Is a Great Pyrenees a good first dog for families with kids, despite being stubborn?

For purposes of looking after children, the first breed to come to mind is Great Pyrenees. They are flock guardian dogs, are known to be loyal and protective, and are large and robust enough to live outdoors if given proper shelter. As a thick-coated breed, they do require regular brushing and grooming to keep from getting matted. German Shepherd/Alsatians are also excellent family dogs, very loyal and protective and highly intelligent. Bernese Mountain Dogs are loyal, confident and intelligent. Rottweilers are also a good breed as they are very loyal and protective. Some people are put off by their reputation but they are a product of their environment, as is any dog. As long as the children are taught to respect and properly treat a dog, there is no need to worry.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is not an easy question to answer, because every dog has the potential to be a great family pet. The only breed that does come to mind & having all the characteristics you want, is the Great Pyrennees. You get the size, & temperament you want. But all breeds can grow into the dog you want. It is a matter of love, socialization, training, & lots of patience. If you do go for a puppy, choose one that is relatively calm, will allow you to gently hold down on his back &, is not shy. The rest is up to you! All the best for your new addition. Take care.

I do not recommend a Rottweiler or Bullmastif for a first time dog owner. These are very strong willed dogs, and are not ones that should ever be owned by someone who has no experience with dogs. A great family friendly dog is a Golden Retriever. While they aren't a guarding breed, you need to know that the typical guarding breeds are not suitable at all for first time owners. They can be aggressive if not trained and handled correctly, and that is not safe at all for your kids. A Golden Retriever is very smart, friendly to the family, but they do bark and can look after a family. I also don't recommend keeping a dog outdoors all the time. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your potential dog. I recommend a labrador retriever. They are wonderful family dogs, highly trainable and very loyal. They have a high energy level so will require a considerable amount of exercise. They are happy go lucky dogs, but can be protective of their families. I hope this information helps!

I recommend a Great Pyrenees or other livestock guardian dog. They learn the farm boundaries and the animals and people in the household and stay around to protect everything. They are gentle and prefer to live outside. They will become protective if one of their ‘family’ is in danger only. Many breeds, as you are aware, are more hunting oriented and will take off and follow a scent or go exploring when they want. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Giant breed puppies need to eat at least a large breed, high quality puppy food to ensure slow and consistent growth. This will help to avoid developmental, skeletal abnormalities. Purina Pro Plan or Science Diet both make great formulas. Royal Canin goes one step further and makes a diet specific for giant breed puppies that is specific for the age of the puppy (the needs change as they grow). I recommend this brand most because of the specificity for the giant breed dogs. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Great question! This is a bit of a tough question in that a number of breeds of dogs who are good guard dogs are also difficult. For example, a German Shepherd. Good guard dogs, but require a lot of training and are not for a first time dog owner. If you don't know how to handle them, they can be aggressive to humans and small animals. They are also high energy dogs. Personally, I would recommend a Golden Retriever. They are absolutely lovely dogs, extremely loyal, very easy to train, excellent with humans and small animals, and if need be, could defend the owner. I had a Golden for 12 years, and she was honestly the best dog I have ever owned. So sweet and caring, but I knew that if I was ever in trouble, she would defend me. Goldens are a large breed dog, and large breed dogs can be intimidating to strangers. My Minnie would bark if someone came to the door and knocked, but otherwise didn't bark much. Sometimes a bark is enough to scare someone off. I would look into getting a Golden Retriever for the reasons I listed above. I hope this helps!