Akbash Pyrenees Dog Breed Facts: History, Health Traits, and Characteristics
Table of Contents
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Akbash Pyrenees Breed Card
Akbash Pyrenees Breed Overview
Group
Mixed Breed Dogs
Height
28 to 34 inches tall
Breed Recognition
No
Weight
80 to 120 pounds
Country of Origin
Turkey
Personality
Loyal, Intelligent, Independent
Lifespan
8-12 years
Shedding
High
Akbash Pyrenees History
The Akbash Pyrenees is a mixed breed dog from a cross between the Pyrenees and Akbash. There is not a whole lot of history on this mixed breed, but there is much on their parental breeds.
One of its parental breeds, the Akbash, originated in Turkey sometime around 750 B.C. as a livestock guardian for cattle and sheep. The other parental breed, the Great Pyrenees, originated in central Asia and was also bred as a shepherd and protector of livestock.
The mix of these two breeds created the Akbash Pyrenees, a large, white-coated, and powerful-looking dog that was designed for the same purpose as their ancestors. They are considered a mixed breed and are recognized by the Dog Registry of America, Inc., but not yet by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Cost ✅
COST LEVEL
Low End: $700
High End: $900
Akbash Pyrenees Physical Traits
General Appearance💡
The Akbash Pyrenees is a large dog with a lean and powerful appearance. They have a white double coat that is great for withstanding the outdoor weather. They are bigger in size than Great Pyrenees and have the same big, fluffy, and white image as the Akbash dog.
The parental breeds of the Akbash Pyrenees look very similar to each other; thus, the resulting physical attributes of this breed are very similar. They have a large, athletic build that can get as heavy as 120 pounds in weight and 33 inches in height.
They have wedge-shaped heads with brown eyes and triangular, pendular ears. The tail, neck, and chest are often fluffier than the rest of its body. They have a large and lean physique, long legs, with loose skin around its neck that helps to protect their neck from attacks.
The Akbash Pyrenees is a breed that thrives in the good outdoors and has a thick double coat to protect them. Their coat color is usually white, but some Akbash Pyrenees can be white with gray markings.
Size & Weight ❤️
Height: 33 inches
Weight: 100-140 pounds
Height: 29 inches
Weight: 80-120 pounds
Coat & Color
Eye Color
Brown
Coat Color
White or white with gray markings
Coat Length
Medium to long
Coat Texture
Wavy
Akbash Pyrenees Temperament and Personality
Akbash Pyrenees are big dogs that are good-natured and loving. They are strongly protective over their herd and family because of innate guarding instincts. They are independent and strong-willed, so they do not mind being alone and are meant for the outdoors. They might not fare well with strangers or new dogs if they haven’t been trained early.
Kid Friendly?
GOOD WITH KIDS
Bad Idea
Excellent Nanny
Yes, they are sweet and protective of their families and can become great with kids, provided that they are trained and socialized as puppies. Smaller children can easily get accidentally knocked down by the Akbash Pyrenees so always keep an eye out when they are playing.
Good with Other Pets?
GOOD WITH PETS
Bad Idea
Friendly Socialite
Yes, but the Akbash Pyrenees is a strong-willed and instinctively protective breed, so they may not fare well with being introduced to new dogs and pets. It is best to have them socialized early if you plan on having more pets.
Barks a Lot?
BARKING LEVEL
When Neccessary
Noise Maker
Yes, these big livestock dogs have the possibility of being loud. Barking is their way of warning or protecting their herd. If they find something to be suspicious or unusual, they will definitely bark to catch your attention.
Can Be Left Alone?
LEFT ALONE
Likes Being Alone
Sepration Anxiety
Yes, the Akbash Pyrenees have no problem being left alone. They are quite independent dogs as adults that aren’t anxious about not having their family around for long periods. The puppies, however, may need to be watched to make sure they don’t wander off or break things.
Akbash Pyrenees Training
The Akbash Pyrenees is a big dog that may become a handful to train for beginners. They are strong-willed dogs that may not respond immediately to training, but once they get the hang of it, they are intelligent and hard-working dogs that will get the job done once they have established what they are required to do.
These dogs are meant to be outdoors guarding livestock. If you plan on getting an Akbash Pyrenees for this purpose, make sure they are familiar with their role starting from puppyhood and get them acquainted with their herd. Explore how much their natural instincts as a breed will have them behave with your livestock and adjust your preferences with some good old positive reinforcement training.
Start putting your Akbash in a training program, requiring puppies to do tasks before giving them meals or toys. This instills a sense of authority at a young age, and it will be easier to train them in the future.
Akbash Pyrenees Needs
The Akbash Pyrenees need moderate maintenance in nutrition, healthcare, and training. These dogs need high-quality food for the different stages of their life, making sure you don’t overfeed them so that they don’t get too big. They are big dogs that are predisposed to joint and bone problems as they grow older. Grooming Akbash Pyrenees can be demanding work because of their sheer size and their propensity to get dirty outdoors.
Nutritional Requirements
FOOD MOTIVATED
Picky Eater
Voracious Eater
Akbash Pyrenees should be fed dry food that is high in protein with good fat to maintain their high energy levels. They should have an average of 3 cups of kibble per day as young dogs and lesser calories and proteins than senior dogs.
Food rich in fiber will help their digestion and regulate their immune system, alongside vitamins, bone & joint supplements, and healthy fat such as linoleic acid & omega-6 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat.
Akbash Pyrenees don’t necessarily need food for effective training, as any positive stimuli will work just fine. Giving them toys or outside time after doing a task can also work for this breed during the training phase
Exercise & Activity Levels
ENERGY LEVEL
Couch Potato
Go-All-Day Stamina
The excitable nature of Akbash Pyrenees makes them keen for movement and action. This means that they require a good amount of exercise from physical and mental activities by giving them new things to look at and new things to explore.
This breed needs at least one hour of daily exercise and is not meant to be cooped up indoors. Without dedicated movement and training, the Akbash Pyrenees are more at risk of abnormal weight gain, and they are at risk of developing unfavorable habits such as barking and digging.
Grooming Needs
SHEDDING LEVEL
No Shedding
Shedding Machine
The large, double-coated Akbash Pyrenees sheds profusely, especially during the summer and spring seasons. Brushing them once every week is needed to have maintenance against their excessive shedding as well as prevent matted hairs. Since they are used for outdoor work, you may need to bathe them on an as-needed basis.
Akbash Pyrenees Average Lifespan
The Akbash Pyrenees lives for an average of 8 to 12 years. This is fairly long, considering the large size of the breed. Same as all dogs, this breed is prone to several medical conditions.
Commom Health Problems
- Hip Dysplasia: The abnormal formation of the hip socket can eventually cause lameness and arthritis of the joints in severe cases. This is typically seen in large-breed dogs.
- Obesity: As a consequence of overfeeding, obese dogs have an increased risk for many types of cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and faster degeneration of affected joints, urinary bladder stones, anesthetic complications as they are less heat tolerant.
- Hypothyroidism: An endocrine disease wherein there is a deficiency in the creation of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. This leads to alopecia, usually on your dog’s trunk, back of the rear legs, and tail. Their coats will be dull and thin, their skin flaky but not itchy or red.
- Bloat: A condition in which food or gas stretches your dog’s stomach, causing abdominal pain. This is more common in large-breed or deep-chested dogs but can happen to any breed. The gas can also stretch and twist the stomach and cause a very painful condition called gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV).
Recommended Health Tests
- Hip evaluation
- Thyroid tests
- Cardiac exams
Tips for New Akbash Pyrenees Owners
If considering Akbash Pyrenees, keep in mind these recommendations:
Tip 1
Find a Reputable Breeder: It is best to get your puppy from a breeder that can fully disclose information on your puppy’s pedigree and lineage, making sure that they are sired from parents that do not have genetic conditions that could be passed on to their litter. Ensure your chosen breeder has fully taken care of and has provided basic sanitation and prophylaxis for their puppies.
Tip 2
Get Puppy/Dog Products in Advance: Prior to bringing your Akbash Pyrenees home, make sure you have prepared the necessary supplies and food that they will need.
Having the right supplies beforehand will significantly improve the transition into your home, not just for you but for your dog as well.
Tip 3
Provide Outdoor Time: Though the Akbash Pyrenees don’t mind being alone, they thrive in the outdoors. They are large and powerful dogs that have great guarding instincts, so do not expect them to be happy being cooped up all day. They can bark and try to alert when finding anything that they feel is threatening their family or herd. Always make sure they have a safe, clean, and cozy space to rest outdoors when they want to.
Akbash Pyrenees Similar Breeds
– Akbash
– Great Pyrenees
– Kuvasz
– Maremma Sheepdog LGD
– Anatolian Shepherd
Akbash Pyrenees Supplies You Need
There are a few things to prepare if you wish to own an Akbash Pyrenees in your household. Have a sturdy leash and collar and train them to be comfortable in it, though the nature of the Akbash Pyrenees is to be off-leash, you should keep them on a leash in residential areas and on country roads. A sturdy dog harness that allows for good grip and movement, as these are large dogs that can easily pull you instead.
The Akbash Pyrenees is an outdoor breed, therefore, investing in a spacious dog house made of sturdy materials that will protect them from sun, rain, and cold would be of great use for them.
Prepare to invest in high-quality dog food to sustain bone growth, brain development, and immune system maintenance. You could also consider preparing to stock up on bone and joint supplements for when they get older.
Lastly, for basic grooming supplies, you should have tools that will help you comb through their thick coat, like a stainless steel rake brush to take out the shedding fur. When bathing them, choose a hypoallergenic dog shampoo. Having a powerful blow dryer would be great to help their thick coat dry faster.
Best Dog Beds for an Akbash Pyrenees
Best Dog Food for an Akbash Pyrenees
Best Dog Supplements for an Akbash Pyrenees
Akbash Pyrenees Fun Facts
Here are some fun facts about the breed:
Fun Fact 1
The Akbash Pyrenees is a relatively new crossbreed between an Akbash and a Great Pyrenees dog. Both the parent breeds originated 3000 years ago, the former being from Turkey and the latter hailing from central Asia.
Fun Fact 2
Coming from a lineage of livestock guardian dogs, its parents can grow over 100 pounds heavy.
Fun Fact 3
The Akbash Pyrenees are very tolerant in cold weather because of their thick double-coat but can become uncomfortable in the heat.
Fun Fact 4
Akbash Pyrenees are loyal and easily trainable, but not for beginner dog parents, as they can be strong-willed and have issues with possessiveness.
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