dog of Mountain From Pyrenees
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Dog of large size, imposing and strongly built, but not without a certain elegance.
Personality: Agile, gentle and independent.
Energy Level : Very Active. This dog is active and energetic, and needs daily exercise.
Good with children: Yes.
Good with other dogs: With supervision.
Grooming: Seasonal.
Life Expectancy : 10-12 years old.
Bark level: Bark when necessary.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
Present in the Pyrenees since time immemorial, known in the Middle Ages and used as a guardian of castles, it was mentioned by Gaston Phoebus in the 14th century. Already appreciated as a companion dog in the 17th century, he rose to glory at the court of Louis XIV. The first detailed description of this dog dates from 1897 in the book by Comte de Bylandt. Ten years later, the first Clubs of the breed were created and, in 1923, at the meeting of the Amateurs of the Pyrenees Dogs, on the initiative of Mr. Bernard SÈNAC-LAGRANGE, the official standard was registered through the SCC (Société Centrale Canine). The current pattern is still very close to the pattern created in 1923, and it is, above all, the precisions that were brought from there.
Country of Origin: France.
BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT: Used to alone ensure the protection of the herd against the attacks of predators, its selection was made based on its aptitudes for guarding and deterrence, and its attachment to the herd. The main qualities consequently are strength and agility, as well as gentleness and attachment to those who are protected by him. This guard dog has a penchant for independence and a sense of initiative that requires a certain authority from its owner.
HEAD: Not very strong in relation to the size of the dog. Its sides are quite flat.
CRANIAL REGION
Skull: The maximum width of the skull is equal to its length. It is slightly domed because the sagittal crest is perceptible to the touch. The occipital protuberance being apparent, makes the skull, in its posterior part, ogival in shape. The eyebrow arches are not marked; the median sulcus is barely perceptible to the touch between the eyes.
Stop : On a slight slope.
FACIAL REGION
Nose: Entirely black.
Muzzle: Broad, slightly shorter than the skull, tapering progressively towards its tip. Seen from above, it is shaped like a “V” with a truncated tip. It's pretty full under the eyes.
Lips: Slightly droopy and exactly covering the lower jaw. They are black or heavily stained black, as is the palate.
Jaws and Teeth: The dentition must be complete, the teeth healthy and white. Scissor bite (upper incisors covering lower incisors without losing contact); the pincer bite is allowed as well as the two forward-projecting lower central incisors.
Eyes: More like small, almond shaped, slightly slanted, intelligent expression, contemplative and amber brown in color. The eyelids are never loose and have black edges. The look is sweet and dreamy.
Ears: Set at eye level; rather small, triangular in shape and rounded at the ends. They fall straight against the head and are carried a little higher when the dog is alert.
NECK: Strong, short, with poorly developed dewlap.
BODY: The length of the body from point of shoulder to point of buttock is slightly greater than the height of the dog at the withers. The height from the sternum to the ground is approximately equal to half the height at the withers, but never less.
Withers: Wide.
Back: Of good length; solid.
Loin: Of medium length.
Croup: Slightly oblique, with very prominent hips.
Flanks: Slightly let down.
Chest: Not too let down, but broad and deep. It should reach elbow level, not lower. Its height is equal to or slightly less than half the height of the dog at the withers. The ribs are slightly rounded.
TAIL: It descends at least to the point of the hock. It is thick and forms a plume. Carried low when at rest, with its end preferably forming a hook. When alert, it rises on its back, rounding up strongly, and only its extremity touches the loin ("making the wheel", according to the expression used by the Pyrenean mountaineers), when alert.
MEMBERS
FOREQUARTERS: Upright, strong.
Shoulders: Medium oblique.
Arms: Muscular, of medium size.
Forearm: Straight, strong and well feathered.
Carpals: The wrists are in the extension of the forearm.
Pasterns: Slightly oblique.
Feet: Slightly elongated, compact, with slightly arched toes.
HINDQUARTERS: Present longer and denser fringes than the forequarters. Viewed from behind, they are perpendicular to the ground.
Thigh: Well muscled, not too long, moderately oblique and round.
Knees: Of median angulation in the axis of the body.
Legs: Of medium length and strong.
Hocks: Broad, dry, of medium angulation.
Feet: Slightly elongated, compact, with slightly arched toes.
Ergos: Each of the hind limbs has double, well-built ergonos. The forelimbs sometimes have single or double ergos.
GAIT / MOVEMENT: The movement of the Pyrenean Mountain Dog is powerful and easy, never heavy. The movement is wider than it is fast, with a certain flexibility and elegance. This dog's angulations allow it to move steadily.
SKIN: Thick and flexible; she often has pigmented spots all over her body.
COAT
Hair: Dense, smooth, rather long and flexible, rather rough over the shoulders and back, longer on the tail and around the neck where it may curl slightly. The fur on the breeches is finer, more woolly and very dense. The undercoat is equally dense.
COLOR: White or white with patches of gray appearance (badger or wolf fur), or light yellow or orange on the head, ears, root of tail and sometimes on body. Badger spots are the most appreciated.
SIZE: Males: 70 to 80 cm. Females: 65 to 75 cm. A tolerance of 2 cm above is allowed for perfectly typical specimens.
FAULTS
Any deviation from this standard should be considered a fault and penalized in exact proportion to its severity and its effects on the health and well-being of the dog.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
• Aggressiveness or excessive shyness.
• Any dog that shows any sign of physical or behavioral anomaly must be disqualified.
• Atypical dogs.