With their long, thick fur, jet-black noses, and extra-large size, the friendly faces you’d be looking at may sound and look a bit like a polar bear cub, but this is the beautiful breed of domestic dog known as the Great Pyrenees. Dogs were bread as protectors against predators, protecting people, sheep, and property against wolves and bears. As with other large breeds, they have slower metabolisms and may seem lazy, but are really just “relaxing.” They need room to move and feel comfortable just like any other breed of animal. An extra-large dog house would be a suitable outdoor relaxing space for your four-legged security system.

With a height of over 30 inches at that shoulder and an average weight of over 110 pounds, you need to make sure you have the space if you’re going to bring these loving and devoted dogs into your home. Because they were bred to be protective, you should have a large fenced-in yard where they can “patrol” a given space, defined by you. If you allow them to take control, they can become territorial over a larger area. Having a well built dog house for this extra large outdoor breed would be beneficial. This will give them their own space outside and you will have a break inside.

They need to understand from you who is welcome in your home as well. They will bark to alert you to intruders. You need to give clues as to who gets accepted and they will follow suit and usually welcome anyone. As with any dog, having their own space to roam is a great training tool and these born territorial defenders would do well to have their own dog house in a yard where they can walk around and feel like they are doing their job keeping order in the facilities.