Great Pyrenees Lab Mix - A Complete Guide To The Pyrador Dog Breed (2024)

Origin of the Great Pyrenees Lab Mix

The Pyrador has a strong working history, bred from two very different lines of intelligent and cooperative dog breeds.

The Lab parent started out as a retrieving breed alongside fishermen in Newfoundland, Canada. Now in modern times, the Lab is most often a devoted family pet. But they are also excellent service animals. Their intelligence and loyalty make them excellent support animals to their human counterparts.

The Great Pyrenees is believed to have originated from the Pyrenees Mountains of southern France and Northern Spain. This is an extremely old breed, used for centuries by shepherds to guard livestock, where their bravery in going up against predators such as wolves and bears became legendary!

Pyrador Appearances

The Pyrador is a large dog with an even build and long muzzle. The ears hang low and floppy, and the coat tends to be short in fist generation mixes. You can increase the likelihood of certain colors by choosing parents with the same fur color. For instance, a Great Pyrenees black Lab mix! It’s possible to get black, yellow or chocolate Labs. With each color coming in a variety of shades. The Great Pyrenees, on the other hand, has a mostly white, shaggy coat, that can have slight color variations in some areas, including yellow, badger, reddish brown, tan and gray.

Grooming and Shedding

The Lab and the Great Pyrenees are shedders, so their pups will need brushing at least once a week. More in molting season. No matter which parent your puppy takes after, you can expect a lot of shedding. This isn’t the most suitable breed if you struggle with allergies.

For the most part, the Labrador Pyrenees mix should be easy to care for as far as grooming goes. Both of the Pyrador’s purebred parents’ coats are naturally weather and dirt resistant, which means bathing your Pyrador will only be required on occasion.

Despite the high-maintenance look of the Great Pyrenees’ thick white coat, he is actually a pretty easy dog to care for and groom, and so is the Lab. Groom your Pyrador once or twice a week to keep their coat in its best condition. Regular nail trimming and ear cleaning are also advised.

Great Pyrenees Lab Mix Size

Labradors can grow up to 25 inches tall and weigh up to 80 lbs. An adult Great Pyrenees looks bigger than he is because of his thick, durable coat. But, he is still a large dog, who will grow to be 25- 32 inches tall and can weigh up to 100 pounds.

An adult Pyrador will be anywhere between 22-32 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 55-100 pounds.

Great Pyrenees Lab Mix Temperament

Labs are famous for their intelligence and cooperative natures. They absolutely love being in the center of fun family activities! But, if left to get bored, they can be destructive. The Great Pyrenees is consistently and affectionately renowned as a gentle giant who loves to play and especially enjoys the snow! He is most famous for his mild-mannered temperament, but he is able to move swiftly to address anything he may consider to be a threat to his family.

The Pyrador will be an intelligent, playful, family-friendly dog who enjoys being with his people and requires plenty of exercise.

Guarding Instincts

The Great Pyrenees does make a wonderful family dog, and he is patient and gentle with his own family’s children. But, he takes his watch-dog role rather seriously, so he should be supervised with outsiders. This is a trait that can be passed on to the Great Pyrenees Lab mix. And, in some circ*mstances, guarding instincts and loyalty can stray into aggression. Especially towards strangers and other animals.

Pyrador Socialization

Socialization involves introducing a puppy to as many new experiences as possible during their fear period. This period lasts from around 8 weeks old to 16 weeks at the very latest. So, during this time, make sure your Pyrador has positive experiences with strangers, other dogs, other animals, and any places of things he will encounter in his later life. This could include a noisy schoolyard, a train, a beach, and much more.

Since puppies may not have all their vaccinations during socialization, you may also need to invest in a puppy sling to help you carry your ever-growing Pyrador pup around! Socialization is important even if your Great Pyrenees and Lab mix seems to take more after their Lab parent. All dog breeds can benefit from it!

Training

The temperament of the Great Pyrenees and the Lab are quite similar in many areas. But they differ slightly when it comes to trainability. Both the Lab and the Great Pyrenees are intelligent breeds. But while the Lab enjoys learning new things and is eager to please, the Great Pyrenees is more independent.

Keep in mind the Pyrador mix could inherit this independence from his Great Pyrenees parent, or he could be more prone to easy training like his Lab parent. Either way, we recommend proper socializing and training with your Pyrador. Always keep the training techniques positive and fun. Remember that training can be an excellent bonding opportunity for you and your Pyrador puppy.

Exercise Needs

Both parent breeds are active dogs that need daily exercise. So this is something almost guaranteed in your Pyrador mix. Proper exercise will also help to reduce the chances of boredom-related damages to material goods in the home. And it can be another great way to bond with your dog! Ideally, a Great Pyrenees Lab mix needs a large, safely enclosed yard to play in, plus some dedicated time for exercise with you each day, once their joints are fully developed.

Great Pyrenee Health and Care

Because the Pyrador is a cross between the Lab and the Great Pyrenees, he could be predisposed to any of the above inheritable health issues of his purebred parents. Remember that early health screening in your Pyrador crossbreed puppy can help avoid or prepare for any future genetic problems. You can learn more about the health testing requirements as specified by the AKC for the Labrador and the Great Pyrenees here.

Labrador Health

A healthy Labrador’s lifespan is 10-12 years. As with all breeds, some health problems are passed down from generation to generation, and the purebred Lab is no exception. Some health concerns with the Lab include:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Cranial cruciate ligament disease
• Progressive retinal atrophy
• Cataracts
• Canine bloat
• Exercise Induced Collapse

Great Pyrenees Health

Like the Lab, the Great Pyrenees has a life expectancy of 10-12 years. However, there are some heritable health conditions to be aware of as well including:

• Tricuspid valve dysplasia
• Degenerative myelopathy
• Bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus)
• Elbow and hip dysplasia
• Shoulder osteochondritis
• Factor XI deficiency
• Osteosarcoma
• Ectropion
• Entropion
• Progressive retinal atrophy
• and skin issues.

Pyrador Puppies

Pyrador puppies from breeders cost anywhere from five hundred to a thousand dollars. Again, the important thing is to do your research on the breeder and make sure you look into the history of the Pyrador’s purebred parents whenever possible.

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Since your new pup can inherit tendencies from either parent, be sure to ask about behavioral issues and health concerns with parent dogs when looking to adopt any crossbreed. You can also ask about any health or temperamental problems with previous litters from the same parents.

Make sure to avoid puppy mills, pet stores, and backyard breeders. They often jump on mixed breed trends to make a quick profit, but there’s no guarantee these pups will be as healthy as those from reputable breeders.