Great Pyrenees Dog – The Pyrenean Mountain Dog, also known as the Patou in France, is a breed of livestock guardian dog. The Pyrenees Mountains, which split France and Spain, are home to this breed. It is distinguished from the Pyrenean Mastiff, a similarly related breed from the Spanish side of the Pyrenees.
Madame de Maintenon and Louis, Dauphin of France, sent a dog of this type to King Louis XIV’s court in the seventeenth century, where it quickly became popular, with the King even calling it the Royal Dog of France. Pyrenean Mountain Dogs; Great Pyrenees Dog were employed as one of the foundation breeds for the Leonberger in the 1830s.
Local shepherds sold pups to eager tourists, and it was through these pups that the breed made its way to Britain, where several were registered with The Kennel Club at the turn of the century, despite a drop in British interest in the huge breed during WWI. Bernard Senac-Lagrange, a French aristocrat and dog authority, is credited with saving the breed from extinction at the turn of the twentieth century by traveling the highlands in search of the best specimens to use as a breeding ground. The Pyrenean Mountain Dog was brought to North America in the early 1930s and given the name Great Pyrenees.
These dogs, on the other hand, bore little similarity to the beautiful Pyrenees that were formerly so revered. In England, interest in the breed has waned. Fortunately, the species was still plentiful and of high quality in its original mountain range, allowing later fanciers to access good breeding stock. The current Pyrenees can be traced back to these dogs. The breed was seriously imported to America in the 1930s, and by 1933, the Great Pyrenees had earned AKC registration. The breed drew a lot of attention as well as new owners, and the Great Pyrenees is still a popular family companion today.
Table of Contents
Body description
The Great Pyrenees Dog is a huge and powerful livestock guardian dog breed. The head of the breed is not excessively enormous in proportion to the body; it has a long, broad, and slightly pointed muzzle with non-pendulous lips and small triangular ears that hang flat to the head. The breed features a short, powerful neck, a broad, relatively deep chest, and a long tail that hangs low when at rest but curls over the dog’s back when roused.
On the hind legs, it has two dewclaws. Great Pyrenees Dog range in height from 28 to 32 inches, while bitches range from 26 to 30 inches. Adults should weigh between 55 and 75 kilos (121 and 165 pounds) in good health.
The breed has a long and thick double coat that protects it from the elements; the long and flat outer coat is especially long around the neck, tail, and back of the legs, and the undercoat is fine and dense. The coat of the breed is mostly white, with patches of black, badger, grey, or various hues of tan seen mostly on the head; badger is a mixture of brown, black, grey, and white hairs that is frequent in pups but disappears as the dog grows older.
Behavior
- Pyrenean Mountain Dogs are noted for their independence and protective temperament, which appeal to farmers who want to protect their cattle.
- This breed is also popular in large houses, not only because of its size but also because of its great capacity to guard all members of the family, as well as being especially devoted toward youngsters; yet, it is known to be apprehensive of strangers. While gentle with family and children, the Great Pyrenees has a strong, independent personality.
- They should be kept on a leash because they are wanderers. The Great Pyrenees barks naturally as a guard dog.
Training
Because of its size, training must begin at a young age, otherwise, it will become physically difficult to develop obedience later. Because of this breed’s protective temperament, early socialization is very crucial. Exposure to as many different people, places, and circumstances as possible will help lessen any extreme protectiveness, especially when the Great Pyrenees is a puppy. Because Pyrenesses are independent and even stubborn, patience is required throughout training. Positive re-enforcement should be used for the dog during training.
Caring
To stay in condition, the Great Pyrenees Dog require daily exercise which is between 20-30 minutes each day. In most cases, a moderate walk will suffice. Hiking is a favorite pastime for this breed, especially in the cold and snow, although it does not perform well in hot weather. Brushing this dog’s coat once or twice weekly, and daily when shedding, is required. Some dogs of this breed have a tendency to drool.
Health
Torsion of the stomach Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Patellar Luxation, Addison’s Disease, Cataracts, and Entropion are just a few of the disorders that plague the Great Pyrenees Dog. The average life expectancy is 10–12 years.
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