Which is Better between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees? A Very Detailed Review.

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Great Pyrenees

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Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Great Pyrenees: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Flat-Coated Retriever and for the Great Pyrenees. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Great Pyrenees

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Great Pyrenees

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Great Pyrenees: Overview

A very important difference between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Great Pyrenees is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

On the other hand, the Great Pyrenees belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Great Pyrenees: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Flat-Coated Retriever to the Great Pyrenees based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Flat-Coated Retriever Great Pyrenees
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 25 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 12 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 2/5
Easy To Train 4/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 1/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 85 to 160 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1350 $830
Price Range $1150 – $1800 $500 – $1000
Temperament Score 92.0 percent 84.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Auburn
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Optigen
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 94 68
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 18 64

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Flat-Coated Retriever in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Great Pyrenees. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Flat-Coated Retriever is 78 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Great Pyrenees is 63 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Flat-Coated Retriever is a better pet than the Great Pyrenees. So, you should get the Flat-Coated Retriever!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Great Pyrenees

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees

    Below is a list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees are most different:

  • Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train. However, Great Pyreneess are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees are most similar:

  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Great Pyrenees

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Flat-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Great Pyreneess weigh 85 to 160 pounds when fully grown. Great Pyreneess are 25 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Flat-Coated Retriever Versus the Great Pyrenees

    The Flat-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Great Pyrenees.

    This is because the temperament score for the Flat-Coated Retriever is 92.0 percent while the temperament score for the Great Pyrenees is 84.9 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 92.0 percent, the Flat-Coated Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 84.9 percent, the Great Pyrenees has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees by measuring the temperaments of 87 Flat-Coated Retrievers and 152 Great Pyreneess.

    Price of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Price of Great Pyrenees

    The average price of the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy is $1350. The price of the Flat-Coated Retriever typically ranges from $1150 – $1800. However, the price of a Flat-Coated Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 8 Flat-Coated Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Great Pyrenees puppy is $830. The price of the Great Pyrenees typically ranges from $500 – $1000. However, the price of a Great Pyrenees can be as low as $195 and as high as $2825. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 352 Great Pyrenees puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever is more expensive than the Great Pyrenees.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Great Pyrenees
    Average Price $1350 $830
    Price Range $1150 to $1800 $500 to $1000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Flat-Coated Retriever and Great Pyrenees. For different price points, the charts show how many Flat-Coated Retriever puppies or how many Great Pyrenees puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Great Pyreneess

    A breakdown of the prices of Great Pyreneess

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy or the Great Pyrenees puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Great Pyrenees

    Adopting the Flat-Coated Retriever versus Adopting the Great Pyrenees

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Flat-Coated Retrievers and many Great Pyreneess are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Flat-Coated Retriever named Kaluha that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Flat-Coated Retrievers like Kaluha on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Flat-Coated Retrievers, Great Pyreneess are also available for adoption. For example, Sage In Tn – Appreciates Every Kindness is a Male Great Pyrenees that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Great Pyreneess like Sage In Tn – Appreciates Every Kindness that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Clarence is the name of another Flat-Coated Retriever (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Perry, an adorable Male Great Pyrenees on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers and Great Pyreneess are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Flat-Coated Retrievers and Great Pyreneess that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Flat-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Great Pyrenees

    Flat-Coated Retriever Great Pyrenees
    Intelligence Rank 18 out of 130 dog breeds 64 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions!

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Flat-Coated Retrievers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Great Pyrenees has an obedience intelligence rank of 64 out of 130 dog breeds. The Great Pyrenees belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Great Pyreneess tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever is more intelligent than the Great Pyrenees.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Great Pyrenees

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Great Pyrenees is more popular with dog owners than the Flat-Coated Retriever. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Great Pyrenees is 68 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Flat-Coated Retriever is 94 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Great Pyrenees

    Popularity of Great Pyrenees

    Year Flat-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Great Pyrenees Popularity Rank
    2013 94 69
    2014 92 75
    2015 86 67
    2016 89 67
    2017 96 66
    2018 91 66
    2019 104 69
    2020 102 70

    Health Problems of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Great Pyrenees

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Great Pyrenees is prone to more genetic health problems than the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Great Pyrenees than for the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    3 health tests are recommended for Flat-Coated Retriever while 5 tests are recommended for the Great Pyrenees.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Flat-Coated Retrievers and in Great Pyreneess.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Flat-Coated Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Flat-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Flat-Coated Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Flat-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Flat-Coated Retrievers here.

    Great Pyrenees Health Problems

    Great Pyreneess are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Great Pyrenees puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Great Pyrenees puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Great Pyrenees breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Great Pyreneess for:

  • Auburn
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Optigen
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Great Pyreneess here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Flat-Coated Retrievers and Great Pyreneess

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Flat-Coated Retriever Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks 28 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 241 Flat-Coated Retrievers, 14 of them had Thyroid problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Flat-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Flat-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 28 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 85 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 129 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 129 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 172 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Great Pyrenees Breed is Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems.

    This is because the Great Pyrenees ranks 1 out of 6 dog breeds for Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 109 Great Pyreneess, 9 of them had Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Great Pyreneess, and how common these diseases are in Great Pyreneess relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems: Rank 1 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Neuronal Degeneration problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 16 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 25 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 27 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 55 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 63 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 101 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 112 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 124 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Flat-Coated Retriever and in Great Pyrenees and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees:

    Disease Flat-Coated Retriever Rank Great Pyrenees Rank
    Thyroid problems 28 out of 115 dog breeds 63 out of 115 dog breeds
    Patella problems 85 out of 145 dog breeds 101 out of 145 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 129 out of 144 dog breeds 112 out of 144 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 129 out of 182 dog breeds 25 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 172 out of 198 dog breeds 124 out of 198 dog breeds
    Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems Not Common 1 out of 6 dog breeds
    Neuronal Degeneration problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 16 out of 22 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 27 out of 70 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 55 out of 159 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Great Pyrenees?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Great Pyreneess do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Great Pyrenees

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Great Pyreneess can be left alone only for a short time.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Great Pyrenees?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Great Pyreneess are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Which one drools more, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Great Pyrenees

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Great Pyreneess do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed more than Great Pyreneess?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Great Pyreneess shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Does the Flat-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Great Pyrenees?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Great Pyreneess have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Great Pyreneess Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Great Pyreneess can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Great Pyreneess Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Great Pyreneess can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Great Pyrenees?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Great Pyreneess are very easy to groom.

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Great Pyrenees?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Great Pyreneess are not easy to train.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Great Pyreneess?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Great Pyreneess are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Wanderlust Potential: Flat-Coated Retriever vs. Great Pyrenees

    Flat-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Great Pyreneess have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Are Flat-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Great Pyreneess?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Great Pyreneess are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Flat-Coated Retrievers and Great Pyreneess?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Great Pyreneess get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Great Pyrenees?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Great Pyreneess get along very well with other dogs.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Flat-Coated Retriever:

  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (81 percent match with Flat-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Great Pyrenees vs Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Great Pyrenees

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Great Pyrenees that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Great Pyrenees:

  • Black and Tan Coonhound (73 percent match with Great Pyrenees). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Black and Tan Coonhound.
  • Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (72 percent match with Great Pyrenees). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.
  • Treeing Walker Coonhound (75 percent match with Great Pyrenees). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Treeing Walker Coonhound.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Flat-Coated Retriever and how the Great Pyrenees compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever and of the Great Pyrenees to other breeds:

    Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Yorkipoo     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Irish Water Spaniel     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Patterdale Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Norfolk Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Papipoo     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Irish Wolfhound     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Portuguese Pointer     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Briard     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Saint Berdoodle     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Vizsla     

    Great Pyrenees Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Great Pyrenees versus Yorkipoo     Great Pyrenees versus Ibizan Hound     Great Pyrenees versus Bichon Frise     Great Pyrenees versus Clumber Spaniel     Great Pyrenees versus Sussex Spaniel     Great Pyrenees versus Carolina Dog     Great Pyrenees versus Airedale Terrier     Great Pyrenees versus Mudi     Great Pyrenees versus Papillon     Great Pyrenees versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     

    Conclusion: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Great Pyrenees. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Great Pyrenees better suits you and your family.