her up on the couch or bed. If you have more than one dog, this is an interesting article on pack hierarchy. Click here for tips on managing specific problem behaviors.
Start With Training Basics
That said, there is no question that Pyrs must learn basic commands. Your dog will benefit from positive-reinforcement training, which can be enhanced with clicker training. Dogs need to know owners are the pack leaders and that they (the dog) are beneath everyone in the human family in the pack order. The Pyr wants you to be the leader, but if there is a void in leadership, the Pyr will step in to fill it. That’s when problems often arise. One of our best educational resources is www.patriciamcconnell.com, for her booklets on being a good leader and managing various behavioral issues.
Avoid Force
We strongly advise against using shock or prong collars on your dog under any circumstances. Studies have shown that there is no significant difference between the dogs trained for recall with or without e-collars but that dogs with e-collars had higher overall stress levels. The article here from training guru, Roman Gottfried explains more.
Every day is training day for your Great Pyrenees. Additional training resources on this website can be found below:
