Pyrenean Mountain Dog

From the isolation of the lonely mountainous pastures of the Pyrenees, at the common borders of France and Spain, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog has developed his inherent traits of devotion, fidelity, sense of guardianship and intelligent understanding of man. .A great sense of smell matched with keen sight, he is an invaluable companion of the shepherd. He has originally been bred for the countryside as a protector of shepherds and their flocks, but has been remodeled through careful selection as an ideal watchdogon large estates in France. His beauty has been honoured with the title “an animated snowdrift of the Pyrenees Mountain“. His instinct to work in snow and his insulatingcoat makes him ideal for pack and guide work in the Alps.

History:

The native of France, the Pyrenan Mountain Dog or the Great Pyrenees, belong to the group of massive dogs, all originating from Molossian, thought to be their common ancestor and spread in Europe by the help of marching Roman armies. His closest relative in points of conformation is Hungarian Kuvasz, but is also believed that he is one of the ancestors of the Newfoundland dog. The French name for the breed is “Chien de Montagne des Pyrenees“.
The French historian, Bourdet states that the Chateau of Lourdes (Cstle o Lourdes) was guarded by huge mountain dogs. Dogs were supposed to help the guardian of jails and it was a custom that jail sentries were accompanied by one or more of Great Pyrenees. It is assumed that the big mountain dogs were taken by French soldiers who developed settlements on the Newfoundland Island coast in 1662. J. S. Skinner, a renowned canine authority was sent a pair of dogs in 1824 by General Lafayette. In “The Dog and the Sportsman”, Skinner writes that Lafayette recommended them as being

“of inestimable value to wool growers in all regions exposed to the depredations of wolves and sheep-killing dogs”

In 1933, the American Kennel Club gave official recognition for the breed and their first standard was accepted.

Essential of the Breed:

The Pyrenean Mountain Dog is of great size and immensely elegant breed. He is all white in colour or on a white background shaded with tan or grey. The average height for dogs vary from 27 to 32 inch with a weight of 100-125 lbs. Bitches average from 25-29 inch and weighing 90 to 115 lbs.

Tags: american kennel club, great pyrenees, hungarian kuvasz, mountain dogs, pyrenean mountain dog