The Husky Great Pyrenees mix is a rare combination of two fluffy and loveable pups, but is this dog for you?
Husky Great Pyrenees mixes can be quite a lot of work as they need plenty of exercise and grooming, and they are prone to being very stubborn, which can make obedience training very hard. They’re more than worth the effort, though, as they are very loyal, gentle, and sociable.
In this article, we’ll break down everything there is to know about this mix, so let’s get straight into it.
Contents
Quick Overview
Here’s a quick overview of just about everything you need to know about the Husky Great Pyrenees mix.
- Average Lifespan: 10 to 13 years
- Average Height: 20 to 25 inches
- Average Weight: 70 to 100 lbs
- Coat appearance: Medium to long in length, many colors possible
- Activity Level: Very high, 90 minutes to 2 hours each day
- Grooming Frequency: Regular grooming is necessary
- Typical Temperament: Affectionate, loyal, and relatively high-energy
- Daily Food Consumption: High
- New Owner Friendly: Quite difficult as they need a lot of exercise and grooming, and they are also very difficult to train
- Suitable to live with children? Great with all children and babies, need supervision due to size
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Usually fine, but can benefit from being socialized from an early age
- Suitable to live with cats? Must be socialized from an early age due to high prey drive
Appearance
The Husky Great Pyrenees can vary in appearance a LOT depending on which physical characteristics it inherits.
The two most common coat colors are the classic Husky white and black or the full white coat of the Pyrenees (although many others are possible). In terms of body size, this mix is slightly more slender than the Great Pyrenees but still very large in height and weight.
It’s common for the multicolored eyes of the Husky to shine through, with both alert or floppy ears possible.
The skull is usually larger than a Husky, with a more well-built and muscular frame.
I’ve tried to include as many example pictures in this article as possible to give you a better idea of what to expect with this mix.
Siberian Husky Appearance & Background
Siberian Huskies have a classic wolf-like appearance, with several Spitz-type features. These include erect ears, a thick double coat, and curled tails.
Huskies come in many different colors and patterns, including all white, red and white, Agouti, and many more.
Their piercing eyes can also come in various colors, from blue to brown and everything in between.
The overall build of the Husky is very slender, allowing them to be capable of incredible endurance and excel as sled dogs.
Great Pyrenees Appearance & Background
The Great Pyrenees is a majestic and well-built dog.
Standing at an impressive 25 to 32 inches in height and the males easily weighing over 100 lbs, their gentle and kind expressions wouldn’t make anybody think they are capable guard dogs.
They have a strong, well-defined skull, expressive almond-shaped dark eyes, and a black nose. Their ears are moderately sized and triangular, lying flat against their head.
Average Size
Husky Great Pyrenees mixes are very large, reaching 60 to 90 lbs in weight and 20 to 25 inches in height on average.
There is, of course, a lot of variation here depending on the parents, and it isn’t uncommon to see them exceed 100 lbs.
Coat Appearance
Husky Great Pyrenees mixes typically have a medium to long-length coat that is always double-coated.
A double coat means the fur is split into two distinct layers: a dense, wooly undercoat for insulation and a longer layer of guard hairs that protects the coat below from debris and moisture.
In terms of color and thickness, many color combinations are possible depending on the genes of the Husky parent, and the thickness can also vary but is usually medium to very thick.
Grooming Guide
With a double-coated breed, you should fully groom their coat at least once weekly.
This involves a couple of steps and should be done alongside quick daily brushes:
- The grooming process starts with a slicker brush, which is designed to target the undercoat and remove loose hairs.
- After that, use a dematter comb, which gently removes stubborn tangles with a serrated edge.
- A gentle undercoat rake is then used to target the undercoat further and get rid of any remaining loose hairs.
- Lastly, a general grooming comb is used to get rid of any loose hairs or matter areas.
You can find a full rundown of this process here, and during the coat-blowing season, you may find that you have to do this daily.
Bathing
The Husky Great Pyrenees mix doesn’t need to be bathed often, as this can interfere with the natural function of their double coat.
Instead, bathe them when their coat becomes too dirty and needs a thorough cleaning. This should only be done a couple of times per year at most, and make sure to use a pH-neutral soap-free shampoo to keep the fur and skin safe.
Temperament
Temperament is one of the most important things to consider when looking at any dog breed, especially mixes where the temperament can be harder to predict.
Let’s take a deep dive into what you can expect from the Husky Great Pyrenees regarding personality.
Friendly
Husky Great Pyrenees mixes are very friendly, largely thanks to the Siberian Husky’s inherent friendliness and social nature.
These dogs love to spend time around people and are very loyal as well, making them ideal for families.
Active
Huskies are one of the most energetic breeds you can find, needing at least 2 hours of exercise daily thanks to their incredible endurance as sled dogs.
Great Pyrenees’ are no slouches either, but they need slightly less exercise each day at one hour and are more laid back at home.
This combination works well; Husky Great Pyrenees mixes tend to be very active and love to exercise, but they can also relax more at home once they’ve been exercised.
Intelligent
There’s no denying how intelligent the Husky Great Pyrenees mix is.
Both parent breeds are not the greatest at following commands due to their stubbornness, but the nature of their working backgrounds means they are both used to fulfilling a role with minimal human input.
Great Pyrenees were used to guard livestock on their own most of the time, and Huskies were great at pulling sleds independent of human command. Teaching commands might be a challenge, but the intelligence of this mix can’t be denied.
Require Socialization
All dogs require socialization, but it’s even more important for the Husky Great Pyrenees mix due to the sheer size of this dog and how much energy they have.
Introducing them to as many new people, sights, and sounds when they are young will help them in many ways:
- Learn how to act around strangers – Energetic breeds can get overexcited when they meet new people and jump up at them, which is not ideal for a dog as large as the Husky Great Pyrenees mix
- Helps to control the protective instinct – Husky Great Pyrenees’ can be prone to becoming very protective over family members, so it’s important to help them learn how to control this instinct so they know when to be protective and when it isn’t necessary.
Stubborn
Both the Siberian Husky and Great Pyrenees are incredibly stubborn and independent dogs, thanks to their working backgrounds.
This means that the mix is also highly likely to be stubborn, making things like obedience training very difficult.
Stubborn breeds lack the drive to please their owners and choose when to listen to you, so patience is vital with the Husky Great Pyrenees mix.
Prone To Separation Anxiety
Although Great Pyrenees dogs were bred to guard livestock on their own, they can be prone to separation anxiety, especially if they don’t come from a working line, which is more than often the case.
Huskies are the same and suffer from separation anxiety due to how sociable they are as a breed, so the mix will prefer a home where they aren’t regularly left alone for long periods.
Medium To Low Prey Drive
Thankfully, the Husky Great Pyrenees mix is prone to having a lesser prey drive than your average Husky due to the addition of the Great Pyrenees.
Great Pyrenees naturally have a lower prey drive than many other dogs, thanks to their background as livestock guardians. This is important for daily life because dogs like the Husky with a high prey drive shouldn’t be let off leash in unsecured locations as they are prone to chasing after small animals and potentially putting themselves in danger in the process.
Because of this, they can also be very difficult to raise with cats or other small dogs.
This isn’t to say that a Husky Great Pyrenees will not have a high prey drive, but there’s a good chance it won’t be as high as you would expect from a Husky.
Guarding Instinct
The Great Pyrenees were initially bred as a guarding dogs, and this trait remains strong within them to this day.
There’s a good chance that the Husky Great Pyrenees can inherit this trait, although the extent of this instinct will vary a lot because Huskies are the complete opposite in this aspect.
Huskies make terrible guard dogs because they want to be friends with everybody, including strangers, so this can help to tone down the guarding instinct of the Great Pyrenees in many cases.
Is The Husky Great Pyrenees Mix A Good Family Dog?
The Husky Great Pyrenees mix is an ideal family dog due to their affection for all family members, including children and babies.
They require a lot of work, though, so they’re best suited for active families who have the time to care for them properly.
But, if you have the time, you’ll be rewarded by an energetic and loving dog that wants to spend as much time with the family as possible and will likely become protective over family members as well.
How Much Do They Cost?
Both parent breeds are expensive, so seeing a Husky Great Pyrenees puppy selling for well over $1,000 wouldn’t be surprising.
There aren’t any reputable breeders who produce this mix, though, so it’s a lot more common to see them in shelters or animal rescue centers.
In Summary
The Siberian Husky Great Pyrenees mix is an excellent dog for families, but they are a lot of work. Not only are they challenging to train, thanks to their stubbornness, but they also require a lot of daily exercise and are prone to becoming very protective.
It’s all about understanding the personality and needs of this mix so you know what you’re getting into. If you can meet their needs, you’ll be rewarded with an incredibly loyal and kind dog that watches over your family and loves to meet new people.
Lots of early socialization and patience with obedience training will go a long way.
If you’re interested in learning about more Husky mixes, you can check out some of our recent articles below:
- Husky Chow Chow Mix [Chowsky]: Complete Guide & Pictures
- Siberian Husky Weimaraner mix [Weimarsky]: Guide & Pictures
- Husky Newfoundland Mix (Newsky): Full Guide With Pictures
- Siberian Husky Staffy Mix [Staffsky] – Profile & Pictures
- Siberian Husky Saint Bernard Mix (Saint Berhusky) Full Guide
- Labradoodle Husky Mix: Full Profile & Pictures