Mountain Dog From The Pyrenees: Everything You Need To Know
The breed of dog we’ll talk about today is one that impresses at first glance. The Pyrenees Mountain Dog surprises with its size and protective personality and its protective instinct.
If they are properly educated, they can make excellent pets. Learn more about them below.
Brief History of the Pyrenees Mountain Dog
Its origin is quite remote, as its fossils were found before the Bronze Age. Shepherds in the Pyrenees region have used them as herding dogs for centuries. However, it was in medieval times that the Pyrenees Mountain Dog began to gain popularity.
French castles and pasture areas have been guarded by this dog breed for hundreds of years. It was the French King Louis XIV who undoubtedly elevated this breed to the top, calling it the royal dog of the court of France.
This increased its demand across the rest of the countries, and its use – not just as a sheepdog – began to spread.
Currently, they are considered companion dogs and are especially valued in countries like Australia and the United States.
General characteristics of the breed
We are facing a dog from the molossos group. This means that their large size and musculature stand out above all else, although the Great Pyrenees – as they are also known – have a slightly more stylized line than other molossos.
Its size, in general, is about 70 centimeters tall in males and 60 centimeters in females. Its weight varies between 50 and 60 kg in males and 40 or 50 kg in females. This, combined with their height, makes them one of the largest breeds we can find today.
Its powerful, compact legs are better suited to traveling in mountainous or steep terrain. It also stands out for its thick fur, which can become long and curled in certain areas of the body, such as the tail or neck.
Its thick coat of fur is whitish, although completely white specimens of the Pyrenean mountain dog are usually rare. The most common is that, in some areas of the hair, there are slightly yellowish, brown or gray tones.
Temperament of the Pyrenees Mountain Dog
His shepherd and guard dog personality transforms the Great Pyrenees into loyal and protective dogs. He will not hesitate to protect his family members, which is why he may bark in front of strangers.
Another characteristic of this breed is its independence, acquired over the centuries, while it remained a solitary guardian of the herds.
That independence, along with your reputation for stubbornness and dominance, can be a problem when raising you. The most advisable is to train them from an early age and, in addition, to do it in a firm and constant way.
If this is not done, it can bring headaches to the owner as the dog grows. If all goes well, you will have the company of a friendly, calm and very affectionate dog with the children of the house.
Basic care
As far as health is concerned, the Pyrenean mountain dog is not an animal that requires special care. Perhaps the most relevant point is the constant brushing required due to the large amount of hair and its frequency in molting.
They are not especially active dogs, but from time to time you need to take a walk and let them out to run and play. You should keep in mind that they are big dogs and generally don’t like closed spaces.
Therefore, this breed is ideal if you live in a rural or very open area.
