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| akcgroup = Working
| akcgroup = Working
| akcstd = http://www.akc.org/breeds/great_pyrenees/breed_standard.cfm
| akcstd = http://www.akc.org/breeds/great_pyrenees/breed_standard.cfm
| altname = Pyrenean Mountain Dog<br>Patou<br>Montañés del Pirineo<br>Gos de muntanya dels Pirineus<br>Chien des Pyrénées<br>Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées
| altname = Pyrenean Mountain Dog<br>Patou<br>Montañés del Pirineo<br>Perro de Montaña de los Pirineos<br>Gos de muntanya dels Pirineus<br>Chien des Pyrénées<br>Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées
| nicknames = "Pyr", "GP", "PMD"
| nicknames = "Pyr", "GP", "PMD"
| ankcgroup = Group 6 (Utility)
| ankcgroup = Group 6 (Utility)
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The '''Pyrenean Mountain Dog''', known as the '''Great Pyrenees''' in [[North America]], is a large [[dog breed|breed]] of [[dog]] used as a [[livestock guardian dog]]. It should not be confused with the [[Pyrenean Mastiff]].
The '''Pyrenean Mountain Dog''', known as the '''Great Pyrenees''' in [[North America]], is a large [[dog breed|breed]] of [[dog]] used as a [[livestock guardian dog]]. It should not be confused with the [[Pyrenean Mastiff]].

⚫
The Great Pyrenees is a very old breed that has been used for hundreds of years by shepherds, including those of the [[Basque people]], who inhabit parts of the region in and around the [[Pyrenees Mountains]] of southern France and northern Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.akc.org/breeds/great_pyrenees/history.cfm |title=Early History of the breed |publisher=Clubs.akc.org |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> One of the first descriptions of the breed dates from 1407, and from 1675 the breed was a favorite of [[Louis, Dauphin of France (1661–1711)|The Grand Dauphin]] and other members of the French aristocracy.<ref name="Great Pyrenees Com">{{cite web|url=http://www.greatpyrenees.com/history_fr.shtml |title=Great Pyrenees Connection-Great Pyrenees Colors |publisher=Greatpyrenees.com |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> By the early nineteenth century there was a thriving market for the dogs in mountain towns, from which they would be taken to other parts of France. The dog was developed to be agile in order to guard sheep on steep, mountainous slopes.<ref name="Coile 2005">{{cite book|last=Coile|first=D. Caroline|title=Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, second edition|publisher=Barron's|year=2005|isbn=0764157000}}</ref>


As late as 1874 the breed was not completely standardized in appearance, with two major sub-types recorded, the Western and the Eastern.<ref name="Durr 2004">{{cite book|last=Durr|first=Mark|title=Dog's Best Friend: Annals of the Dog-Human Relationship - 2004 Page 161}}</ref> They are related to several other large white European [[livestock guardian dog]]s (LGD), including the Italian [[Maremma Sheepdog]], [[Kuvasz]] (Hungary), [[Akbash Dog]] (Turkey) and Polish Tatra or [[Polski Owczarek Podhalański]], and somewhat less closely to the [[Newfoundland (dog)|Newfoundland]] and [[St. Bernard (dog)|St. Bernard]]. According to the Great Pyrenees Club of America, the Great Pyrenees is naturally nocturnal and aggressive with any predators that may harm its flock. However, the breed can typically be trusted with small, young, and helpless animals of any kind due to its natural guardian instinct.<ref name=GPCA>{{cite web|url=http://clubs.akc.org/gpca/glgd.html |title=Great Pyrenees Club of America: Livestock Guardian Dog |publisher=Great Pyrenees Club of America |date=2010-01-10 |accessdate=2012-03-17|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060209171638/http://clubs.akc.org/gpca/glgd.html|archivedate=2006-02-09}}</ref>
As late as 1874 the breed was not completely standardized in appearance, with two major sub-types recorded, the Western and the Eastern.<ref name="Durr 2004">{{cite book|last=Durr|first=Mark|title=Dog's Best Friend: Annals of the Dog-Human Relationship - 2004 Page 161}}</ref> They are related to several other large white European [[livestock guardian dog]]s (LGD), including the Italian [[Maremma Sheepdog]], [[Kuvasz]] (Hungary), [[Akbash Dog]] (Turkey) and Polish Tatra or [[Polski Owczarek Podhalański]], and somewhat less closely to the [[Newfoundland (dog)|Newfoundland]] and [[St. Bernard (dog)|St. Bernard]]. According to the Great Pyrenees Club of America, the Great Pyrenees is naturally nocturnal and aggressive with any predators that may harm its flock. However, the breed can typically be trusted with small, young, and helpless animals of any kind due to its natural guardian instinct.<ref name=GPCA>{{cite web|url=http://clubs.akc.org/gpca/glgd.html |title=Great Pyrenees Club of America: Livestock Guardian Dog |publisher=Great Pyrenees Club of America |date=2010-01-10 |accessdate=2012-03-17|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060209171638/http://clubs.akc.org/gpca/glgd.html|archivedate=2006-02-09}}</ref>
Line 53: Line 51:
=== Upkeep ===
=== Upkeep ===
When kept as a house pet, the Great Pyrenees' coat needs brushing once or twice a month. The breed needs moderate exercise but tends to be somewhat lazy, especially in warm weather. They particularly enjoy cold weather and snow. Like similar breeds, some Great Pyrenees tend to drool, especially with exercise.<ref name="Coile 2005"/>
When kept as a house pet, the Great Pyrenees' coat needs brushing once or twice a month. The breed needs moderate exercise but tends to be somewhat lazy, especially in warm weather. They particularly enjoy cold weather and snow. Like similar breeds, some Great Pyrenees tend to drool, especially with exercise.<ref name="Coile 2005"/>

== History ==
The Great Pyrenees is a very old breed that has been used for hundreds of years by shepherds, including those of the [[Basque people]], who inhabit parts of the region in and around the [[Pyrenees Mountains]] of southern France and northern Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.akc.org/breeds/great_pyrenees/history.cfm |title=Early History of the breed |publisher=Clubs.akc.org |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref>

[[Varro (cognomen)|Varro]], Roman author who lived in the first century BC wrote in his treatise of rural economy "De re rustica" in 37 BC.:

"The dog is essential for those who raise animals for wool. It is the guardian of livestock in general but is the natural defender of the sheep and goats. The wolf lurks constantly and we oppose it the dogs"... "As for its appearance, choose those who are well-trained, large size, with black or red eyes, the nose of the same color, red lips pulling to black, not too collected, nor too pendants"... "It is equally essential that the dogs have strong head, long, floppy ears, wide and short neck, thighs and rights more inwardly turned than out, wide legs, fingers apart, hard nails and bent, spine nor projection nor convex, bushy tail, sonorous voice, good match muzzle and preferably with white hair so that it can be easily distinguished from wild animals at night."

It is significant that the dog that tells Varro, more than 2000 years ago, it fits almost perfectly, with only small variations, to the Great Pyrennes, which is unequivocal and irrefutable proof of the antiquity of these breeds.

[[File:Great Pyrenees Sheep Dog Guarding the Flock (5113678413).jpg|thumb|right|A Great Pyrenees guarding the flock.]]
One of the first descriptions of the breed dates from 1407, Fray Miguel Agustín, "prior" of the Temple who lived between 1560 and 1630, published in 1617 in [[Catalan language|Catalan]] (the first edition appeared in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] in 1622), a book which he called "Libro de los secretos de la agricultura, casa de campo y pastoril". It gives the reasons why pastors prefer white puppies, excluding those born very stained color. Relate the friar: "The wool cattle dogs should not must be so big or so heavy as those of the guard of the house, but strong and sturdy, lightweight and ready to combat and fight and for run, because they have to make saves and guard against wolves and hunt them down if those take a cattle... These should be white, so that the shepherd can easily see when these run after the wolf and know them in the evening and the morning."

⚫
From 1675 the breed was a favorite of [[Louis, Dauphin of France (1661–1711)|The Grand Dauphin]] and other members of the French aristocracy.<ref name="Great Pyrenees Com">{{cite web|url=http://www.greatpyrenees.com/history_fr.shtml |title=Great Pyrenees Connection-Great Pyrenees Colors |publisher=Greatpyrenees.com |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> By the early nineteenth century there was a thriving market for the dogs in mountain towns, from which they would be taken to other parts of France. The dog was developed to be agile in order to guard sheep on steep, mountainous slopes.<ref name="Coile 2005">{{cite book|last=Coile|first=D. Caroline|title=Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, second edition|publisher=Barron's|year=2005|isbn=0764157000}}</ref>

In the mid-19th century, the breed was not homogenized. According to the article published on February 20, 1874 in the journal "Acclimatation" and written by the canine expert Kermadec, says:

"There in the Pyrenees various types of large dogs, called Mountain Dogs, and among other, two very different varieties:

-One, We might designate with the name "Dog of the Western Pyrenees," particularly widespread around Bagneres-de-Bigorre; have thick snout, hanging lips, rounded ears, a little curly coat black and white, seems to be largely the strain of large dogs designated with the name Terra-Nova Dogs, widespread throughout France.

-The Second type is the "Dog of the Eastern Pyrenees" is large, very slender shape, pointed snout, pointy ears and falls, soft, silky and abundant coat, a complete white snow color. In some cases there is a blackish band around the eyes, but often it is completely white... It was extended once in the Republic of Andorra and pasrt of Spain, but in Andorra is not completely extinguished . It might still exists in the mountains of Spain."<ref>[http://www.cepmp.com/index_p.htm "El Perro de Montaña de Los Pirienos" website of the Club of the Great Pyrenees in Spain]</ref>

[[File:Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées K 01.jpg|thumb|right|Great Pyrenees in Krakow]]
The real spread of the Gret Pyrenees out of its mountains is developed in the 19th century with the birth of [[Romanticism]]. These big dogs, first appreciated for its beauty and poise, and then by its innate temperamental qualities, gained fame for the rest of Europe and America where these were introduced by General Lafayette in 1824. In [[Australia]] were introduced in 1843 to save herd on a farm in Hamilton.


== In popular culture ==
== In popular culture ==

Revision as of 03:30, 8 January 2016

This article is about the dog breed. For the mountains, see Pyrenees.
Great Pyrenees
Other namesPyrenean Mountain Dog
Patou
Montañés del Pirineo
Perro de Montaña de los Pirineos
Gos de muntanya dels Pirineus
Chien des Pyrénées
Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées
OriginFrance/Spain[1]
Traits
Life span 10 to 11 years
Kennel club standards
Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The Pyrenean Mountain Dog, known as the Great Pyrenees in North America, is a large breed of dog used as a livestock guardian dog. It should not be confused with the Pyrenean Mastiff.

As late as 1874 the breed was not completely standardized in appearance, with two major sub-types recorded, the Western and the Eastern.[2] They are related to several other large white European livestock guardian dogs (LGD), including the Italian Maremma Sheepdog, Kuvasz (Hungary), Akbash Dog (Turkey) and Polish Tatra or Polski Owczarek Podhalański, and somewhat less closely to the Newfoundland and St. Bernard. According to the Great Pyrenees Club of America, the Great Pyrenees is naturally nocturnal and aggressive with any predators that may harm its flock. However, the breed can typically be trusted with small, young, and helpless animals of any kind due to its natural guardian instinct.[3]

The Great Pyrenees breed has experienced a dramatic fall off in the number of U.S. AKC breed registrations from 2000 to 2010.[4] The breed was ranked at #45 in 2000 and by 2010 Great Pyrenees had dropped to #71. In 2013 the breed was ranked #69. Other large breeds in the same working group classification, Newfoundland and St. Bernard, have fared far better in maintaining their breed rankings. In 2010 Newfoundland and St. Bernard were ranked #44 and #45 respectively.

Description

Puppy, approx. two months old
A Great Pyrenees
A Great Pyrenees in the mountain
A Great Pyrenees guarding sheep

Males grow to 110–120 pounds (50–54 kg) and 27–32 inches (69–81 cm), while females reach 85–100 pounds (39–45 kg) and 25–29 inches (64–74 cm).[3] On average, their lifespan is 10 to 11 years.[5]

The weather resistant double coat consists of a long, flat, thick, outer coat of coarse hair, straight or slightly undulating, and lying over a dense, fine, woolly undercoat. The coat is more profuse about the neck and shoulders where it forms a ruff or mane, which is more pronounced in males so that it may fend off wolf attacks. The longer hair on the tail forms a plume. There is also feathering along the back of the front legs and along the back of the thighs, giving a "pantaloon" effect. The hair on the face and ears is both shorter and of finer texture.

The main coat color is white and can have varying shades of gray, red (rust), or tan around the face (including a full face mask), ears and sometimes on the body and tail. As Great Pyrenees mature, their coats grow thicker and the longer colored hair of the coat often fades. Sometimes a little light tan or lemon will appear later in life around the ears and face. Being a double-coated breed, the undercoat can also have color and the skin as well. The color of the nose and on the eye rims should be jet black.[6] Grey or tan markings that remain lend the French name, "blaireau", (badger) which is a similar grizzled mixture color seen in the European badger. More recently, any color is correctly termed "Badger" or "Blaireau".[7]

One singular characteristic of the Great Pyrenees is the unique double dew claws on each hind leg.[8]

Temperament

In nature, the Great Pyrenees is confident, gentle (especially with children), and affectionate. While territorial and protective of its flock or family when necessary, its general demeanor is of composure and patience and loyalty. It is a strong willed, independent and reserved breed. It is also attentive, quite fearless and loyal to its duties. The Great Pyrenees' size makes it an imposing guardian. A dog of this breed will patrol its perimeter and may wander away if left off its leash in an unenclosed space. The Great Pyrenees protects its flock by barking, and being nocturnal, tends to bark at night unless trained against such behavior.[8]

The Great Pyrenees can be slow to learn new commands, slow to obey, and somewhat stubborn to train. For this reason the breed is ranked #64 (out of 79 ranks covering 131 breeds) in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs. Despite this relative stubbornness, it is quite unusual for the Great Pyrenees to become aggressive or turn on its master. It is wary of strangers if the person is not allowed in the house, but will settle down if the owner of the dog seems comfortable with the stranger. This dog was originally bred to be a livestock guard dog, and can still be found doing that job on farms and ranches.

Upkeep

When kept as a house pet, the Great Pyrenees' coat needs brushing once or twice a month. The breed needs moderate exercise but tends to be somewhat lazy, especially in warm weather. They particularly enjoy cold weather and snow. Like similar breeds, some Great Pyrenees tend to drool, especially with exercise.[8]

History

The Great Pyrenees is a very old breed that has been used for hundreds of years by shepherds, including those of the Basque people, who inhabit parts of the region in and around the Pyrenees Mountains of southern France and northern Spain.[9]

Varro, Roman author who lived in the first century BC wrote in his treatise of rural economy "De re rustica" in 37 BC.:

"The dog is essential for those who raise animals for wool. It is the guardian of livestock in general but is the natural defender of the sheep and goats. The wolf lurks constantly and we oppose it the dogs"... "As for its appearance, choose those who are well-trained, large size, with black or red eyes, the nose of the same color, red lips pulling to black, not too collected, nor too pendants"... "It is equally essential that the dogs have strong head, long, floppy ears, wide and short neck, thighs and rights more inwardly turned than out, wide legs, fingers apart, hard nails and bent, spine nor projection nor convex, bushy tail, sonorous voice, good match muzzle and preferably with white hair so that it can be easily distinguished from wild animals at night."

It is significant that the dog that tells Varro, more than 2000 years ago, it fits almost perfectly, with only small variations, to the Great Pyrennes, which is unequivocal and irrefutable proof of the antiquity of these breeds.

A Great Pyrenees guarding the flock.

One of the first descriptions of the breed dates from 1407, Fray Miguel Agustín, "prior" of the Temple who lived between 1560 and 1630, published in 1617 in Catalan (the first edition appeared in Spanish in 1622), a book which he called "Libro de los secretos de la agricultura, casa de campo y pastoril". It gives the reasons why pastors prefer white puppies, excluding those born very stained color. Relate the friar: "The wool cattle dogs should not must be so big or so heavy as those of the guard of the house, but strong and sturdy, lightweight and ready to combat and fight and for run, because they have to make saves and guard against wolves and hunt them down if those take a cattle... These should be white, so that the shepherd can easily see when these run after the wolf and know them in the evening and the morning."

From 1675 the breed was a favorite of The Grand Dauphin and other members of the French aristocracy.[10] By the early nineteenth century there was a thriving market for the dogs in mountain towns, from which they would be taken to other parts of France. The dog was developed to be agile in order to guard sheep on steep, mountainous slopes.[8]

In the mid-19th century, the breed was not homogenized. According to the article published on February 20, 1874 in the journal "Acclimatation" and written by the canine expert Kermadec, says:

"There in the Pyrenees various types of large dogs, called Mountain Dogs, and among other, two very different varieties:

-One, We might designate with the name "Dog of the Western Pyrenees," particularly widespread around Bagneres-de-Bigorre; have thick snout, hanging lips, rounded ears, a little curly coat black and white, seems to be largely the strain of large dogs designated with the name Terra-Nova Dogs, widespread throughout France.

-The Second type is the "Dog of the Eastern Pyrenees" is large, very slender shape, pointed snout, pointy ears and falls, soft, silky and abundant coat, a complete white snow color. In some cases there is a blackish band around the eyes, but often it is completely white... It was extended once in the Republic of Andorra and pasrt of Spain, but in Andorra is not completely extinguished . It might still exists in the mountains of Spain."[11]

Great Pyrenees in Krakow

The real spread of the Gret Pyrenees out of its mountains is developed in the 19th century with the birth of Romanticism. These big dogs, first appreciated for its beauty and poise, and then by its innate temperamental qualities, gained fame for the rest of Europe and America where these were introduced by General Lafayette in 1824. In Australia were introduced in 1843 to save herd on a farm in Hamilton.

  • Belle, from Cécile Aubry's Belle et Sébastien novel is a Great Pyrenees.
  • The 2004 film Finding Neverland used a Great Pyrenees to represent J. M. Barrie's Landseer Newfoundland dog.
  • In the television series, King of Queens, a Great Pyrenees is a recurring customer of Holly the dog walker.
  • In the 1965 film Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, a Great Pyrenees is the household dog at the Lord Rawnsley estate.
  • In the Marx Brothers' Horse Feathers, a Great Pyrenees appears in the dog catcher's wagon.
  • In the Korean variety show Happy Sunday - 1 Night 2 Days, Sang Geun, a Great Pyrenees, is the mascot of the show and recently appointed as "Nation's Pet".
  • A popular Korean singer, Hero Jaejoong from TVXQ owns a Great Pyrenees named Vick.
  • In the 2009 Disney movie Santa Buddies, a Great Pyrenees puppy named Puppy Paws is the leading character.
  • Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees owned a Great Pyrenees named Barnaby who was in their television movie Cucumber Castle and the video for their song "Lonely Days".
  • In the Jim Carrey movie Dumb and Dumber, a Great Pyrenees appears in the dog-mobile.
  • Webcomic artist Jeph Jacques owns a Great Pyrenees named Shelby, who has appeared in his webcomic Questionable Content on occasion. He appears almost exactly the same as Mr. Tadakichi of anime fame (see below).
  • In Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, the male lead had a Great Pyrenees named "Yu Ci Lan" for a pet.
  • Many Japanese manga and anime series have dogs that are either this breed or based on its appearance:
  • The Japanese series Ginga Densetsu Weed features a Great Pyrenees named Hiro, who is nicknamed the "The Castrator", due to his signature attack of neutering his opponents.
  • In the book Between Mom and Jo by Julie Anne Peters, the family takes in a stray Great Pyrenees.
  • In the book Futures and Frosting by Tara Sivec, Carter's parents buy him, Claire and Gavin a Great Pyrenees puppy. Claire exaggeratingly describes it as a "900-pound animal", "almost the same size as Gavin" and "looks like a polar bear".
  • The logo of the Sea Dog Brewing Company represents the founders' late Great Pyrenees.[12]
  • During the live simulcast of the Stephanie Miller Show radio show on Free Speech TV, Stephanie's two Great Pyrenees, Max and Fred, are often seen on camera and are a subject of discussion.
  • In the 2014 Great Pyrenees known as Duke the Dog becomes mayor of small Minnesota town Cormorant.[13][14][15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Great Pyrenees Connection". greatpyrenees.com.
  2. ^ Durr, Mark. Dog's Best Friend: Annals of the Dog-Human Relationship - 2004 Page 161.
  3. ^ a b "Great Pyrenees Club of America: Livestock Guardian Dog". Great Pyrenees Club of America. 2010-01-10. Archived from the original on 2006-02-09. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  4. ^ "AKC Dog Registration Statistics". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  5. ^ "Great Pyrenees Club of America's 2006 Health Survey Results" (PDF).
  6. ^ "American Kennel Club Profile". Akc.org. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  7. ^ "A description of the breed". Clubs.akc.org. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  8. ^ a b c d Coile, D. Caroline (2005). Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, second edition. Barron's. ISBN 0764157000.
  9. ^ "Early History of the breed". Clubs.akc.org. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  10. ^ "Great Pyrenees Connection-Great Pyrenees Colors". Greatpyrenees.com. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  11. ^ "El Perro de Montaña de Los Pirienos" website of the Club of the Great Pyrenees in Spain
  12. ^ "About The Sea Dog Brewing Company". seadogbrewing.com.
  13. ^ "Duke The Dog Elected Mayor In Cormorant, Minn". cbslocal.com.
  14. ^ "This Dog Was Elected The Mayor Of A Small Town In Minnesota". BuzzFeed.
  15. ^ Duke the dog. Mayor of Cormorant MN. YouTube. 16 August 2014.
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