Also known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, the
Great Pyrenees or "Pyr" descends from the
Molossian hounds that date back to ancient Roman
times, brought to Spain by the Romans, where the
breed became well established in the Pyrenean
Mountains on the border between France and
Spain. Great Pyrenees are large, beautiful
and highly intelligent dogsthat were entrusted
with the formidable task of guarding fortresses
and protecting sheep from predators, sometimes
left alone for days at a time. Highly prized for
their working abilities and appearance, the
Great Pyrenees were bred pure for centuries, and
were even made the official dog of the court of
King Louis XIV of France. In the 1930's the
Great Pyrenees found it's way across the
Atlantic to the US, in the form of some
excellent breeding dogs, and has since become
one of the more popular breeds, both for work,
and as a loveable family pet.
Great Pyrenees are large, regal looking dogs
that stand up to 32 inches at the shoulder and
weigh in the area of 100 pounds. They have a
dense, double coat, which makes them able to
withstand cold and wet weather when performing
their duties. The Great Pyrenees outer coat is
long, thick, flat and weather resistant, and
there is a dense, woolly, close-fitting
undercoat. The white, coat can be all white, or
white with badger, reddish brown, grey or tan
markings, and needs daily brushing to keep it
clean, shiny and tangle free. Great Pyrenees
tend to shed a lot, so a good vacuum cleaner or
an easygoing attitude towards housekeeping is
essential to owning one of these wonderful dogs.
Great Pyrenees are gentle giants; they love
children and are loyal and protective of their
home and family. They are very intelligent dogs
that are easy to train with the proper
technique. Although they are quite large dogs,
the Great Pyrenees has a fairly small appetite.
