By Caleb MorganUpdated November 2026
If you are looking into crate training a Great Pyrenees, you have probably noticed that most crate advice is written for smaller breeds. A 100-pound guardian dog with a strong independent streak needs a different approach than a Beagle or a Cocker Spaniel. This list compares seven training books and guides that focus on Great Pyrenees behavior, puppyhood through adulthood. Each pick was assessed on its published content, how clearly it explains crate introduction and housetraining, its coverage of guardian-breed traits, and the patterns owners tend to describe in their reviews.
Our top picks at a glance
- 1
TOP CHOICEBest overallThe Complete Great Pyrenees Training BookView on Amazon - 2
TOP CHOICEBest for complete owner referenceGreat Pyrenees Dog Complete Owners ManualView on Amazon - 3
TOP CHOICEBest for puppy-to-senior coverageThe Complete Great Pyrenees HandbookView on Amazon - 4
Best for selection and lifelong careThe Complete Guide to the Great PyreneesView on Amazon - 5
Best for guardian-dog socializationHow to Train Your Great PyreneesView on Amazon - 6
Best for hand cues and fast resultsGreat Pyrenees Training Book by BoneUP DOG TrainingView on Amazon - 7
Best budget pickGreat Pyrenees Training with the No BRAINER Dog TRAINERView on Amazon
Our Top Picks
Quick Comparison
| Product | Best for | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| The Complete Great Pyrenees Training Book | Owners who want a simple, trust-based system | Focus on avoiding common training mistakes |
| Great Pyrenees Dog Complete Owners Manual | Owners who want one reference for all care topics | Covers care, costs, feeding, grooming, health and training |
| The Complete Great Pyrenees Handbook | Owners planning for the full life of the dog | Puppyhood through senior years |
| The Complete Guide to the Great Pyrenees | Buyers selecting a puppy and raising it long term | Covers selection as well as training |
| How to Train Your Great Pyrenees | Owners focused on guardian-breed socialization | Techniques for caring, grooming and socializing |
| Great Pyrenees Training Book by BoneUP DOG Training | Owners who want short, practical sessions | Hand cues and quick-results exercises |
| Great Pyrenees Training with the No BRAINER Dog TRAINER | First-time owners on a tight budget | Step-by-step, plain-language approach |
The Complete Great Pyrenees Training Book
The Complete Great Pyrenees Training Book: Avoid Common Training Mistakes, Improve Communication, and Use a Simple System to Build Trust, Respect, and Good Behavior
Best for: Owners who want a trust-based system that addresses communication problems early
This book suits owners who have read generic training advice and found it did not account for a breed that was bred to work independently at night. Its emphasis on communication and avoiding common mistakes makes it a sound starting point for crate introduction, where many guardian-breed puppies first show resistance.
Key specs
- Format: book, focused on training
- Subject: Great Pyrenees specifically
Pros
- Clear focus on the common mistakes owners make with this breed
- Emphasis on building trust before asking for compliance
- Simple system that is easy to follow across a daily routine
Cons
- Less detail on housetraining schedules than some alternatives
- Written mainly for owners of adult or adolescent dogs, so puppy-specific sections are shorter
Bottom line: A strong first choice for owners who want a single, focused system built around the breed’s temperament.
Great Pyrenees Dog Complete Owners Manual
Great Pyrenees. Great Pyrenees Dog Complete Owners Manual. Great Pyrenees book for care, costs, feeding, grooming, health and training.
Best for: Owners who want one reference covering care, feeding and training
This manual is designed as a broad reference rather than a dedicated training program. It is useful for owners who want crate training placed within the wider context of feeding, grooming and health, since all of these affect how a large dog settles in a crate.
Key specs
- Format: owner’s manual
- Topics: care, costs, feeding, grooming, health and training
Pros
- Covers many topics in one place
- Useful for planning the first year of ownership
- Easy to use as a quick reference
Cons
- Training sections are less detailed than in dedicated training books
- Some readers want more step-by-step crate protocols
Bottom line: Best for owners who want a general reference and plan to pair it with a more detailed crate training guide.
The Complete Great Pyrenees Handbook
THE COMPLETE GREAT PYRENEES HANDBOOK: Step-by-Step Training, Puppy Care, Grooming, Nutrition, Health, and Behavior Guidance from Puppyhood to Senior Years (The Dog Lover’s Guidebook Series)
Best for: Owners who want guidance from puppyhood through senior years
This handbook is organized by life stage, which makes it useful for owners who will need to revisit training as their Pyrenees matures. Crate use often changes as the dog ages, so a guide that covers later life is practical.
Key specs
- Format: handbook, part of a dog lover’s guidebook series
- Coverage: puppy care, training, grooming, nutrition, health and behavior
Pros
- Covers the full lifespan of the dog
- Step-by-step training structure
- Includes nutrition and health context alongside behavior
Cons
- Broad scope means each topic gets less depth
- Crate-specific protocols are not the main focus
Bottom line: A good pick for owners who want a long-term companion volume and are comfortable supplementing it with a dedicated crate guide.
The Complete Guide to the Great Pyrenees
The Complete Guide to the Great Pyrenees: Selecting, Training, Feeding, Loving, and Raising your Great Pyrenees Successfully from Puppy to Old Age
Best for: Buyers choosing a puppy who want to plan for training from the start
This guide covers selection, training, feeding and raising a Great Pyrenees from puppy to old age. It is most useful before a puppy comes home, since the crate setup decisions made in the first weeks shape the rest of the training.
Key specs
- Format: complete guide
- Coverage: selection, training, feeding, socializing and lifelong care
Pros
- Helpful for buyers still choosing a breeder or puppy
- Covers the whole life of the dog
- Readable structure for newcomers
Cons
- Training detail is lighter than in books focused only on behavior
- Some owners report wanting more crate-specific instruction
Bottom line: Ideal for prospective owners who want guidance before and after the puppy arrives.
How to Train Your Great Pyrenees
How to Train Your Great Pyrenees: Expert Techniques for Caring, Raising, Grooming, and Socializing an Obedient Guardian Dog to Behave Positively
Best for: Owners focused on socialization and calm guardian-dog behavior
Great Pyrenees were developed to live with and guard livestock, so socialization and calm behavior around new people and environments matter. This book pays particular attention to these traits, which connects directly to how a dog handles crate time and separation.
Key specs
- Format: training book
- Focus: caring, raising, grooming and socializing an obedient guardian dog
Pros
- Strong attention to guardian-breed temperament
- Covers socialization alongside obedience
- Includes grooming, which affects comfort in a crate
Cons
- Crate protocols are not the central theme
- Less guidance on housetraining schedules
Bottom line: A good choice for owners whose main concern is building a confident, well-socialized guardian.
Great Pyrenees Training Book by BoneUP DOG Training
Great Pyrenees Training Book for Great Pyrenees Dogs By BoneUP DOG Training, Dog Care, Dog Training, Dog Grooming, Hand Cues Too! Are You Ready to Bone Up? Easy Training * Fast Results, Great Pyrenees
Best for: Owners who prefer short, practical sessions with hand cues
This book uses a short-session, hand-cue approach. Owners who have limited time for daily training, or who are working with a dog that responds better to visual signals, may find this format easier to sustain than long written programs.
Key specs
- Format: training book
- Focus: hand cues, quick exercises and general dog care
Pros
- Practical, session-based exercises
- Hand cues are useful for a dog that is hard to hear across a yard
- Easy to read in short blocks
Cons
- Less detail on crate introduction than dedicated crate resources
- Some sections are general and not specific to the breed
Bottom line: Best for owners who want short, repeatable training sessions and will supplement with crate-specific reading.
Great Pyrenees Training with the No BRAINER Dog TRAINER
Great Pyrenees Training | Dog Training with the No BRAINER Dog TRAINER ~ We Make it THAT Easy!: How to EASILY TRAIN Your Great Pyrenees
Best for: First-time owners who want a simple, low-cost starting point
This title presents training in plain language with a step-by-step approach. It is a sensible starting point for first-time owners who want a clear path before investing in longer reference books.
Key specs
- Format: training book
- Focus: easy, step-by-step training for this breed
Pros
- Plain, easy-to-follow language
- Good entry point for new owners
- Short enough to read before the puppy arrives
Cons
- Less depth than comprehensive handbooks
- Limited coverage of later-life training
Bottom line: A budget-friendly first read for owners who want the basics before moving to a more detailed resource.
Buying Guide
Breed-specific content
Look for books that name the Great Pyrenees directly and discuss its guardian-breed traits, such as independence, nighttime alertness and a tendency to test boundaries. Generic dog training books often assume a retriever or herding temperament, which can lead to mismatched advice about crate time and recall.
Good picks for this: The Complete Great Pyrenees Training Book, How to Train Your Great Pyrenees
Crate introduction and housetraining coverage
Check whether the book explains how to introduce the crate in stages, how long a puppy should be crated during the day, and how to structure potty breaks. Large puppies can outgrow crate sizes quickly, so guidance on sizing and progression is worth checking.
Good picks for this: The Complete Great Pyrenees Handbook, Great Pyrenees Dog Complete Owners Manual
Life-stage coverage
A Great Pyrenees may live roughly 10 to 12 years, so a guide that covers puppyhood, adolescence and older age will remain useful longer. Consider whether you want a single long-term volume or a focused puppy guide you will outgrow.
Good picks for this: The Complete Great Pyrenees Handbook, The Complete Guide to the Great Pyrenees
Training style and tone
Some books lean on firm correction, while others emphasize reward-based communication. Read the sample pages or table of contents to see whether the approach matches your comfort level. Reward-based methods are widely recommended by veterinary behaviorists and professional trainers.
Good picks for this: The Complete Great Pyrenees Training Book, Great Pyrenees Training Book by BoneUP DOG Training
Depth versus breadth
Comprehensive guides cover feeding, grooming and health, but each topic gets less space. Focused training books go deeper on behavior but say less about other care needs. Decide which trade-off suits your situation.
Good picks for this: Great Pyrenees Dog Complete Owners Manual, How to Train Your Great Pyrenees
Practicality and session length
Puppies learn in short bursts, usually 5 to 10 minutes at a time. A book that breaks training into repeatable sessions is easier to follow than one that requires long daily blocks.
Good picks for this: Great Pyrenees Training Book by BoneUP DOG Training, Great Pyrenees Training with the No BRAINER Dog TRAINER
Budget and value
A shorter book can be enough for a first-time owner, while a comprehensive handbook may serve better as a long-term reference. Consider whether you will read it once or return to it throughout your dog’s life.
Good picks for this: Great Pyrenees Training with the No BRAINER Dog TRAINER, The Complete Guide to the Great Pyrenees
FAQ
How long should a Great Pyrenees puppy stay in a crate?
A common guideline is that a puppy can hold its bladder for roughly one hour per month of age, plus one. A 3-month-old puppy, for example, generally should not be crated longer than about four hours without a break. Adult dogs need less crate time during the day. Always confirm a schedule with your veterinarian.
Is crate training a Great Pyrenees cruel?
When done gradually and with positive associations, crate training is widely considered a humane management tool. Forcing a dog into a crate or using it as punishment can cause stress. Introduce the crate slowly, use meals and chew toys inside it, and never leave a puppy confined for long stretches without a break.
What size crate does a Great Pyrenees need?
An adult Great Pyrenees typically needs a large or extra-large crate that allows it to stand, turn around and lie down stretched out. Many owners buy a crate sized for the adult dog and use a divider panel while the puppy is small. Check the manufacturer’s measurements against your dog’s length and height before buying.
Why does my Great Pyrenees bark or whine in the crate?
Some barking is common in the early stages, especially with guardian breeds that are alert to sounds. Confirm the dog has been exercised, relieved and fed before crating. Shorten crate sessions, reward quiet moments and avoid releasing the dog while it is barking. If distress continues or escalates, consult a veterinarian or certified behavior professional.
Can I use a crate for an adult Great Pyrenees?
Yes. Many adults continue to use a crate for rest, travel or safety, though some dogs never need one once they are settled. Introducing the crate to an adult dog works best when you move slowly and make the space comfortable with bedding and enrichment.
Do I need a book if I am working with a trainer?
A book can reinforce what a trainer teaches and provide a reference between sessions. It is not a replacement for hands-on guidance, especially for a large dog. If you are dealing with aggression, anxiety or severe separation distress, consult a veterinary behaviorist or certified professional trainer.
How do I choose between a handbook and a dedicated training book?
Choose a handbook if you want broad care information and a long-term reference. Choose a dedicated training book if your immediate priority is crate introduction, housetraining and daily behavior. Many owners use one of each.
Conclusion
For most owners starting crate training a Great Pyrenees, The Complete Great Pyrenees Training Book is a strong first choice because it addresses the breed’s temperament directly. Owners who want a broad reference should look at Great Pyrenees Dog Complete Owners Manual or The Complete Great Pyrenees Handbook. Buyers still selecting a puppy may benefit from The Complete Guide to the Great Pyrenees. Those who prefer short, hand-cue sessions can consider the BoneUP DOG Training book, while first-time owners on a tight budget may find the No BRAINER title a practical introduction. Whichever you choose, pair reading with consistent, gradual crate practice.
Sources
- Breed standards, temperament overviews and general guidance on crate and housetraining for large breeds (akc.org)
- Veterinary association guidance on animal welfare, housing and behavior (avma.org)
- Practical advice on puppy confinement, separation-related stress and humane training methods (aspca.org)
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About Caleb Morgan
Caleb Morgan is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our dogs & puppies guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.
