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Dog breed guide

Pyrenean Mastiff

Friendly, calm, noble, intelligent, courageous, confident and loyal.

The Pyrenean Mastiff is a very large, powerful flock guardian from the Spanish Pyrenees, bred to protect livestock from wolves and bears. Calm, friendly and loyal to its family, it can and will guard when it thinks it is needed, and needs a large home and daily grooming.

Pyrenean Mastiff on Wikidata

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In this guide

Pyrenean Mastiff at a glance

Size
Large
Height
from 72 cm
Life expectancy
up to 10 years

Typical for the breed, not a promise about any one dog. Not assessed yet: Typical adult weight, Shedding, Training, Barking, Garden, Time alone, Owner experience, Children, Cats and small pets.

Is the Pyrenean Mastiff right for you?

Like every breed, the Pyrenean Mastiff is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:

May suit you if…

  • You can give around an hour of exercise a day.
  • You have, or would like, another dog.
  • You would like a dog that is usually calm at home.

Consider another breed if…

  • You live in a flat or a small home.
  • You cannot commit to daily grooming.

How would the Pyrenean Mastiff fit your lifestyle?

Choose a few details for a general, non-guaranteed view.

About the Pyrenean Mastiff

The Pyrenean Mastiff is a very large, strong and muscular dog with solid bone, a deep chest, a large head and a broad, deep muzzle. Despite its size it is remarkably light on its feet and should never look slow or sluggish. It is typically calm and friendly, and wonderfully loyal to its owner and family.

Read more about the Pyrenean Mastiff

Key characteristics

General breed tendencies, not a prediction for an individual dog.

  • Size

    Large

    A large dog.

  • Exercise

    Moderate

    Typically around an hour of exercise a day.

  • Energy level

    Usually calm

    Tends to be calm and settled around the home.

  • Grooming

    Daily

    The coat usually needs brushing every day.

  • Shedding

    Not assessed yet

    Our sources do not say enough yet.

  • Trainability

    Not assessed yet

    Our sources do not say enough yet.

  • Good with children

    Not assessed yet

    Our sources do not say enough yet.

  • Good with other dogs

    Usually sociable

    Usually sociable with other dogs.

  • Good with cats

    Not assessed yet

    Our sources do not say enough yet.

  • Suits first-time owners

    Not assessed yet

    Our sources do not say enough yet.

  • Barking / vocality

    Not assessed yet

    Our sources do not say enough yet.

  • Time alone

    Not assessed yet

    Our sources do not say enough yet.

Once known as the Navarra Mastiff, the breed developed in the Pyrenean region between Aragon and Navarra. It belongs to the Molosser family and has always been used as a flock guardian, protecting herds from predators such as the wolf and the bear. To protect its neck and throat while working, it often wore a heavy spiked collar.

The breed has adapted well to modern life as a guardian of the home and of country estates. In the UK it is on the Royal Kennel Club's Imported Breed Register.

Pyrenean Mastiff temperament

The ideal Pyrenean Mastiff is friendly towards people, calm, noble and intelligent. It is courageous and confident with strangers and never backs away, and it is good-natured towards other animals and aware of its own great size.

It is a guardian at heart: calm by nature, it can be aggressive when doing the job it was bred for, and it will guard and protect when it judges it necessary.

Size and appearance

This is a very large breed with no upper size limit. The breed standard sets minimum heights of 77 cm at the shoulder for males and 72 cm for females, and ideal heights are around 81 cm for males and 73.5 cm for females. The neck is protected by loose skin and a distinct double dewlap.

The coat is dense, thick, coarse and of moderate length, ideally 6–9 cm along the back, and longer on the shoulders, neck, underside, backs of the legs and tail. The base colour is always white, with a well-defined mask and patches in colours such as grey, golden yellow, brown, black, silver, beige or sand. Breed standard colours for registration are grey and white, and white, grey and sand.

How much exercise does a Pyrenean Mastiff need?

Up to an hour of exercise a day is usually enough for this breed. The Royal Kennel Club suggests a large house with a large garden.

Training a Pyrenean Mastiff

The breed standard describes the Pyrenean Mastiff as easily trained, which is one reason it makes an excellent guard for country estates and their owners today. Bear in mind that guarding is what it was bred for, and it will guard and protect when it thinks it is necessary.

Pyrenean Mastiff grooming

The thick coat needs grooming every day, and the Pyrenean Mastiff does shed.

Pyrenean Mastiff health

Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own dog’s health.

The Royal Kennel Club does not currently list breed-specific health screening tests for the Pyrenean Mastiff, and the breed is in Breed Watch Category 1, meaning no specific points of concern have been identified for judges. The Royal Kennel Club gives the lifespan as under 10 years. If you are thinking of buying a puppy, ask the breeder about the health of the parents and use the Royal Kennel Club's Health Test Results Finder for any tests they have had.

Living with a Pyrenean Mastiff

  • Other dogs

    Usually sociable with other dogs.

  • Flats and smaller homes

    Usually needs a roomy home.

What health checks should you ask about?

Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Pyrenean Mastiff home, it is reasonable to ask about:

  • Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
  • Veterinary and vaccination records. Puppies should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
  • Microchip information. In England, Scotland and Wales puppies must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
  • Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a puppy was raised.
Every Mypetzilla advert shows which details we have checked and which are simply provided by the seller. Always do your own checks too, and meet the animal before you pay anything.

How much does a Pyrenean Mastiff cost to own?

There are two costs: bringing a Pyrenean Mastiff home, and looking after one well. Puppy prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.

Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, training, bedding and equipment, and boarding or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the dog’s life, typically up to 10 years, not just the first year.

Buying a Pyrenean Mastiff

If you have decided the Pyrenean Mastiff suits your life, take the same care choosing where your dog comes from. Meet the puppy in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.

  • Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
  • Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
  • Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
  • Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.

Adopting a Pyrenean Mastiff

Pyrenean Mastiffs do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the dog. An adult dog arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.

Rescues will usually talk you through the dog’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a dog once, well.

Pyrenean Mastiffs looking for homes

Live from Mypetzilla, updated as pets are listed.

There are no Pyrenean Mastiff adverts at the moment.

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Similar breeds you may want to consider

  • Newfoundland

    Gentle, patient, loyal, calm, good-natured, docile, friendly and devoted.

    View breed guide
  • Bouvier Des Flandres

    Amiable, affectionate, loving, reserved, calm, sensible, unflappable and versatile.

    View breed guide
  • Dogue De Bordeaux

    Loyal, affectionate, devoted, gentle, intelligent, sensitive and protective.

    View breed guide

Pyrenean Mastiff FAQs

Can the Pyrenean Mastiff live in a flat?

Usually needs a roomy home. Exercise and company matter more than floor space.

How much exercise does the Pyrenean Mastiff need?

Moderate: typically around an hour a day. Puppies and older dogs need less structured exercise.

How much grooming does the Pyrenean Mastiff need?

Typically: daily.

How long does the Pyrenean Mastiff live?

Typically up to 10 years. Lifespan varies with genetics, weight, care and luck.

How big does the Pyrenean Mastiff get?

Adults typically stand from 72 cm at the shoulder.

About this guide

  • Written by Mypetzilla Editorial Team
  • Published

Breed facts are taken from the sources listed below. This is general information, not veterinary advice: please speak to a vet about any health concern.

Sources and further reading

  1. Pyrenean Mastiff | Breeds A to Z, The Royal Kennel Club. Accessed
  2. Pyrenean Mastiff | Breed Standards, The Royal Kennel Club (). Accessed

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