The Pyrenean Shepherd breed gets its name by being natives of the Pyrenees Mountain range in France and Spain. These medium-small sized dogs have been in use since the medieval times and were mainly engaged in livestock herding.
Physical Traits
Area of Origin: France, Spain
Used for: Herding, sport dog, companion
Average Life Span: 15-17 years
Color: Shades of fawn, grey, merle and black
Coat: Demi-long or long (depending upon the variety i.e. rough faced or smooth faced)
Average Height: Smooth Faced: 15-21 inches, Rough faced: 15-19 inches
Average Weight: 15-35 pounds
Group: Herding
History and Domestication
This breed’s history is long drawn and it has been living in the Pyrenees for centuries together. Some of the mythical stories mark them as being descendants of foxes and bears of the Pyrenees. The Pyrenean Shepherd was used as a courier dog, watch dog and even in search as well as rescue teams, during World War I. In 2003, it was the winner to the World Agility Championship among midsized dogs.
Standard Physical Characteristics
The Pyrenean Shepherds are found in two varieties. One being the rough- faced and the other, smooth faced. Its head is triangular and comparatively smaller than its body and the face is rather expressive. They usually possess dark eyes and traditionally have semi- prick ears. Their body is long with long and well- proportioned legs. Their tail can be a bob- tail, short or long ending in a crook. The rough faced variety have long or demi- long coat which can be flat or slightly wavy. They have minimal undercoat and the hair quality falls between that of a horse’s and that of sheep’s thick wool. The smooth faced variety of this breed have a soft coat, fine in nature and is usually 3 inches in length. The Pyrenean Shepherds can be found in various colours and the most common are shades of fawn, some shades of grey, silver, pearl, tones of merles, black, charcoal and tan.
Care, Grooming and Health
These are more or less easy to maintain. The rough faced variety requires a bit more attention due to its coarse coat than the smooth faced. They need a thorough brushing at regular intervals in order to prevent mat.
The good part is, neither of these varieties shed heavily but during the shedding period, they should be given extra care. Though they are healthy dogs, some of the health issues to out for include patellar luxation, epilepsy and hip dysplasia.
Living Conditions
These dogs are not very suitable for closed spaces and hence, apartment spaces should be avoided for them. Though they are not destructive, they have an abundant energy reserve and therefore, should have enough space to play in to let out their aggression as since they tend to become restless if they don’t have anything to do.
Temperament
As the other dogs in the herding group, these too have a natural energy reserve. They are very adaptive towards the work they have to do and are quick learners. The highlight is their agility which makes them ideal for dog sports like competitive obedience and fly ball. They are loyal to their master and can be very attached to them. Their dedication makes them sensitive towards the general mood in the house. The Pyrenean Shepherds are watchful and easy to train. It should be noted that some of the shepherd traits like bossiness and excessive aggression can be reduced if they are made to socialise from initial years.
