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Great Pyrenees Puppies for Sale
Great Pyrenees
(Pyrenean Mountain Dog) (Chien
de Montagne des Pyrénées)
Photo Courtesy of Majesta
Great Pyrenees
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Pronunciation |
Great Pyrenees |
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Description |
The Great Pyrenees is also known as the Pyrenean
Mountain Dog. Full grown this is a very large animal with a solid muscular body.
The long, coarse, outer coat is either straight or slightly wavy, while the fine
undercoat is soft and thick. The coat is weather resistant which allows it to
live outdoors year round in very harsh climates. Coat colors come in solid
white, or white with patches of tan, wolf-gray or pale yellow. It has a black
nose and dark brown, almond-shaped eyes with a thoughtful, intelligent,
dignified expression. The Great Pyrenees looks a lot like a brown bear except
for its light coloring. The body proportions are somewhat rectangular; the
length is slightly more than the height at the withers; the topline is level.
The chest is fairly broad. The head is wedge-shaped with a slightly rounded
skull with no apparent stop. The medium-sized ears are triangular and pendant.
The muzzle is wide and slightly pointed, and its lips are not pendent. The teeth
should ideally meet in a scissors bite, but level bite is allowed. The Great
Pyrenees has single dewclaws on the front legs and double dewclaws on the hind
legs. The long, feathered, plumed tail curves upward slightly at the tip and
reaches at least to the hocks. |
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Temperament |
The Great Pyrenees is a capable and imposing
guardian, devoted to its family, and somewhat wary of strangers - human or
canine. They are often used to guard livestock. When not provoked, it is calm,
well- mannered, and somewhat serious. Courageous, very loyal and obedient.
Gentle and affectionate with those he loves. Devoted to family even if
self-sacrifice is required. It is very gentle with its family and children. It
does best with children when it is raised with them from puppyhood. It has an
independent nature, and may try to dominate a less secure
or meek owner, and/or an owner who treats the dog as if he is human, becoming stubborn or territorial. Owners need to be firm, but calm, confident and consistent with the dog. Setting rules the dog must follow and sticking to them. A serious worker, but very independent. Be patient when training the
Great Pyrenees, as it may be slightly difficult. It is important to socialize and train this breed properly to insure good citizenship. The Great Pyrenees is good with non-canine
animals, and usually loves cats. These dogs do not reach maturity until they are
about 2 years old. Some are not good off the leash and may wander away. The
Great Pyrenees tend to bark a lot and some tend to drool and slobber. |
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Height, Weight |
Height: Dogs 27-32 inches (69-81cm.) Bitches 25-29
inches (63-74cm.) are the average heights, but some Pyrenees are as much as 40
inches (1 meter)
Weight: Dogs from 100 pounds (45kg.) Bitches from 85 pounds (38kg.) |
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Health Problems |
Prone to hip dysplasia. Can develop skin problems
in very hot weather. |
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Living Conditions |
These dogs are not recommended for apartment life.
They need space, but adapt well to family life. They are not really active
indoors, but would be happy with regular exercise outdoors or in a mid-to-large
sized yard. Puppies are very active and might have the tendency to wander off or
escape. The Great Pyrenees
prefers cool climates. |
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Exercise |
Pyrenees need plenty of
exercise to stay in shape. If they are not actively working as a flock guardian,
they need to be taken on a daily, long
brisk walk. |
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Life Expectancy |
About 10 years. |
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Grooming |
Regular brushing of the long double coat will keep
it in good condition, but extra care is needed when the dog is shedding its
dense undercoat. The outer coat does not mat, so care is relatively easy. Bathe
or dry shampoo only when necessary. These dogs shed heavily once a year. |
Origin |
The Great Pyrenees descended from the Hungarian
Kuvasz and the Maremmano-Abruzzese. The Pyrenees is considered the aristocratic
relative of the St. Bernard and the Newfoundland. It has a long history in its
native France as a guard dog of sheep and chateaux. Remains dating as for
back as 1800 BC of a dog similar to the Great Pyrenees have been discovered in
Europe, though the breed probably originated much earlier in Asia or Siberia.
Once established in Europe, the Great Pyrenees (also known as the Pyrenean
Mountain Dog) remained in the high mountain regions until the Middle ages, When
the breed gradually gained popularity with the French nobility as a guard dog.
By the late 17th century, every French noble wanted to own one. Armed with a
spiky collar and thick coat (a natural defense against attack), the Great
Pyrenees protected vulnerable flocks from such predators as wolves and bear.
Born to live in the mountains, this versatile breed has also served man in other
ways: as an avalanche rescue dog, as a cart-puller and a sled dog, as a pack dog
on ski trips, and as a companion and defender of family and property. With
a minimum of training it can still be used today. In ancient times, when its
temperament was less gentle, it may have been used as a dog of war. The Great
Pyrenees was an important part of the founding stock for the Newfoundland. The
AKC officially recognized it in 1933. |
| Group |
Flock Guard, AKC Working |
Recognition |
CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC,
APRI, ACR |
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CKC = Continental
Kennel Club
FCI = Fédération
Cynologique Internationale
AKC = American
Kennel Club
UKC = United Kennel
Club
KCGB = Kennel
Club of Great Britain
CKC = Canadian
Kennel Club
ANKC = Australian
National Kennel Club
NKC = National
Kennel Club
NZKC = New Zealand
Kennel Club
APRI = American Pet Registry
Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry |
Great Pyrenees Posters and Prints!
"Left Tundra from show dog lines, Right
Tacoma from working lines, both working together as flock guards on a farm.
Tundra, from show lines has an immensely thick coat. While working burrs and
sticks get caught in his coat and have to be worked or cut out. Tacoma on
the other hand has a thinner coat. Its still thick compared to most breeds,
but is much thinner than Tundra's show coat. Burrs and sticks do not get
caught in her coat as easily. Tundra, from show lines is less wary of
strangers than Tacoma. Tacoma is more likely to bark at strangers, she keeps
her distance and circles around the person or stays back barking and wagging
her tail at the same time. Tundra (show lines) is still wary of strangers,
however he is more likely to walk up to be pet than Tacoma is. It is very,
very rare that Tacoma will approach a stranger to be pet. She keeps her
distance, barks but does not show signs of physical aggression. At night
Tacoma seems to be more on guard than Tundra, Tundra will often stay in one
spot for the night while Tacoma will walk the border of the property over
and over, barking at and chasing anything she thinks does not belong. I have
seen Tacoma chase a fox off the property. The fox got away through the
fence, but not by much. The chickens were safe that night! Tundra will bark
at night and I have seen him run after animals, which do not belong, but not
as often as Tacoma. Both dogs live outside with a herd of goats, two horses and nightly free roam around a chicken coop which they protect from the fox, raccoon, possum and skunk."
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