Description

The great, white, mountain dogs have been guarding sheep in the Pyrenees and serving in the French Royal court for hundreds of years. They have been very carefully selected to not only herd sheep, but also to protect them from any danger. They can even take on bears if necessary.

Great Pyrenees dogs are also bred to fend of human attackers, so they make very good and loyal guard dogs. In slightly less rural situations, they will usually be aloof with people who visit the house and let them

They Pyr, as they are affectionately known, are massive dogs, with males weighing up to and over 160 pounds. Their fur is white or light coloured and can be a few inches thick. They shed and so much that a veritable flurry of downy undercoat can moult in the summer.

As such, the Great Pyrenees are not typically house dogs. Aside from their exercise requirements, which are great, they often prefer to be out of doors, running around and on the alert.

Most Great Pyrenees dogs have very good eyesight and are tall enough to see trouble coming from a distance. Their heads are large and broad, supporting large jaws. Because they\'re so large it will take two years for these dogs to reach maturity.

One distinguishing characteristic of the breed is the double dewclaw found on each back leg. They sometime have more than one, but a vet typically removes those in excess of the usual two. They also have a unique metabolism that can actually produce an ailment if they\'re fed too rich a diet.

They are still used widely for herding purposes with animals other than sheep, such as llamas, goats, horses and cattle. In the last 20 years they have become companion animals for some people, mostly those living in suburban areas. Special measures need to be taken to ensure they don\'t escape and range about.

Coat Description

The Great Pyrenees coat is also an impressive sight. It is so thick; one may find it difficult to even part their fur well enough to see down to their skin. The undercoat is very thick and fluffy, often being at least two or more inches long.

The coat becomes dirt repellent with preening. The inner and outer coats form a barrier that is quite waterproof and able to keep warm well under freezing.

History

The dogs that are known throughout Europe as mountain dogs seem to all be descended from a single breed that is first recorded in Eastern Europe and Western Asia as long as 12,000 years ago.

The Great Pyrenees as its own distinct breed is known to go back to at least 5,000 years in the area of the Pyrenees Mountains in what is today Southern France and Northern Spain. They were little known outside the region until people began visiting the mountain countries in the late 19th century. At that time many dogs of ill breeding were sold to tourists and bought all over Europe to limited success.

With the decline of major predators in Europe, the need for the Pyr declined greatly as did the breed\'s numbers until they were first established at kennels in the US, England and Belgium.

Due to their massive size and strength, they have been used for various wartime purposes, most recently in World War Two when they were harnessed with artillery-laden sleds and sent over the mountains. Not only were they capable of making the journey without supplies and guidance, but also they were also able to guard their loads.

Today they are most commonly farm or ranch dogs, tough some live in suburban or urban environments with very good quality fences.

Temperament

These dogs have been bred to herd sheep and make decisions while being left on their own in the mountains for weeks or months at a time. Everything about their character is a result of their purpose.

For starters, the Great Pyrenees is known for being independently minded. They do not blindly follow orders and become quickly bored with them when repeated on a regular basis. Letting this dog know you\'re trustworthy is of greater value than trying to assert your dominance.

They tend to think of their human masters as partners, which is, of course, how they\'ve interacted with people for hundreds of generations. Training can be complicated by their imperious attitude. You\'ll simply have work according to their schedule.

The breed tends to be quite good with children that are part of the family, though it is not recommended that very young or stranger children be allowed in the dog\'s presence unsupervised. Those children that are part of the human flock are just as safe as a sheep would be, but feels no similar affiliation towards other children.

Great Pyrenees do not like having their ears tugged at, at all, and that\'s just the sort of thing many children do. The squealing also bothers them.

Though mostly about the business, Great Pyrenees dogs can be very affectionate with their human "flock." This is often demonstrated by lying their head on you or the characteristic leaning, for which they are famous. Dogs that are bonded to a family will usually try to sleep somewhere where they can touch some part of a family member unless they\'re confined outside.

Great Pyrenees dogs can be aggressive at times and it will be apparent early on which dogs are far too aggressive to be kept. Any reputable breeder will be able to show you records pertaining to other pups in his or her line. Nipping such behaviour in the bud is absolutely necessary, since an out of control Pyr could do some serious damage.

However, with careful socialization and lots of gentle, positive reinforcement, the Great Pryrenees has no reason to be an aggressive dog. They are usually very confident creatures, accustomed to having the run of the place.

As they become older they are even less likely to take kindly to strangers and are often perceived as "aloof," even with family members. You can be certain this is just your dog taking very careful stock of the situation, but it can be very off-putting to some people, but is simply how this breed operates. Positive re-enforcement of acceptable behaviour is the best course of action, whether your dog is actually fearful or not.