Great Pyrenees Price: How Much is a Pyrenean Dog?

Last Updated on April 19, 2023

The giant Great Pyrenees (Pyrenean dog) can be a fantastic, gentle companion for families with children, elderly family members, or anyone with special needs.

These dogs are trustworthy, intelligent, independent, and affectionate with a strong guarding nature, making them perfect for families with kids who live in suburban or rural areas.

However, how much does it cost to purchase a purebred Great Pyrenees? What are the expenses involved in taking care of this breed?

Discover how much you will spend to raise a Pyrenean dog with this article, covering everything from puppy prices to pet supplies, food, and grooming.

How Much Does a Great Pyrenees Cost?

Prices of purebred puppies with complete registration are ever-changing. Purchasing a Great Pyrenees from a reputable breeder can cost between $800 and $2,500. 

What is the average price of a Pyrenean puppy?

The average price of a Great Pyrenees puppy can vary depending on the main factors such as the puppy’s pedigree, the breeder’s location, and the demand for the breed in a particular area. Generally, Great Pyrenees puppies can range in price from $1,000 to $2,500.

However, it is important to note that some breeders may charge significantly more for puppies with exceptional pedigrees or desirable traits. 

How much is a full-grown Great Pyrenees?

Depending on the dog’s age, registration papers, and health testing history, buyers may be able to find a Great Pyrenees at a local rescue shelter for roughly $350 to $500.

Although, you will most likely have to settle for either a mixed breed or an older dog with little to no training. It is rare to find a purebred pup from such places.

Also read: Great Pyrenees Growth and Weight Chart (Male & Female)

Should you buy a puppy or an older dog?

This is a personal choice – with an adult dog, you can easily see your pet’s temperament.

Great Pyrenees are known to be patient with their own families and children, but they are known to be fiercely overprotective when in the company of strangers or faced with danger. 

They also tend to do as they please and will trust their own judgment rather than instruction unless you establish yourself as the alpha.

To avoid some negative, overprotective traits, you should choose a puppy. A dog’s temperament and behavior are curated in its earlier months through training and the attention it receives.

All reputable breeders and dog rescuers will have an understanding of the needs of the dog. 

How Much Does a Great Pyrenees Cost from a Reputable Breeder?

Great Pyrenees dogs from regular breeding farms are priced from $1,000 to $1,300 per puppy.

In contrast, those from reputable breeders with famous reputations are priced relatively high, from $1,300 to $2,500 per puppy, due to their bloodline and pedigree.

How to find a reputable breeder and avoid puppy mills?

One of the biggest red flags you might be dealing with at a puppy mill is that the Great Pyrenees puppies are advertised at very low prices. Always request to see the puppy’s parents. 

Seeing the behavior of other adult dogs in the same environment will allow you to see how your pup will grow up.

It will give you a sense of your dog’s appearance, temperament, and future size and if the breeder is properly caring for their dogs and puppies.

You should also ask the breeder for a complete medical history of the pup. They should have proof of health screenings on hand, particularly the OFA and CERF certificates.

Ensure too that you receive all the documentation of your puppy’s pedigree. One way to know the legitimacy of the documentation is if the document contains the words “American Kennel Club” – the AKC logo should be visible too. 

Your puppy should come with purebred registration papers, a guarantee of excellent health, and proof that all necessary pest treatments and vaccinations have been conducted. 

Lastly, the breeder should be able to explain any health conditions that typically affect this breed so you know what to watch out for in the long term.

The Great Pyrenees Club of America has a listing of reputable breeders on the website to help you find a puppy in your area:

1. Pyrless Great Pyrenees, New Jersey
2. Euzkalzale Great Pyrenees, California
3. Pyramor Great Pyrenees, Florida

Adoption Fee for a Rescue Pyrenean Dog

The dog’s age, region, and health determine rescue and adoption fees. The National Great Pyrenees Rescue (NGPR) will let you adopt pre-owned dogs from $350 to $550.

While other big shelters like the ASPCA will run free adoption drives if the shelters get too overcrowded.

If you want to adopt or rescue a Great Pyrenees, you can check out the website of the NGPR or these other organizations.

1. Rescue Me, Countrywide
2. Great Pyrenees Rescue of Missouri, Missouri
3. Alaskan Great Pyrenees Club, Alaska

Factors Affecting the Price of a Great Pyrenees Puppy

There are various factors to consider which will impact the purchase fee of getting a Great Pyrenees. These include everything from bloodline and breeder’s reputation to your dog’s size, health, age, gender, and even coat color.

1. Bloodline and breeder’s reputation

A dog’s lineage will play a significant factor in the cost of a Great Pyrenees puppy, as parents of purebreds show lesser signs of future illness. The stronger the bloodline, the better quality of life for the dog.

Reputable breeders tend to invest more money and care than others when breeding dogs, especially if they are groomed to be show dogs, so they are priced substantially higher than others.

2. Registration papers/pedigree

Puppies that came with both purebred registration papers and breeding rights are more expensive than other puppies.

An AKC Pedigree is a document containing information on the lineage of an AKC dog and essential information about the ancestors in a dog’s family tree. 

An online research pedigree includes complete information about dogs in the pedigree, including competition titles and any related health information available.

A dog registered with an AKC Limited Registration is not allowed to be entered into any competition licensed dog show.

A certified pedigree includes an embossed gold AKC seal, which signifies that your dog’s pedigree has been compiled from official Stud Book records and is an authentic AKC document.

Registration papers also include ownership information required when registering or taking your dog to a foreign country. 

3. Health screenings and medical expenses

As a general rule, larger dogs suffer more health issues and don’t live as long as smaller dogs. These dogs are prone to various health issues, which may result in higher vet bills.

It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the health conditions your Great Pyrenees are susceptible to. 

It has been recorded that this breed may be susceptible to elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, kneecap dislocation, gastric torsion, ear infections, bone inflammation, and bone cancer.

With this in mind, your dog’s healthcare expenses may be up to $500 per month.

Your breeder should let you know any background of any of these health conditions, and reputable breeders would have performed tests that ensure your dog is free of any genetic diseases.

4. Age

Naturally, bigger dogs require more food, grooming services, and larger beds, and pet insurance coverage will begin to inflate. As your pup ages and grows in size, your monthly expenses are bound to increase too. 

You’d be right in thinking that your month-to-month expenses will also begin to balloon depending on your dog’s health and your food and entertainment preferences.

So you can save a lot of money adopting an older dog, and as puppies are more in demand, they will also have a lower purchase price.

5. Gender

The only time the gender of your Great Pyrenees will impact your pocket is if you decide to have your dog spayed or neutered. 

The process of spaying a female dog is a more challenging operation; therefore, the service fee for surgery would be more expensive than neutering a male pup.

It has been said that performing the surgery has the advantage of warding off any potential future health issues.

6. Coat color and markings

Depending on the current trend, for any breed, some colors may be considered more popular than others.

When there is an interest in specific coat color, the prices grow as an increase in demand rises. Puppies with rare colors can be very expensive too.

Another thing to note is that puppies that came with both purebred registration papers and breeding rights cost more than the other puppies.

It is important to note that for some purebred dogs, only specific colors and color palettes are accepted by kennel clubs. 

The accepted colors for the Great Pyrenees breed are black, black and white, blaireau, orange and white, and solid white. Solid white is the most common coat color for this breed.

Initial and Long-Term Ownership Costs

The initial fee for purchasing your Great Pyrenees puppy will typically be around $1,000 to $2,500, with the adoption fee ranging from $350 to $550, depending on the dog’s location, age, and overall health.

Supplies for your new pup will be between $150 and $1,000 or more, depending on purchase choices for food, accessories, and any other items you deem necessary for your new dog.

As your dog ages, the expenses for food will also change in conjunction with insurance and grooming expenses – however, this is down to personal preference, but the overall pet care costs can scale you upwards of $800 per month.

If you’re thinking of buying or adopting a Great Pyrenees, you have to consider the expenses of looking after your pet and not just the price of the dog itself.

Consider how much you will spend on his vaccinations and registration papers, food, training, and supplies. Then there are also the annual vet and grooming expenses and a few beds and toys over the years as your pup ages.

With all of this in mind, your average cost of owning this breed could be between $71,000 and $194,000, depending on your lifestyle and the cost of living in your area.

1. Veterinary Expenses

The first year of medical expenses can be quite expensive as you’ll need to take your puppy for regular vet visits to make sure he is developing properly and to get his vaccinations.

You could end up spending around $665 in the first year alone. You also need to factor in the fees of getting your puppy spayed or neutered, with an average cost of $275. 

You’ll also want to supply your pet with heartworm and flea-preventative medication, which is between $75 and $150 a month.

Common health issues and estimated fees to treat them

The Great Pyrenees Club of America has emphasized having all dogs tested for conditions that are prone to affect the breed.

Common conditions include elbow and hip dysplasia, which can be $800 and $6,000 per hip, and eye disorders, which are roughly $2,000 to $3,000 to rectify.

Another common disease that affects this breed is luxating patellas which need surgery to fix, which typically ranges from $1,500 to $3,000 per affected knee, and neurological and immune disorders, which can be $50 to $150 per month to treat.

Most vets also recommend getting a gastropexy done when you spay or neuter your dog. This can help prevent Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus in large, deep-chested dogs like the Great Pyrenees.

This procedure ranges from $200 to $400 but will save you a lot of money and heartache in the long run.

2. Dog Food Expenses

Feeding supplies are slightly lower for puppies, which typically consume around 440 pounds of dry food during their first year. The average cost to feed a Great Pyrenees puppy annually is between $335 and $660. 

On the other hand, a fully grown Great Pyrenees dog consumes around 470 pounds annually, which ranges between $300 and $720.

It’s important to note that these estimated expenses aren’t factoring in dog treats and chews, and when compared to other giant breeds, they are cheaper to feed due to their slow metabolisms.

3. Dog Grooming Service

Taking your pup to the local groomers will be around $40 to $75, with the Great Pyrenees brand tending towards the more expensive side due to their large size.

A more convenient option like a mobile dog groomer will let you spend slightly more, with the average price beginning at $100 for your Fido. 

If those fees are too steep, you can consider taking your dog to a self-service facility for between $11 and $23.

4. Pet Insurance

Pet insurance varies from location to location, and the only way to plan exactly around the fees is to enquire locally.

An important step in providing the right care for your pet is to set your dog up with pet health insurance. Pet insurance for a dog has an average of $35 per month based on the country average.

Some of the more expensive pet insurance locations include Miami, Florida at $51 per month, Los Angeles, California at $54 per month, and New York at $59 per month.

5. Environmental Maintenance

The Great Pyrenees generally prefer cooler climates due to their thick heavy layered coats.

Extra care should be given during the warmer summer months to ensure they don’t overheat, which may mean investing in fans and air conditioning.

They have a gentle disposition but can be stoic guardians around their family’s territory, thus making them perfectly suited for homes with children.

Just be sure to invest in adequate space and fencing as they can be skilled climbers and excellent grass renovators.

6. Entertainment Costs

Although these dogs were bred for mountains, they are low maintenance in terms of exercise as they are not very high-energy pets.

They are usually calm and would be satisfied with half an hour walk or tossing a ball to them every few days.

If, however, your pup loves to chew, consider purchasing a few tough and safe chewy toys. There are sites that provide a subscription box of dog toys ranging from $25 to $50 a month.

7. Dog Supplies

A large part of your money will be spent getting all the supplies you need for your new puppies, such as food and water bowls, leashes, ID tags, dog beds, toys, poop bags, brushes, shampoos, and other miscellaneous items.

The quality of the products, store locations, and personal preferences also play a major factor in how much will be spent.

Additional Expenses that Come with Owning this Breed

Be sure you’re in a position to afford and care for a dog before you decide to adopt or purchase one as a pet. There are a few permanent expenses that any dog owner should be ready for.

Along with food, grooming, toys and treats, supplies, and health care fees mentioned above, you also need to factor in things like training your dog.

Dog training can be up to $300 a month for regular weekly lessons. This socialization and obedience training is essential for the Great Pyrenees breed.

Also, if you plan to travel regularly or work full time, you may need to factor in the fees for a dog walker, house sitter, doggie daycare, or kennel. On average, these may set you back between $20 and $40 a day.

Average Monthly Expenses

Your monthly expenses will also depend on the health of your dog and your choice of food and entertainment. We also included things like grooming and insurance expenses, but these can be optional. 

With a Great Pyrenees as a pet, you’ll most likely spend between $180 to $850 every month, and they are certainly worth it

The price factor depends on your dog’s overall health, the cost of living in your location, and general buying preferences. 

These expenses may fluctuate in emergency situations, but that is expected from a large dog breed like the Great Pyrenees.

First-Year Expenses 

The first-year expenses of any dog would be higher than the subsequent months as you need to factor in all the supplies you need for your new puppy as well as regular vet checkups and medication.

On average, dog owners spend between $200 and $900 in their first year. In the years to follow, puppy owners can spend between $100 and $400 yearly.

Lifetime Expenses 

If you consider the cost of purchasing your Great Pyrenees, plus all the monthly expenses you will have caring for your dog such as buying food, toys, and supplies and getting him groomed and to the vet regularly, you will likely end up spending around $25,107 during the course of your dog’s life.

Are Great Pyrenees more expensive than other dog breeds?

Great Pyrenees can grow to be large dogs, so you should expect your monthly expenses to be above average. Giant breed dogs can be expensive to own and care for.

However, it is not that expensive post-purchase in comparison to some other large dog breeds. They do, however, require more grooming, training, and care as they age. 

Conclusion: Should You Buy a Great Pyrenees?

If you have the space, have the patience to train your dog, and can afford the maintenance expenses of looking after a Great Pyrenees, these are a great, giant loveable breed to have as a pet.

Its price depends on many factors, including pedigrees, location, size, age, and breeder.

Bear in mind that the price may increase quite a bit if you’re buying a puppy with a pure bloodline or one raised to participate in a dog show.

Do you have a Great Pyrenees at home? We would love to know more about your dog and where you got him. Please let us know in the comments below.