Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
Good with dogs,
House-trained,
Story
Meet John McClane. No explosions, no barefoot glass-walking, no dramatic hostage negotiations—just vibes, feelings, and a soft-hearted gentleman who absolutely did not sign up for the action-hero expectations his name implies.
John is a gentle soul wrapped in a big, lovable dork package—a sensitive guy who processes the world at his own pace and would rather connect than conquer. He’s the kind of dog who seems like he has inner monologues, probably worries about whether you’re mad at him, and gets his feelings hurt if you sigh too loudly in his general direction. He’s sweet without being overwhelming, affectionate without being clingy, and awkward in the most endearing way—like someone who wants to join the party but stands just slightly off to the side until invited. John doesn’t barrel into life; he tiptoes in, checks the vibe, and then gives you his whole heart once he feels safe. He’s not flashy, not loud, not chaotic—just quietly wonderful, emotionally available, and deeply committed to being your loyal, slightly goofy shadow.
John McClane is a 9-month-old, 72-lb male Great Pyrenees mix (possibly with a little Golden Retriever sprinkled in for emotional depth). He came to us after finding himself in the shelter, which is honestly rude because this boy has no business being in a place like that. He’s far too gentle, far too sensitive, and far too much of a lovable dork to have been navigating the chaos of shelter life. From the Pyrenees side, John inherited the big, thoughtful presence. He’s naturally calm, observant, and tends to take a beat before diving into new situations. Then there’s the likely Golden Retriever influence, which adds a layer of softness and goofiness that rounds him out beautifully. This is where the lovable dork energy comes in. John has that sweet, affectionate nature that wants to connect, please, and be part of the family without being overbearing.
When he first arrives somewhere new, he’s not sprinting into the group like a frat boy named Chad. No. He stands back. He observes. Once he decides the environment is safe and no one is going to emotionally scar him, he goes from reserved wallflower to WAY too involved in about 3.5 seconds. Suddenly he’s everywhere. In everyone’s space. Participating at a level no one explicitly agreed to. He wants friends. He wants connection. He wants to be included in every single activity whether or not it applies to him. Personal space exists in theory but doesn't apply to a dog who thinks he is the size of a Chihuahua. Cats? Inside the house, John is shockingly reasonable. He notices them, acknowledges their presence, and then goes back to minding his own business like, “Ah yes, the small weird roommates.” Kids are currently filed under “insufficient data.” John has not spent meaningful time around tiny humans, so at this time, he has no strong opinions, no manifesto, and no highlight reel. Given his size and his gentle-but-clueless puppy energy, any future kid interactions should be thoughtful, supervised, and preferably involve humans who understand that large dogs sometimes forget how large they are. When it comes to new people, John McClane is not here for immediate friendships.He prefers to observe from a safe distance like a Victorian child peeking from behind a curtain. No jumping, no tackling, no dramatic greetings. Just quiet judgment, cautious curiosity, and eventual acceptance once you’ve proven you are, in fact, not a threat.
Let’s set expectations appropriately, because John McClane is not here to misrepresent himself. Energy-wise, he’s sitting comfortably at a solid 5 out of 10—which means he’s not bouncing off the walls, but he’s also not a decorative throw pillow. He has moments of playfulness, spurts of enthusiasm, and then promptly remembers that resting is important and being horizontal is underrated. Balance. Growth. Self-care. As far as lifestyle goes, John is currently filing paperwork to be classified as a homebody. He is shy, cautious, and not particularly jazzed about outings—especially if they involve cars, loud environments, or surprises. At this stage of life, he’s much more “let’s stay home and vibe quietly” than “pack the snacks, we’re hitting the trail.” He may grow into more adventures with time and confidence, but right now, his comfort zone has a couch in it. Temperament-wise, John McClane is a sensitive soul wrapped in a lovable dork exterior. He feels things deeply. He tries hard. He’s gentle, sweet, and occasionally awkward in a way that makes you want to protect him from the world and also laugh a little. He’s not bold or pushy—he’s thoughtful, earnest, and quietly endearing, with strong “therapy dog energy” once he feels safe. His favorite activity is playing tug-of-war with his buddy Freddie, which he approaches with enthusiasm and joy, followed by immediate rest because again—balance. As for housing needs: John absolutely needs a securely fenced yard. Because of his timid nature, he’s a flight risk if startled, and while he’s perfectly capable of leash walks, his instinct under stress would be to bolt. A fenced yard gives him the freedom to decompress, explore safely, and exist without constantly feeling overwhelmed.
Let’s talk about John McClane’s home habits, because this boy is out here quietly disproving every stereotype about large puppies being menaces to society. First things first: yes, he is potty trained.Kennel life is… acceptable. He may file a brief verbal complaint when first placed inside—just so everyone knows he did not choose this—but hand him a bone and suddenly he’s like, “Actually this is fine. Chewing? None. Destruction? Also none. Shoes remain shoes. Furniture remains furniture. John is not here to redecorate your home or express himself through chaos. He prefers peace. Barking-wise, John is mostly a background character. He’s not running a neighborhood news channel. He’ll bark if the other dogs are barking—because, you know, peer pressure. Now for the important part: John McClane is a gentle, sensitive soul, and it’s very clear that life hasn’t always been kind to him. He’s shy. He’s cautious. He’s learning—slowly—that people can be good and safe and gentle, too. Whoever adopts him will need patience, empathy, and the ability to give him time to decompress without expectations. One thing that helps immensely? Other dogs. John absolutely loves playing with Freddie, and having a confident, playful dog buddy would likely help him come out of his shell faster. He learns by watching, following, and realizing, “Oh… we’re okay here.”
So here’s the deal: if you’re looking for a loud, reckless, zero-boundaries tornado of a dog… please keep scrolling.
But if what you want is a giant, gentle, emotionally soft boy with soulful eyes, excellent house manners, and the kind of quiet sweetness that sneaks up on you and wrecks your heart—congrats, you’ve found John McClane. If you think you might be his person (or his people), you’ll need to fill out an adoption application at https://www.pyrpawsandfluffytailsrescue.com/adoption-app so we can send it over to his foster family—because yes, there is a process, and yes, it exists for a reason, and no, we cannot skip it “just this once.” And if approved, you’ll need to pick him up in Hutchinson, Kansas.
