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Golden Pyrenees (Size, Cost, Traits, Care, and Training)

The Golden Retriever is one of the most widely crossbred dogs. According to the American Canine Hybrid Club, the Golden Retriever has 21 recognized crossbreeds, including the Golden Pyrenees.  

A Golden Pyrenees is a crossbreed of the Golden Retriever and the Great Pyrenees. Golden Pyrenees stand out as large dogs that are affectionate with family, good with children and other dogs and are highly trainable and adaptable. 

As with most crossbreeds, a breed standard for the Golden Pyrenees does not exist. Thus, lovers and breeders of this hybrid rely on the standard of the parent dogs to predict what their pups will look like.

Golden Retriever Great Pyrenees Mix
Instagram: @daisy_thegoldenpyrenees

So, let’s get into the details and discuss the features that make the Golden Retriever Great Pyrenees mix so unique and desirable.  

Origin and History

Let’s start off with a brief description of the origin and history behind the Golden Pyrenees. But, if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at this crossbreed:

Golden
Pyrenees
Breed
Characteristics
TypeWorking / Companion
Other NamesGolden Retriever Great Pyrenees Mix, Great Pytreiver, Great Golden, Golden Pyr
Breed SizeLarge
Height23-32 inches (Males)
21.5-29 inches (Females)
WeightBetween 65 to 100lbs (Males)
Between 55lbs to 85lbs (Females)
TemperamentFriendly, Patient, Calm, Outgoing, Playful,
Brave, Protective, Guard-dog, Willing, Trainable, Loyal, Intelligent, High-energy
AppearanceMajestic, Elegant, Broad Skull, Well-balanced Muzzle, Black or Brownish-black Nose, Brown Eyes, Long and Well-plummed tail, Medium-sized Ears (carried flat to the cheeks)
Lifespan10-12 years
Health IssuesCancer, Bloat (GDV), Bone and Joint Issues, Ear and Eye Problems, Addison’s Disease
Coat ColorsGolden, White, Mix of White and Gold, With or without markings
Coat TypeDouble-coated, Medium or Long, Straight or Wavy
SheddingHeavy
GroomingModerate
Easy to TrainYes
Exercise NeedsMedium-High
HypoallergenicNo
Child FriendlyYes
Pet FriendlyYes
Good for new ownersYes
Cost$500 – $1,000

What Is a Golden Pyrenees? 

The Golden Pyrenees is not purebred. It is a crossbreed of the Golden Retriever and the Great Pyrenees. The parent dogs are quite different in physical and personality traits. However, crossbreeding a Golden and Pyrenees brings out the best of these dogs in the resulting puppy. 

The ‘Golden Pyrenees’ is the clubs’ official name to register these hybrid dogs. However, the Golden Retriever Great Pyrenees mix is sometimes called Great Pytreiver. You may also find unofficial terms such as ‘Great Golden’ and ‘Golden Pyr.’ 

The Golden Pyrenees does not have an official breed standard as a crossbreed dog. To understand the Great Pyrenees Golden Retriever mix, you’ll have to understand the parent breeds. 

Golden Retriever

There’s a reason Golden Retrievers appear among the top 5 in several lists, including the AKC’s most popular breeds and Stanley Coren’s The Intelligence of Dogs. This dog is intelligent, friendly, loyal, and loves to please. 

Goldens are outgoing and will get along with family, strangers, children, and other dogs and animals. Besides, you can quickly train a Golden Retriever using its favorite treats to reward desired behavior.

Since they are so intelligent and willing to please you, you don’t need to repeat commands multiple times, as your Golden will learn and execute them fast. 

Related: How to Train an 8 Week Old Golden Retriever.

These are some of the great traits Dudley Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth, desired when he crossed several breeds to create a fast, energetic, and loyal dog – the Golden Retriever.

Goldens were initially water and land retrievers, and they made faithful and obedient hunting companions. 

Golden Retrievers arrived in the United States in the early 1900s, and the AKC recognized them as a breed in 1925. The popularity of Golden Retrievers has spread widely since then. Today, Golden Retrievers take the 3rd position in the 2021 most popular dog breeds list. 

Great Pyrenees and Golden Retriever

Great Pyrenees

The Great Pyrenees is a snowstorm at first glance. Its snow-white fur gives it an air of majesty, even though some Pyrs can come with markings. The Pyr is a good dog and is known for its patience and affection with family.  

However, a Great Pyrenees can also be a blazing fire if someone threatens their family as they have acute guarding and protective skills. You’ll need to train your Pyrs to be social and work with them to control their instinct to bark when the dog is a puppy. The Pyr’s strong-willed nature also warrants early training. 

These traits describe the sheep guard dog bred by the French of the Pyrenees Mountains around 3000 BCE. The Pyr’s guarding skills were refined under the freezing temperatures of the mountains. The Great Pyrenees is also considered France’s royal dog for protecting the king’s castle in the 17th century.

See also: Is a Great Pyrenees Right for You? Weighing the Pros and Cons

At some point in history, Great Pyrenees dogs decreased in numbers with the decline in sheep predators. But their arrival in North America and their registration by the AKC in 1933 helped revive this royal breed. The Great Pyrenees is the 70th most registered dog, going by the AKC records. 

Appearance, Coat, and Colors

Being a crossbreed, it is difficult to precisely predict what your Great Pyrenees Golden Retriever mix will look like. Nonetheless, you can expect some of the parent breeds’ prominent physical and temperament traits to characterize your Golden Pyrenees Golden Retriever mix. 

Let’s explore the Great Pytreiver’s appearance. But first…

Watch This Cute Golden Pyrenees Puppy on YouTube…

A Day in the Life of a Golden Pyrenees

Golden Pyrenees General Appearance

Taking from both the Golden Retriever and the Great Pyrenees, your Great Pytreiver will be well put together. The crossbreed will adorn the majesty and elegance of the Pyr and show the symmetry of the Golden Retriever. 

In addition, your Golden Pyrenees will display the regal expression of the Pyr with an incorporated aspect of the kindly yet alert and confident expression of the Golden Retriever. 

Golden Pyrenees Coat Type and Color

The Golden Retriever and Great Pyrenees have a lot in common regarding coat type, and you’ll likely see an even fusion of the two coats in your Golden Retriever Great Pyrenees mix.  

First, your Golden Pyrenees pup will have a weather-resistant double coat that could be coarser like the one of the Pyr or take a softer texture after the Golden. The fur may be straight or wavy depending on their Golden parent or flat after their Pyr parent. The length of the fur may vary from medium to long. 

The Great Pyrenees and the Golden Retriever have heavier feathering on the neck, back, and tail. These aspects are likely to reflect in the Golden Pyrenees puppy. 

The Golden Pyrenees puppy coat can be golden in color after their Golden Retriever parent or pure white like their Great Pyrenees Parent. Alternatively, the puppy could come with a mixture of white and golden (dark or light) or bear reddish-brown, gray, tan, or badger markings from the Pyr parent. 

Golden Pyrenees
Instagram:@ _stellaarftois

Other Golden Pyrenees Features

You should also expect some of these appearance elements when you crossbreed a Golden Retriever and a Great Pyrenees: 

  • Head: Broad skull with a possible slight wedge shape and a wide and deep fore face. The head is proportionate to the body. 
  • Muzzle: The muzzle will tend more to a well-balanced length and head skull as with the Pyr parent or show more of the straight Golden muzzle that blends smoothly and firmly into the skull. 
  • Eyes: Medium-large eyes with the friendly and intelligent expression of the Golden Retriever. The eyelids fit closely. The color of the eyes is dark brown like that of the parent breeds. 
  • Nose: Black from both parents, with a possibility for a brownish-black nose from the Golden Retriever parent. 
  • Ears: Small to medium-sized ears, carried flat and close to the cheeks. 
  • Tail: Long, extending to the hock. It may be well plumed as that of the Pyr. The tail carriage may vary from low to level and have a moderate upward curve. The tail might also extend over the back like the Pyr. 

How Big Do Golden Pyrenees Get? 

A male Golden Pyrenees will grow to around 23-32 inches (58.4-81.3cm) at the withers, while a female will grow to about 21.5-29 inches (54.6-73.7cm). A male Golden Pyrenees grows to approximately 65 to 100lbs (29.5 to 45.4kg), while a female will weigh about 55 to 85 lbs (24.9 to 8.6kg). 

These Golden Pyrenees’ sizes are estimated from the size of the parent breeds as shown:

Golden RetrieverGolden PyreneesGreat Pyrenees
Male 
Height
23-24 inches
(58.4-61.0 cm)
Between 23-32 inches
(58.4-81.3 cm)
27-32 inches
(68.58-81.28 cm)
Female
Height
21.5-22.5 inches
(54.6-57.2 cm)
Between 21.5-29 inches
(54.5-73.7 cm)
25-29 inches
(63.5-73.66 cm)
Male
Weight
65-75lbs (29.5-34.0 kg)Between 65 to 100lbs
(29.5 to 45.4 kg)
100lbs (45.35 kg)
or more
Female
Weight
55-65lbs
(24.9-29.5 kg)
Between 55lbs to 85lbs
(24.9-38.6 kg)
85lbs (38.55 kg)
or more

Golden Pyrenees Temperament

Next is a look at the temperament of the Pytreiver

Are Golden Pyrenees Good Dogs?

Temperament is the main aspect used to describe a good dog, especially the dog’s capacity to be friendly with family and other people and animals. These temperament traits are directly influenced by your puppy’s breed, which means crossbreeds will mainly inherit their temperament characteristics from the parent breeds. 

Golden Pyrenees are good dogs because they are affectionate with their family. They are also good with children, other dogs, and strangers. Golden Pyrenees also have a high level of adaptability and trainability, making them well-suited for many families. 

If you are looking for a guarding dog, the Golden Pyrenees is also a good dog as it inherits guarding traits from both parents. These traits include a protective nature and a tendency to barking (especially in the Great Pyrenees). 

Also, when considering the Great Pytreiver as a family dog, it’s essential to know that the crossbreed could come with some downsides, including: 

  • Excessive shedding (both parents are heavy shedders). 
  • A bit of stubbornness from the Pyr parent. 
  • Being extra vocal, like their Pyr parent. 

Both the Pyr and the Golden have high mental stimulation needs and require a high level of exercise. These needs make the Golden Retriever Great Pyrenees cross suitable for someone who has the time to provide daily exercise and keep their Golden Pyrenees mentally stimulated.

Golden Pyrenees
Instagram: @titus_and_yeti

How To Care for a Golden Pyrenees

If you’re considering getting this crossbreed, you’ll need to know how to care for it.

Do Golden Pyrenees Shed?

Golden Pyrenees shed. Considering that both the Great Pyrenees and the Golden Retriever are heavy shedders, it is evident that a Golden Pyrenees will shed. Having double coats also means that the Great Pytreivers will blow their coats when seasons change to adapt to the summer heat and winter cold. 

Like their parent dogs, Golden Pyrenees will require regular brushing at least twice a week – and more often in the heavy shedding fall and spring seasons. 

A de-shedding tool will work best on your Golden Pyrenees’ double coat to eliminate loose fur both on the outer and the inner coats. An occasional bath will help loosen dead hair, but you should only brush the Golden Pyrenees’ fur when it is dry. 

If your Golden Pyrenees inherits more of the Pyr’s coat type, you won’t need to deal with mats since the Great Pyrenees’ coat is mat-resistant. 

As with the parent breeds, you should regularly clip your Golden Pyrenees’ nails. You should also wipe the eyes and ears and brush their teeth weekly. 

Health and Lifespan

Here’s a look at the common health problems faced by Golden Pyrenees.

Common Health Issues

The most serious health condition that may affect your Golden Pyrenees is cancer. Both parent breeds have cancer listed among common health risks. However, the Golden Retriever could give your Golden Pyrenees a greater risk for cancer. 

Several studies have consistently shown that Golden Retrievers are at significant risk for cancer. For example, the 1989-1999 National Health Survey by the Golden Retriever Club of America recorded cancer (Neoplasia) as the number one cause of death in Golden Retrievers, with 61.4% prevalence. 

Also, a 27-year longitudinal study published in 2018 confirmed that Golden Retrievers were at a higher risk of cancer-related mortality. 

Other health risks your Golden Pyrenees could inherit from the parents are listed below: 

Golden RetrieverGreat Pyrenees
Canine hip dysplasia (CHD)
(CHD prevalence in Golden Retrievers was 14.9%
and 8.5% in two different studies) 
Hypoadrenocorticism
(Addison’s disease) 
Ear InfectionsBone and Joint Issues
Skin InfectionsEye Problems
Heart ConditionsDental Infections
Cancer
Bloat

How Long Do Golden Pyrenees Live?

Your Golden Pyrenees can live 10-12 years like its breed parents. It is also possible that your Golden Pyrenees may outlive their parents, considering that crossbreed dogs are healthier and record a longer lifespan. 

To ensure your Golden Retriever Great Pyrenees mix lives for its estimated life expectancy, you’ll need to give proper attention to the five areas of dog care when taking care of your dog:  

  • A healthy diet. 
  • A suitable living environment. 
  • Daily exercise and the freedom to behave normally. 
  • Appropriate company. 
  • Protection from pain, suffering, injury, and disease. 
Pytreiver

FAQ About Golden Pyrenees Mix 

Is a Golden Pyrenees Right for You? 

Not every dog breed suits everyone. To determine if a breed is right for you, you’ll need to weigh the breed’s temperament, physical traits, and care needs against your living, financial, and time resources. 

A Golden Pyrenees is right for you if you are looking for a pet that is friendly with your family, children, and other dogs. Still, you have enough room to provide a proper living environment for a large dog and provide your dog with daily exercise and consistent mental stimulation. 

A Golden Pyrenees is also an excellent choice if you want a guard dog that alerts you of intruders and acts to protect. 

You should, however, note that a Golden Pyrenees is a heavy shedder and can inherit a significant risk for cancer from its Golden Retriever parent. If you are not ready for these risks, a Golden Retriever Great Pyrenees mix may not suit you. 

The Golden Pyrenees is right for you if you:

Love large dogs and have enough space for your Pytreiver’s comfort.
Want a dog with a relatively long lifespan.
Want a friendly dog with guarding qualities.

The Golden Pyrenees is not right for you if you:

Are allergic to dog fur; the Pytreiver is not hypoallergenic.
Don’t want a dog who might inherit barking behavior.
Don’t want a dog that could be prone to cancer.

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Author

  • Sharon Waddington

    Sharon Waddington is the founder of World of Dogz. With over 30 years of experience working with dogs, this former Police Officer has seen it all. But it’s her trusty German Shepherd, Willow, who steals the show as the inspiration behind this website. As Sharon’s constant companion Willow has played a pivotal role in shaping her passion for dogs. Find her on Linkedin!