50% off your first order. Redeem Now

Dog Food Chevron
Cat Food Chevron
More Chevron
See Plans & Pricing Account

FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Great Pyrenees

The Great Pyrenees is a gentle giant — a calm, 100-pound livestock guardian that conserves its energy by design. That low-key metabolism, paired with a deep chest and joints carrying serious weight, makes how and when you feed one matter as much as what is in the bowl.

Here is exactly how to feed a Great Pyrenees on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, in smaller meals that respect their bloat-prone build, with the nutrition that protects their joints and that famous white coat.

  • Adult weight85–110 lb
  • SizeGiant
  • EnergyLow to Moderate
  • Lifespan10-12 years
  • CoatThick double coat — heavy shedder
Build my dog's plan → Shop recipes
A healthy Great Pyrenees
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Great Pyrenees's body needs

Every Great Pyrenees trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Deep-chested, bloat-prone build

    Needs: Small, calm, divided meals

    Freeze-dried raw rehydrates into a moist, easy-to-portion meal that splits cleanly into two or three smaller servings — gentler on a deep chest than one large, gulped bowl.

  • Giant frame, joint-load & dysplasia risk

    Needs: Joint support + lean body weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, while omega-3s calm joint inflammation — and keeping a Pyrenees lean takes load off hips, elbows and knees.

  • Calm guardian, energy-thrifty metabolism

    Needs: Nutrient density without empty calories

    83% meat, organs and bone delivers complete nutrition in smaller portions — no carb fillers padding the calories on a dog that does not burn them off.

  • Thick white double coat, heavy shedder

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting that signature coat and helping manage the heavy seasonal shedding the breed is known for.

  • Slow-maturing large-breed puppy

    Needs: Controlled, steady growth

    Measured raw fed to a lean condition avoids the fast, overfed growth that strains developing giant-breed joints — slow and steady protects the skeleton for life.

How much to feed a Great Pyrenees

Quick answer: a healthy adult Great Pyrenees (85–110 lb) needs about 12.8–16.5 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
85 lb 12.8 oz 6.4 oz
91 lb 13.7 oz 6.8 oz
97 lb typical Great Pyrenees 14.6 oz 7.3 oz
103 lb 15.5 oz 7.7 oz
110 lb 16.5 oz 8.3 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

Get exact portion →

What to feed a Great Pyrenees

For a Great Pyrenees we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — fed as smaller meals across the day, or as a nutrient-dense topper while you transition.

Rich proteins like Beef or Salmon suit this big, slow-growing frame and feed the coat from the inside; lean Chicken is an easy everyday option for keeping a calmer dog trim. Just add water and serve at room temperature.

Recipes for Great Pyreneess

Shop all →

Daily support for Great Pyreneess

Shop all →

Treats Great Pyreneess love

Shop all →

Feeding a Great Pyrenees by life stage

  • Puppy: Great Pyrenees are a giant breed and must grow slowly to protect developing joints. Feed roughly 5-8% of current body weight across three to four smaller meals, and resist overfeeding — rapid growth raises the risk of hip and elbow dysplasia and other bone-growth disorders this breed is prone to.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, ribs-easily-felt body condition, split across two or three smaller meals to respect their deep-chested, bloat-prone build. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag.
  • Senior: Activity dips further with age while joints have carried a lot of weight. Trim portions to prevent gain, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition.

Common Great Pyrenees concerns — and the diet connection

  • Bloat / GDV (gastric dilatation-volvulus)Deep-chested giants are at higher risk. Smaller, divided meals and calm mealtimes help; freeze-dried raw rehydrates into a moist meal that is easy to split into two or three servings rather than one large, fast-eaten bowl.
  • Hip & elbow dysplasiaLargely genetic in giant breeds, but a lean body weight plus joint nutrients (natural glucosamine from bone and cartilage, plus omega-3) support day-to-day comfort and ease the load on developing and aging joints.
  • Patellar luxation & growth-related bone disordersSteady, controlled growth and a healthy weight matter most for a big-boned dog. Measured, complete raw feeding helps avoid the overfeeding that stresses joints and the skeleton.
  • Coat & skin upkeepThat thick double coat sheds heavily; an omega-rich, whole-food, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and coat condition from the inside out.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Great Pyrenees: what to know

Great Pyrenees are deep-chested, which puts them at real risk of bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus). Never feed one big daily meal. Split the day's food into two or three smaller meals, and keep things quiet for an hour before and after eating — no vigorous exercise around mealtimes.

Because they are calm and energy-thrifty, Pyrenees burn fewer calories than their size suggests. Feed to body condition — you should feel the ribs under that thick coat and see a waist from above — and weigh portions rather than eyeballing them, since extra weight lands hard on dysplasia-prone joints.

Great Pyrenees feeding questions

How much should I feed my Great Pyrenees?
A healthy adult Great Pyrenees (85-110 lb) needs roughly 13-17 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two or three smaller meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean body condition and adjust every few weeks.
Why should I feed a Great Pyrenees smaller, more frequent meals?
Great Pyrenees are deep-chested and prone to bloat (GDV), a life-threatening twisting of the stomach. Splitting the day's food into two or three smaller meals, and keeping exercise calm around mealtimes, lowers that risk. Freeze-dried raw makes portioning into smaller servings simple.
What is the best food for a Great Pyrenees puppy?
A giant-breed puppy needs to grow slowly. A complete, measured freeze-dried raw diet fed across three to four small meals supports steady growth without the overfeeding that strains developing joints — start at the lower end of the range and keep the puppy lean.
Does a Great Pyrenees need joint and coat support?
Most benefit from both. The breed's size and dysplasia risk make joint support valuable — real bone and organ provide natural glucosamine, and omega-3 helps the joints and that heavy double coat. Keeping your Pyrenees lean is the most effective joint protection there is.
How do I switch my Great Pyrenees to raw?
Transition over 7-10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Because raw is rich, start at the lower end of the range, split into smaller meals, and watch the waistline as you go.

THE CLEAN BOWL GUARANTEE

If your dog won't eat it, it's on us

Try Great Pyrenees's first plan risk-free. If they turn up their nose, we'll make it right — money-back, and skip, pause or cancel anytime.

  • Vet-formulated
  • AAFCO complete & balanced
  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
Build my dog's meal plan →

Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.