The Pyredoodle is a delightful cross breed between a Great Pyrenees and a Standard Poodle. It has quickly become a favorite among dog lovers seeking a devoted, intelligent, calm, loving and low-shedding companion.
Classed as a designer breed, the Pyredoodle combines the most desirable traits of both parent breeds, creating a unique and charming canine partner.
The breed is also goes by a few other names such as Pyreneespoo, Pyrepoo, and Pyreneesdoodle. We prefer the Pyredoodle. Its rolls off the tongue much better.
In this guide, we will explore the Pyredoodle’s history, physical characteristics, temperament, and care requirements, giving you all the knowledge you needed to decide if this breed is the ideal match for your lifestyle and household.
Whether you’re considering adding a Pyredoodle to your family or simply curious about this fascinating hybrid dog breed, this guide will provide valuable insights into the world of Pyredoodles.
History of The Pyredoodle
The Pyredoodle is a relatively new designer breed that originated in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Breeders intentionally crossed Great Pyrenees and Standard Poodles to create a dog that possesses the best qualities of both breeds. The goal was to develop a gentle, protective, intelligent, and hypoallergenic dog that would be suitable for families, therapy work, and service roles.
As the Pyredoodle gained popularity, breeders continued to refine the breed by carefully selecting and breeding the best examples of both the Great Pyrenees and the Standard Poodle. This has led to greater consistency in the Pyredoodle’s appearance, temperament, and health over time.
Like many designer breeds, the Pyredoodle is not recognized by major kennel clubs such as the American Kennel Club (AKC) or the United Kennel Club (UKC). Despite this, the Pyredoodle has gained a loyal following among dog lovers who appreciate the breed’s unique qualities and adaptability to various living situations.
Quick Facts About The Pyredoodle
Loyal and Loving: Pyredoodles are adorable dogs that love being around a family environment. They are a loyal, calm and affectionate dog breed that are very gentile towards children. This makes them the ideal family companion.
Highly Intelligent: They are very smart dogs. They get this attribute from both parent breeds, but mainly from their Poodle side. They can be trained very easily and make great working dogs, especially in the water.
Hypoallergenic: Because of their low shed curly coat, they are considered a great breed to own if you have an intolerance to pet hair.
Great with other animals: It’s always a worry how a new dog in the home is going to react to other pets. This isn’t a concern with a Pyredoodle. This breed gets on well with all animals, especially other dogs and cats.
The most popular color of a Pyredoodle is white, cream and black. They do come in a lot of other colors which we going into more depth later in the guide.
Their coat that can be wavy or curly and comes in various colors, including white, cream, apricot, red, black, and parti-colored.
Appearence of a Pyredoodle
Pyredoodles are a large, sturdy breed with a striking appearance that combines the best features of their Great Pyrenees and Standard Poodle parents. They have a well-proportioned, muscular body with a deep chest and strong legs.
Their head is fairly large, with a slightly rounded forehead, a medium-length muzzle, and a gorgeous black nose. They have medium to large, floppy ears that hang close to their head and expressive, dark eyes that convey intelligence and gentleness.
One of the most distinctive features of the Pyredoodle is their coat. They can have either a short or long coat, which can be straight or curly, depending on which parent breed they take after more. Their coat is typically thick and dense, providing excellent insulation against cold weather.
Height & Weight
Male Pyredoodles generally stand between 24 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh between 85 to 100 pounds. Females are slightly smaller, standing 22 to 30 inches tall and weighing between 75 to 90 pounds.
Despite their size, Pyredoodles are known for their graceful movement and agility, making them well-suited for various activities and sports.
Colors of the Pyredoodles
Pyredoodles come in a variety of colors and coat patterns, due to inheriting the diverse color options from both parent breeds. The Great Pyrenees typically has a white coat, while the Standard Poodle comes in a wide range of solid colors, including black, white, cream, apricot, red, brown, and silver. As a result, Pyredoodles can be found in many colors.
Black: Pyredoodles can have a solid black coat or be mixed with another color, such as white or gray.
White: Some Pyredoodles appear pure white, while others may have a slight apricot or beige tint to their coats.
Cream: There are various shades of cream found in Pyredoodles, ranging from light to dark.
Apricot: Apricot Pyredoodles can be very vibrant, almost the color of hay, or so light that they might be mistaken for a cream color.
Red: Pyredoodles can inherit the rich, reddish-brown coat color from their Poodle parent.
Brown: Brown Pyredoodles can range from a dark, intense brown to a lighter shade.
Silver: These dogs look like they have a diluted gray coat, often with darker points on their feet and head. They are usually born white, with the silver color developing around six weeks of age and spreading across their body.
Gray: Some Pyredoodles are born with a gray coat, while others may develop this color over time, usually by the age of five.
Blue: These Pyredoodles appear to have a faded black coat. Most are born black and develop the blue color before their second birthday.
Parti-color: Pyredoodles can also have a combination of two or more colors in their coat, such as black and white or brown and white.
The Pyredoodle’s coat can be short or long, and either straight or curly, depending on which parent breed they take after more. Regardless of coat color or texture, all Pyredoodles have a black nose.
Do Pyredoodles Need a Lot of Personal Care?
Pyredoodles, like most dogs, require a moderate amount of personal care to keep them healthy, happy, and looking their best. They are generally considered a low-maintenance dog compared to some other breeds. Although they still have specific grooming and care requirements that owners should be aware of.
One of the main aspects of caring for a Pyredoodle is grooming. Their coat needs a good brush every week to prevent matting and tangling. Brushing also helps to distribute the natural oils in their skin, keeping their coat healthy and shiny.
In terms of having a bath, every 6 to 8 weeks is sufficient, or as when needed. if its winter and you’ve just come back from a long, muddy walk, then obviously a good wash down is needed.
Other areas of personal care include regular nail trimming, ear cleaning, and dental hygiene. Pyredoodles’ nails should be trimmed every 4 to 6 weeks to prevent overgrowth and discomfort.
Their ears should be checked and cleaned weekly to avoid infections, particularly if they have floppy ears that can trap moisture.
Dental Care
Dental care is also essential, and owners should aim to brush their Pyredoodle’s teeth at least 2 to 3 times a week to maintain good oral health.
While this breed does require some personal care, they are not considered a high-maintenance dog.
With regular grooming and attention to their basic needs, owners can keep their Pyredoodle looking and feeling their best.
How Long Do Pyredoodles Live For?
Generally considered a healthy breed, Pyredoodles have a lifespan that ranges from 12 to 15 years. Because it’s a new hybrid breed, there is limited data available on their long-term health and longevity.
However, if we look at the lifespans of their parent breeds, the Great Pyrenees and the Standard Poodle, we can gain some insight into what to expect.
Great Pyrenees have an average lifespan of 10-12 years, while Standard Poodles tend to live slightly longer, with an average lifespan of 12-15 years.
Given that the Pyredoodle is a combination of these two breeds, it is reasonable to expect their lifespan to fall within the range of their parent breeds.
You also need to take into consideration that various factors can influence a Pyredoodle’s lifespan, such as genetics, diet, exercise, and overall day-to-day care. If you provide your Pyredoodle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and proper veterinary care, you can help ensure that your furry companion lives a long, healthy, and happy life.
Do Pyredoodles Need A Lot of Exercise?
These are medium to high energy dogs, so they do need a good walk / run everyday. 45 to 60 minutes of exercise is the bare minimum for this breed. Because they come from two working dog breeds, the Great Pyrenees and the Standard Poodle, Pyredoodles have inherited the strong desire for activity and mental stimulation.
Exercise is great for any dog’s mental health and wellbeing, but even more so for the Pyredoodle.
Because of their high intelligence, they do need some mental stimulation as well. Playing with them, hiding objects that they can then go and find will help keep them happy and on top form.
Exercise not only helps to keep them physically fit but also promotes good behavior and reduces the likelihood of destructive habits such as chewing or excessive barking.
A well-exercised Pyredoodle is more likely to be content, relaxed, and better behaved when indoors.
Why A Pyredoodle Instead of a Great Pyrenees?
Pyredoodles are essentially a mix of the best traits of both breeds. One attribute from one breed, mixed into another can effectively make a super dog.
There’s a few examples of this with the Pyredoodle.
- They are much quieter than a Great Pyrenees: GPs are known for their loud and thunderous bark, as they are breed to be watchdogs. Mixed with a quiet poodle breed, they retain the watch dog element but are considerably quieter.
- They are much more trainable: A Great Pyrenees isn’t a dog breed for an inexperienced owner. They are incredibly stubborn, hard to train and need a firm hand. When mixed with a Poodle, the Pyredoodle becomes a lot easier to manage and train because of the high intelligence of the Poodle breed.
- Hypoallergenic coat: The Pyredoodle’s low-shedding, hypoallergenic coat is one of their most appealing qualities. Unfortunately the Great Pyrenees does not have this attribute. Inherited from their Poodle parent, this coat type makes them an excellent choice for families with allergies or those who want a cleaner living environment. While no dog is completely allergen-free, Pyredoodles produce less dander and shed less fur compared to many other breeds, making them a popular choice for indoor living.
Breed Traits – Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent family dog: Ideal family dog to have in the home environment. | Stubborn: Known to be a bit stubborn at times, but hey, aren’t we all? |
| Great with other dogs and pets: They get on well with most animals and will not have an issue with new pets in the house. | Costly to feed: They eat a lot due to their size and energy levels, so be prepared to pay out some cash to feed them decent food every week. |
| Loving and loyal | |
| Calm and Friendly | |
| Amazing watch dog: This trait comes from both parent breeds. They keep watch and will alert their owner of any threats. | |
| Hypoallergenic: An allergy friendly dog |