A breed of dog developed in the Pyrenees several centuries ago to protect sheep; large powerful body with heavy head; thick, usually pale-coloured, coat.
| Pyrenean Mountain Dog | ||
|---|---|---|
| The Pyrenean Mountain Dog is one of the large breeds | ||
| Alternative names | ||
|
Great Pyrenees Chien des Pyrénées Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées Montañés del Pirineo |
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| Country of origin | ||
| France | ||
| Classification and breed standards | ||
| FCI: | Group 2 Section 2 #137 | Stds |
| AKC: | Working | Stds |
| ANKC: | Group 6 (Utility) | Stds |
| CKC: | Group 3 - Working Dogs | Stds |
| KC (UK): | Pastoral | Stds |
| NZKC: | Utility | Stds |
| UKC: | Guardian Dogs | Stds |
The Pyrenean Mountain Dog, known as the Great Pyrenees in the United States, is a large, majestic breed of dog that was used traditionally for protecting livestock (especially sheep) in pasture.
Temperament
Loyal and protective of its territory, the Great Pyrenees makes for a great family dog. However, there are several reasons owning a dog of this breed may be inconducive, including the following:
A fenced yard is a must with this breed. They cannot be trusted off-leash, as their guardian dog nature will cause them to investigate anything and everything they find interesting, and to not trust their owners to make the final decisions. Interested owners should be wary of comparing the temperament of Golden Retrievers with this breed of dog. Prospective owners are advised to familiarize themselves with characteristics of Livestock guardian dogs (LGD) — which are known for their independent nature. Obedience training and socialization at a young age are a must, as this breed grows large and strong very quickly and is best suited for someone capable of handling a large dog. Bad habits, such as jumping, pulling on lead and table surfing should be nipped in the bud - any bad puppy habits will be ten times worse when the dog weighs 100 pounds! They are related to several other large white European Livestock guardian dogs (LGD), including the Italian Maremma Sheepdog, Kuvasz (Hungary), Anatolian Shepherd (Turkey) and Polish Tatra or Polski Owczarek Podhalański, among others. In the anime/manga Full Metal Alchemist, Shou and Nina Tucker's dog Alexander is most likely a Great Pyrenees. The Spanish designer Javier Mariscal was inspired by this dog breed for the design of the 1992 Summer Olympics mascot "Cobi".
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