Great Pyrenees Achievement & Hero Awards
The GPCA established the annual Achievement & Hero Awards (formerly Service Awards) to recognize Great Pyrenees who act or serve in an extraordinary manner through service or therapy work, community activities, guardian duties, or saving property, livestock or a human from a damaging or life-threatening event.
Each year, our committee seeks to award deserving dogs in the categories listed below. In years past, some of these awards have not been awarded due to lack of applications. We encourage you to reach out within your community to identify a Great Pyrenees who is making a difference and is worthy of receiving one of these awards. For more detailed information and to submit a nomination by
March 15, 2022, please contact the committee at greatpyrawards@yahoo.com.
Guidelines (PDF) Application (PDF)
Service Dog Achievement Award
This award is granted to a Great Pyrenees trained to provide a service to an owner, for one act or series of related acts that provided an opportunity for the owner that is significantly above and beyond typical daily living, education and career activities. This award may also be given to a service dog that acts intuitively in a situation for which it is not trained. For example, a service dog assisting a wheelchair-bound owner complete a marathon, or a mobility dog alerting to a medical condition for which it was not trained. For this award, the dog and owner will receive a medal and certificate.
Therapy Dog Achievement Award
This award is granted to a Great Pyrenees certified therapy dog for one event/activity or series of events/activities that showcase(s) the important role of therapy dogs in assisting first responders or affected persons in the midst or aftermath of tragedies or disasters. The therapy dog must be certified by TDI, Pet Partners or other recognized qualifying and record-keeping organization. For this award, the dog and owner will receive a medal and certificate.
Community Achievement Award
This award is granted to a Great Pyrenees that is not therapy certified or trained to provide a service to an owner.* The actions of this dog should showcase the temperament of the breed, its friendliness, loyalty and/or intuition. For example: significant participation in community work or activities; being featured in an news or magazine article, TV program, museum program or similar; befriending an invalid, handicapped, child, elder or other person in need of comfort (this person cannot be the owner, and this interaction cannot be directed or trained by the owner). For this award, the dog and owner will receive a medal and certificate.
*This award may be made to a service dog or a certified therapy dog for actions outside of their normal service dog/therapy dog activities.
Livestock Guardian Achievement Award
This award is granted to a Great Pyrenees who has prevented loss of livestock over a period of time. Documentation of livestock losses before the arrival of the Pyr and losses after the arrival of the Pyr is required. For this award, the dog and owner will receive a medal and certificate.
Outstanding Guardian Achievement Award
This award is granted to a Great Pyrenees who, without significant human direction and acting independently, saved an animal from a life threatening event, prevented property from being destroyed or saved a person from a harmful event. For this award, the dog and owner will receive a medal, certificate and plaque.
Hero Award
This award is granted to a Great Pyrenees who, without significant human direction and acting independently, saved a person’s life or significantly contributed to efforts to save a person’s life. For this award, the dog and owner will receive a medal, certificate and plaque.
