In this article, we’ll compare the Colorado Mountain Dog vs Great Pyrenees to help you better understand these breeds and decide which one is right for you.

History and Origins

Colorado Mountain Dog

The Colorado Mountain Dog is a relatively new breed, originating in the mid-2000s in the United States. The breed was created by Wendy Francisco, a farmer in Colorado who needed a livestock guardian dog after losing most of her goat herd to a mountain lion. Wendy wanted a dog that was not only an effective guardian but also friendly and welcoming to visitors.

Caspian, the founding member of the Colorado Mountain Dog breed, was a crossbreed with 3/4 Great Pyrenees and 1/4 Anatolian Shepherd Dog ancestry. Caspian proved to be an excellent guardian and friendly companion, leading to the development of the breed through selective breeding and the incorporation of other breeds like Hungarian Kuvasz.

Great Pyrenees

The Great Pyrenees, also known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, has a much longer history, dating back thousands of years. Originating in the mountainous regions of France and Spain, these dogs were bred to protect livestock, shepherds, and their families. They are known for their strong guarding instincts, intelligence, and gentle nature.

Size and Weight

Colorado Mountain Dog

Male Colorado Mountain Dogs typically stand between 30 and 34 inches tall and weigh between 110 and 150 pounds. Female Colorado Mountain Dogs are slightly smaller, with heights ranging from 26 to 29 inches and weights between 80 and 120 pounds.

Great Pyrenees

Great Pyrenees are larger than Colorado Mountain Dogs, with males standing between 25 and 32 inches tall and weighing at least 100 pounds. Female Great Pyrenees typically stand between 25 and 29 inches tall and weigh over 85 pounds.

Appearance

Both Colorado Mountain Dogs and Great Pyrenees have large, powerful builds and double coats. However, their coat colors and other physical features differ.

Colorado Mountain Dog

Colorado Mountain Dogs have a medium-sized chest, strong back, and powerful hind legs. Their bushy tail often curls and loops over their lower back. The preferred coat color is white, but they can also be golden or light brown. Their eyes are alert, expressive, and wide, and they have a medium-length, slightly wavy, dense coat.

Great Pyrenees

Great Pyrenees have a more substantial build, with a broad chest and powerful legs. Their coat is typically white, sometimes with tan, gray, badger, or reddish-brown markings. The Great Pyrenees coat is also medium in length, but it is more likely to be straight than wavy.

Temperament

Both Colorado Mountain Dogs and Great Pyrenees are known for their friendly dispositions, but there are some differences in their temperaments.

Colorado Mountain Dog

Colorado Mountain Dogs are friendly, outgoing, and family-oriented. They are good with children and accepting of visitors. When it comes to guarding livestock, they display strong protective instincts and use their intimidating bark to ward off predators. Colorado Mountain Dogs are also known for their ability to bond with livestock while maintaining a balance of protection, authority, and respect.

Great Pyrenees

Great Pyrenees are also good with children and other dogs, but they can be more reserved with strangers, taking time to warm up to new people and animals. They have strong guarding instincts, making them excellent protectors of livestock and family. However, their friendly nature can make them less alert watchdogs than Colorado Mountain Dogs.

Training and Exercise

Both Colorado Mountain Dogs and Great Pyrenees require proper training and exercise to maintain their physical and mental health.

Colorado Mountain Dog

Colorado Mountain Dogs are intelligent and independent thinkers, making them both trainable and adaptable to different situations. They require regular exercise, whether they are working as livestock guardians or living as companion dogs in a family setting. Walks, hikes, or playtime in the yard can help them burn off energy and stay healthy.

Great Pyrenees

Great Pyrenees are also intelligent but can be more stubborn and independent than Colorado Mountain Dogs, making training more challenging. They have moderate energy levels and require regular exercise, such as long walks or hikes, to keep them healthy and happy.

Health and Lifespan

Both Colorado Mountain Dogs and Great Pyrenees are generally healthy breeds, but there are some differences in their lifespans and potential health issues.

Colorado Mountain Dog

As a relatively new breed, there is limited information on the potential health issues and lifespan of Colorado Mountain Dogs. However, it is estimated that they have a lifespan of around 12 years, similar to the Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, and Hungarian Kuvasz breeds. It is recommended to check the parents for issues such as patellar luxation and hip dysplasia.

Great Pyrenees

Great Pyrenees have a lifespan of 10-12 years. They are prone to certain health issues, such as hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and bloat. Regular vet checkups and monitoring for these conditions can help maintain their overall health.

Grooming and Shedding

Both Colorado Mountain Dogs and Great Pyrenees have double coats that require regular grooming to maintain their health and appearance.

Colorado Mountain Dog

Colorado Mountain Dogs have a medium-length coat that is slightly wavy and dense. They shed moderately throughout the year, with heavier shedding during seasonal coat changes. Weekly brushing is recommended to help maintain the quality of their coat and minimize shedding.

Great Pyrenees

Great Pyrenees have a medium-length, straight coat that sheds heavily, especially during seasonal coat changes. Weekly brushing is essential to help remove loose hair, prevent matting, and keep their coat healthy.

Cost and Availability

The cost and availability of both Colorado Mountain Dogs and Great Pyrenees can vary depending on factors such as breeder reputation, location, and demand.

Colorado Mountain Dog

Colorado Mountain Dog puppies typically cost between $800 and $1000. As a newer breed, they may be less readily available than more established breeds like the Great Pyrenees.

Great Pyrenees

Great Pyrenees puppies can cost between $500 and $1500, depending on the breeder and other factors. They are a more established breed and may be more readily available than Colorado Mountain Dogs.

Conclusion: Colorado Mountain Dog vs. Great Pyrenees

In conclusion, both Colorado Mountain Dogs and Great Pyrenees are beautiful, friendly, and protective breeds that can make excellent family companions or livestock guardians. While they share some similarities, their differences in size, appearance, temperament, and other factors may influence your decision when choosing between them. By considering this comprehensive comparison, you can make an informed decision about which breed is the best fit for your family, farm, or lifestyle.

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The Best Dogs for Guarding Chickens

There are a few things to consider when choosing the right dog breed to guard chickens. First, the dog needs to be large enough to defend against the predators in your area.

Our homestead is located in a remote part of the Rocky Mountains. We regularly see bears, coyotes, and mountain lions. With that in mind we knew we needed a large dog. In fact, we have three since our property is large and the livestock we keep are spread out.

Next, even though you want a large dog that’s ready to fight off predators, it also needs to be able to reign in its instinctual prey drive and refrain from chasing and eating the chickens.

In my experience, this is the hardest part. LGDs have a deep instinct to chase and protect. Pair that with flighty chickens and you have a challenge on your hands. While every dog breed will require training (see below for tips), these breeds will have an easier time adapting to life with chickens.

Colorado Mountain Dog

It’s no secret that this is among my favorite livestock guardian dog breed. This is a relatively new breed, designed to protect livestock on small homesteads. They’re friendly, great with kids, and expert guardians. I love that Colorado Mountain Dogs are incredible athletes, with a very kind heart.

In my experience, they do an excellent job guarding chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, and horses. They come from lines of Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherd dogs, and really bring the best of both breeds to the forefront. I’ve written an in-depth article all about Colorado Mountain Dogs, if you want to learn more.

Great Pyrenees

Great Pyrenees are a well known and beloved livestock guardian dog. When people think of an LGD, the Great Pyrenees is often what comes to mind. Large, white and fluffy these dogs are as cute as they are reliable.

Slovensky Cuvak

Also known as the Slovak Cuvac or Slovak Chuvach, this large white dog is one of the only LGD breeds historically known to protect poultry. It has been well documented back to 17th century and was known for watching over sheep, cattle, and turkeys.

Other Dog Breeds to Guard Chickens

Can you use another dog breed to guard your chickens? The short answer is yes, of course. That said, there are certain breeds that will take to it more naturally.

But a lot of it depends on the demeanor of your particular job. And while there are many friendly family pets that will easily become friendly with your chickens, they may not properly defend against threats. So that depends on what predators you have in your area.

I once had an adorable Labrador Retriever who was convinced he was part of the flock. He would spend hours each day wandering the yard with them and hanging out. But he was a big softie and would never have stood up to a bear or other large threat. He did great in the urban homestead setting I lived in at that time, but wouldn’t have been a good fit for wild mountain living.

Training a Dog to Protect Chickens

Even a Livestock Guardian Dog from the best lines will still need some training to safely be around chickens.

We got our first Colorado Mountain Dog as a 10-week old puppy. He was a heart-melting ball of fluff. And while he had great breed lines and natural instincts, he still had a lot to learn. At about 6-months-old, he took to chasing chickens and even killed one. We quickly realized training was necessary. Here’s what worked for us:

1. Consistent Exercise Time – We dedicated ourselves to a long walk around the property every morning and evening, plus several play times throughout the day. Helping our giant puppy expel energy was critical.
2. Consistent Training Time (Away from Livestock) – My husband and I took turns each day working on basic commands (sit, down, stay).
3. Supervised Time with Chickens – We slowly reintroduced our LGD to the chickens. First through the chicken coop, then on a leash, and finally with free range. Any display of lunging or getting too excited was quickly shutdown with a verbal warning.
4. Use a Leash or Dog Run during Peak Hours – The evening time was our most difficult. Not only was it peak crazy hours for taking care of two young children, but it’s when our puppy wanted to get the zoomies and go crazy. During these hours, we put our dog-in-training in a dog run to avoid any unwanted incidents.
5. Send Your Puppy to LGD Bootcamp – To finish it all off, we were blessed to be able to send Wyatt to spend a week with a local Colorado Mountain Dog breeder. Being able to see how the seasoned dogs act was paramount for him. We made several months of progress in a short time thanks to this mentoring.

And that’s one of the best things about having an older dog when you get a puppy. They immediately learn the ropes with far less effort on your part.

FAQ About the Best Dog for Guarding Chickens

Conclusion

A well-trained dog will become a requisite part of the team and excellent chicken guardian. We rely on our Colorado Mountain Dogs to protect our chickens from bears, foxes, mountain lions, and all manner of predators. For the best success, choose a skilled Livestock Guardian Breed and take the time to train your dog to protect chickens.

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