About Us & Great Pyr Info

The Majestic Great Pyrenees are massive, fiercely protective, yet gentle Live Stock Guardian

Dogs. We love this breed for it's loyalty and grace. Happily utilized as working dogs and
devoted family pets, Hilltop Guardian Great Pyrenees, are excellent at protecting their
herd of goats, pasture/forested pigs, free range chickens, and children. The Great Pyrenees'
devotion to its family is incomparable.
Since 2007 have been dedicated AKC Great Pyrenees breeders with a focus on Livestock Guardians and
Great Pyrenees wellbeing including rescue and rehabilitation. We are located in the
Smoky Mountains of beautiful East Tennessee.
Our Pyrs enjoy ranging acres of pasture land and mountain side while guarding
and protecting their herds and humans. We do not kennel our dogs! We have backgrounds
in animal husbandry and I have a B.S. from Auburn University in Animal/Dairy Science Pre-Vet.
I spent many years working in the medical/veterinary fields.
A Great Pyrenees is not for every family or individual depending on circumstance, as they
are instinctively driven. An understanding of the breed and commitment to its characteristics are required. We encourage all potential owners to research the breed. We
welcome questions! For those who value their amazing traits and understand them,
this relationship is exceptional. With a Pyr is more about a relationship of respect than obedience. They will not do tricks. We encourage visits to our farm for those interested in becoming
a Hilltop Great Pyrenees owner. It is important to us to develop good relationships
with our puppy owners now and in to the future. We do this by offering education, experience,
and being available before, during, and long after a Hilltop Great Pyrenees is
placed with a family or farm.

All the Pyrs pictured are from our farm unless noted. On a personal note, we find delight
and joy in our country life, our children, magnificent dogs, variety of farm animals, and
faith that gives it all deeper meaning.
We are pleased to offer our AKC Registered puppies, knowledge,and experience to you! HilltopGreatPyr@gmail.com, www.HilltopGreatPyrenees.blogspot.com

Contact & Follow us on Instagram @hilltop_great_pyrenees #hilltopgreatpyrenees
https://www.facebook.com/HilltopGreatPyrenees/

More Great Info:

These dogs take their name from the mountain range in southwestern Europe, where they long have been used as guardians of the flocks. In the United States they are called Great Pyrenees. In the United Kingdom and on the continent of Europe, they are known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog. In their native France, they are Le Chien de Montagne des Pyrenees or Le Chien des Pyrenees. The breed was a favorite of The Grand Dauphin and other members of the French aristocracy. Whatever the name, it is a beautiful, primarily white dog with a "certain elegance" which for centuries has been the working associate of peasant shepherds high on the mountain slopes.

The breed likely evolved from a group of principally white mountain flock guard dogs that originated ten or eleven thousand years ago in Asia Minor. It is very plausible that these large white dogs arrived in the Pyrenees Mountains with their shepherds and domestic sheep about 3000 BC.

Today the Great Pyrenees is a working dog as well as a worker, companion, and family dog. Most dogs never see a show ring, but they are trusted and beloved members in homes and most of our dogs function as vital livestock guardian dogs on farms and ranches.

The Great Pyrenees is proving itself very versatile, gaining fame as therapy dogs, rescue dogs, and many activities with its human companions. They are very social dogs in the family and get along extremely well with other animals that belong to the shepherd, farmer, or family. They are wary of strangers in the work environment (this includes the home). They adapt easily to other situations such as dog shows, and make extraordinary ambassadors for the breed in many settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, with children, etc.(1)(2)

The Great Pyrenees is naturally nocturnal and aggressive with any predators that may harm its flock. However, the breed can typically be trusted with small, young, and helpless animals of any kind due to its natural guardian instinct.

On average males grow to 110–120 pounds (50–54 kg) and 27–32 inches (69–81 cm), while females reach 80–90 pounds (36–41 kg) and 25–29 inches (64–74 cm). Our dogs are larger/heavier than the average, sometimes much larger. Their lifespan is 10 to 11 years.

The weather resistant double coat consists of a long, flat, thick, outer coat of coarse hair, straight or slightly undulating, and lying over a dense, fine, woolly undercoat. The coat is more profuse about the neck and shoulders where it forms a ruff or mane, which is more pronounced in males so that it may fend off wolf attacks. The longer hair on the tail forms a plume. There is also feathering along the back of the front legs and along the back of the thighs, giving a "pantaloon" effect. The hair on the face and ears is both shorter and of finer texture. The main coat color is white and can have varying shades of gray, red (rust), or tan around the face (including a full face mask), ears and sometimes on the body and tail. As Great Pyrenees mature, their coats grow thicker and the longer colored hair of the coat often fades. Sometimes a little light tan or lemon will appear later in life around the ears and face. Being a double-coated breed, the undercoat can also have color and the skin as well. The color of the nose and on the eye rims should be jet black. Grey or tan markings that remain lend the French name, "blaireau", (badger) which is a similar grizzled mixture color seen in the European badger. More recently, any color is correctly termed "Badger" or "Blaireau".

One singular characteristic of the Great Pyrenees is the unique double dew claws on each hind leg.

In nature, the Great Pyrenees is confident, gentle (especially with children), and affectionate. While territorial and protective of its flock or family when necessary, its general demeanor is of composure and patience and loyalty. It is a strong willed, independent and reserved breed. It is also attentive, quite fearless and loyal to its duties. The Great Pyrenees' size makes it an imposing guardian. A dog of this breed will patrol its perimeter and may wander away if left in an unenclosed space.(2) If a Pyr wonders it is because it feels responsible for the territory given to it...more area to protect. 

Credit for above:

(1) Great Pyrenees Club of America

(2) Wikipedia