There are two things you should never lose sight of when it comes to looking after a Golden Pyrenees — its size, and its coat.
This is a large breed, and because of their sheer size and energy, this Great Pyrenees Golden Retriever mix is definitely not suited to living in an apartment. They’ll thrive in a house with plenty of space to roam around in, including a securely fenced yard outside so it doesn’t wander off.
Now, on the subject of that coat. Thick, soft and lustrous to the touch it may be, but it does require extra grooming to keep it from matting and tangling. The coat may not be as thick as their Great Pyrenees parent, but it still needs daily brushing to keep it soft and silky. They don’t require regular bathing, only when it really needs it or it may lose the natural oils from the coat.
Other maintenance issues to address are trimming of the nails, and brushing the teeth to maintain good oral hygiene. The Golden Pyrenees will love all the attention and will obligingly let you groom them to perfection.
Golden Pyrenees health risks
Dogs can get poorly from time to time, and no breed is completely immune from health issues. With mixed and hybrid breeds like the Golden Pyrenees, we can learn a lot about potential health problems by understanding what affects the parent breeds.
The following health conditions have been listed as those that the Golden Pyrenees might suffer from, during its lifetime:
Patellar Luxation
This is a relatively common condition that affects many different breeds of dog — Golden Retrievers are among them. Patellar luxation is when the kneecap becomes dislocated or displaced from the knee joint. It can be congenital — which is when dogs are born with it, in this case golden pyrenees puppies — or developmental, occurring later in life. Symptoms in your dog include limping, pain when moving the leg, restricted movement, swelling, and a reluctance to run or jump.
There are four different grades of a luxating patella, with Grade 1 the mildest, moving upwards to Grade 4. Treatment is always required, especially in the most severe of cases.
Hip Dysplasia
With hip dysplasia, the ball and socket is malformed, so it doesn’t move smoothly — instead, there’s a rubbing and grinding sensation in one or both hip joints which is obviously uncomfortable and painful. It can occur to any breed but is more common in larger dogs, of which the Great Pyrenees is one.
It can be an inherited condition, seen in young dogs, but can also develop in later life as a result of too much exercise, poor nutrition, and weight gain leading to obesity. Dogs with hip dysplasia may struggle to get up and down stairs, from lying down, and walking with a ‘hopping motion.’
Von Willebrand’s Disease
Von Willebrand’s Disease is a particularly nasty condition, a bleeding disorder that can ultimately prove fatal if not treated. With this, the blood doesn’t clot properly; a dog may start bleeding excessively after an injury, or post-surgery. Sometimes, a dog with Von Willebrand’s Disease may even spontaneously start bleeding from different areas of the body. The situation can get very serious, very quickly.
It’s an inherited condition, and though it’s most closely associated with Doberman Pinschers, the Golden Retriever is another breed considered at risk. There’s no cure for Von Willebrand’s Disease, but it can be treated and managed.
Bloat
Also known as stomach dilatation or gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV),
bloat is a serious condition — life-threatening, in fact, in the most severe cases and if not treated urgently. Large dog breeds with deep chests are most at risk, and it’s often brought on by eating too much, too quickly, or exercising too soon after feeding. The stomach fills with gas, and/or food and twists, putting pressure on other organs. Stress is also thought to be a trigger.
It’s difficult for pet parents to identify a case of bloat. Look out for your dog drooling, retching, breathing in a labored way, panting or generally appearing to be in distress.
What to feed a Golden Pyrenees
Big dogs have big appetites but as always, what you feed a Golden Pyrenees isn’t about quantity. Golden Pyrenees puppies may need four smaller meals a day; you can reduce this to two a day when they’re full-grown adults. Avoid feeding one large meal daily, as this can be a contributory cause of bloat. And, avoid over-feeding, as a Golden Pyrenees loves its food and can become overweight.
You should always aim to provide dog food made with the best possible ingredients. Don’t know where to start? Our guide to how to choose the best dog food for your dog has lots of good tips, while you might also find our discussion on feeding wet food or dry food useful.
We have recommendations for the best dog food for large dogs here and more picks for best choices for one of the parent breeds, the Golden Retriever, here.
You can also head over to our online friends and partners, DogFood Advisor, for in-depth analysis of leading dog food brands and recipes.
