Pyredoodle: Your Complete Guide

The pyredoodle is a unique cross between the standard poodle and the Great Pyrenees dog breeds. Both of these dogs are intelligent, large in size, and loyal to their families, and the resulting mix of dogs blends these traits while generally tempering the stubbornness of the Great Pyrenees and the potential anxiousness of the poodle. The resulting dog, the pyredoodle, is a popular family companion with high energy and a strong love for its family.

If you are thinking about adding a pyredoodle to your life, it’s important to learn all you can about this interesting breed. Our complete guide gives you the basics about the pyredoodle and tells you what it takes to help this dog thrive in your home.

Quick Look at the Pyredoodle

Below is a quick glance at this special breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.

What Is the History of Pyredoodles?

As a mixed breed that hasn’t yet been standardized or recognized by a specific kennel club, it’s difficult to pin down the exact history of the pyredoodle. This breed has been around for a few decades, and it most likely rose to popularity around the 1990s and early 2000s as breeders began experimenting more with designer dog breeds.

The pyredoodle is a cross between the large Great Pyrenees dog and the standard poodle – both of these purebred dogs have extensive histories, with the Great Pyrenees primarily acting as a watchdog and working dog and the standard poodle as a hunting and companion dog. The blend of these two dogs produces a somewhat timid, but loyal and loving dog that enjoys being active and spending time with their families.

It’s important to note that the appearance and size of the pyredoodle do vary quite a bit due to the lack of breed standardization. While there is a general size and set of appearances you can expect in your pyredoodle, you should take a close look at the parent dogs to get a more exact idea of what your pyredoodle will look like.

What Do Pyredoodles Look Like?

As a mixed breed, pyredoodles may look more like their poodle parent, more like their Great Pyrenees parent, or like a perfect mix of both parents. Their specific appearance does depend on the genetic expression of their lineage. In general, these dogs will be large and have short to medium-length wavy or curly coats. Their fur may be a thin single layer or a thicker double coat, and they typically appear in solid colors, though a bi-color pattern might be possible.

The most common coat colors for the pyredoodle include white, cream, black, and blue or silver. Shades of brown might appear, but this isn’t as common. The face of the pyredoodle will have an intelligent, gentle expression, and its ears will most likely be floppy.

What Size Is a Pyredoodle?

Created from two fairly large dogs, the pyredoodle is also considered a large dog. They will stand between 20 and 32 inches in height and weigh between 85 and 100 pounds. If the parent dogs are smaller, then this dog will also be on the smaller side, and some pyredoodles do only reach around 17 inches in height.

What Is a Pyredoodle’s Coat Type and Length?

The coat of a pyredoodle may be more closely related to its poodle parent or its Great Pyrenees parent. It will be either a thinner single coat or a thick double coat, and the fur may be wavy, curly, or a mixture of both. The length of a pyredoodle’s coat will generally be medium, but it can be a bit shorter or tightly curled so that it appears much shorter.

What Is a Pyredoodle’s Temperament?

The pyredoodle is known for being gentle, loving, and calm with their families. These dogs are more or less gentle giants, and they often adopt a very protective attitude toward their families and homes. The pyredoodle is active and energetic, but they also enjoy spending a cozy evening at home with their owners.

Pyredoodles may be timid, and this might result in aggressive or anxious behaviors if they are not properly socialized from the time they are young. It’s important to introduce your pyredoodle gently to new things and people throughout their lives in order to reduce any anxieties they may have.

Are Pyredoodles Good With Kids?

The pyredoodle is good with kids, and they are generally very calm and tolerant of the children they live with. This dog is protective, and they will keep a close eye on their families. They also love spending time outdoors playing with children. That being said, it’s important to monitor playtime between your pyredoodle and your children, as these dogs are larger, and they might not be suited for unsupervised interactions with children who are too small or those who don’t know how to treat the dog properly.

Are Pyredoodles Good With Other Animals?

Pyredoodles are typically good with other animals, though they can be a bit shy or timid at first. It’s important to introduce your pyredoodle to other animals when they’re young to properly socialize them and curb any anxious behaviors ahead of time. This dog might have a high prey drive depending on which parent they take after most, so it’s important to introduce them to smaller animals in your family slowly and monitor interactions.

Are Pyredoodles Aggressive?

The pyredoodle breed is not considered an aggressive breed. However, these dogs might be prone to shyness or anxiety, which is often displayed through barking, biting, or growling if they feel very on edge. Proper training and socialization will help to temper these behaviors if they start to show up in your pyredoodle.

Do Pyredoodles Bark?

Pyredoodles aren’t especially vocal dogs, and you can expect them to bark only when they’ve sensed something is amiss. They might bark a little more when they get excited during playtime, but they aren’t a dog you can expect to be vocal throughout the day and night or without reason.

Are Pyredoodles Affectionate?

Pyredoodles are an affectionate breed, and they tend to form strong bonds with their families. The pyredoodle loves to spend their time playing with their owners, and they will strongly bond when they get to be active alongside their families. At the end of a long day, the pyredoodle will be happy to curl up next to their owners on the couch for a long nap.

Are Pyredoodles Intelligent?

Both the Great Pyrenees and the standard poodle are intelligent dog breeds, and the pyredoodle is also considered quite intelligent. This dog is curious about the world around them, and they have the ability to learn many different things, including working commands in some cases. These dogs quickly pick up on routines, and they are fairly adaptable to changes that happen around them.

Are Pyredoodles Energetic?

Pyredoodles are high-energy, and this large dog breed will need a lot of exercise to stay happy. On average, you should be taking your pyredoodle for two to three longer walks each day in addition to letting them run around in an open space such as a dog park or a fenced-in outdoor area. Make sure you also give your pyredoodle interactive toys and play with them for around an hour each day to truly keep them happy and meet their energy expenditure needs.

Are Pyredoodles Easy to Train?

While pyredoodles are intelligent, they may have an inherited trait of stubbornness that comes from their Great Pyrenees parents. These dogs are typically eager to please and enjoy learning new things from their owners, but it might take some consistency and patience to get them involved in training if they’ve decided they’d rather do something more exciting, like play with their toys.

Are Pyredoodles Good Watchdogs?

Pyredoodles make fantastic watchdogs, as they inherit their watchdog nature from their Great Pyrenees parent. These dogs are calm, alert, and protective, and they have no problem alerting their owner to a threat outside with a loud bark. Pyredoodles are brave and loyal, and they are a suitable choice if you want a dog with a courageous watchdog attitude.

Are Pyredoodles Good Service Dogs?

The pyredoodle is a good candidate for acting as a service dog, as they have both the size and intelligence to complete a variety of service dog tasks. These dogs may be able to provide mobility support and guidance, redirection behaviors, and tasks like deep pressure therapy by lying on top of their owners. They are fairly intelligent and have the potential to learn complex tasks as long as they aren’t too stubborn or set in their ways.

The pyredoodle also makes a good emotional support animal or therapy dog, as they enjoy spending time with their owners and make a quiet, faithful companion as long as their exercise needs are met daily.

How to Care for a Pyredoodle?

The pyredoodle is a unique breed, but they aren’t too high maintenance when it comes to care routines. You will need to make sure your pyredoodle has ample exercise in the form of walks, outdoor playtime, and running in dog parks or other open areas when possible. In addition to meeting their exercise needs, be sure to play with this dog each day and don’t leave them alone for long hours, as they often get lonely and bored.

Give your pyredoodle their own space in your home, complete with beds and other comfortable items. Make sure that they are trained and socialized from a young age to prevent any potential issues with anxiety or fear from developing in the future. This dog may be timid, and they may also be stubborn, so lots of patience and consistency are needed with training.

Feed your pyredoodle a high-quality diet of wet or dry food, and make sure that they have regular veterinary visits to ensure they stay in good health. Take time to brush your pyredoodle every few days and bathe them as needed to keep them looking and feeling their best.

Do You Need to Groom a Pyredoodle?

Pyredoodles have average grooming needs. They will need to be brushed a few times a week to remove any loose fur and prevent mats or tangles, and they will need professional grooms every so often depending on how fast their fur grows and when it needs to be trimmed. Pyredoodles with curly fur might have a more extensive grooming routine than those with a thinner, wavy, single coat.

Do Pyredoodles Shed?

Pyredoodles are considered an average shedder, though their shedding might be on the lower side if they have a very curly coat. This dog will generally only shed about twice per year, and their coat might be considered hypoallergenic if they take closely after their poodle parent.

What Health Problems Do Pyredoodles Have?

Pyredoodles, like many other dogs, are prone to certain health conditions due to inherited traits. The pyredoodle is at risk of inherited health problems from both sides of their lineage, and they may commonly encounter issues such as bloat, cancer, Canine Cushing’s disease, patellar luxation, and hypothyroidism.

It’s important to monitor your pyredoodle’s behavior throughout their life and provide them with regular veterinary care to ensure that any health issues are caught before they become a serious problem.

How Long Do Pyredoodles Live?

The pyredoodle has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years, though they might live longer than this depending on how well taken care of they are. You can help your pyredoodle live their best life for as long as possible with proper care and regular veterinary visits.

What Should a Pyredoodle Eat?

Exactly how much your pyredoodle should eat depends on their size and how much energy they expend during the day. These dogs are larger, so they will need around three cups of food per day, but this amount may be less or more, especially when you take into account the caloric content of the food. You can feed your pyredoodle either wet or dry food or a combination of both, and you may want to speak to a vet for more information about feeding your pyredoodle.

Is a Pyredoodle the Right Dog for Me?

The pyredoodle is an interesting designer breed dog that combines the best of the Great Pyrenees breed and the standard poodle. These dogs are intelligent, gentle, and sometimes timid, but they are always loyal and loving to their families. Their calm personalities and affectionate attitudes are something that has brought the pyredoodle to greater popularity in recent years.

The pyredoodle might be the right dog for you if you have ample space to let this dog live in your home and play outdoors if you don’t mind working with a little bit of stubbornness when you train your dog, and if you want a companion dog that has no problem spending all day being active with you. The pyredoodle might also fit into families with children or those looking for a protective and dedicated watchdog.