General Appearance
The Great Pyrenees dog conveys the distinct impression of elegance and unsurpassed beauty combined with great overall size and majesty. He has a white or principally white coat that may contain markings of badger, gray, or varying shades of tan. He possesses a keen intelligence and a kindly, while regal, expression. Exhibiting a unique elegance of bearing and movement, his soundness and coordination show unmistakably the purpose for which he has been bred, the strenuous work of guarding the flocks in all kinds of weather on the steep mountain slopes of the Pyrenees.
Characteristics
Size: the height at the withers ranges from 27 inches to 32 inches for males and from 25 inches to 29 inches for females. A 27 inch male weighs about 100 pounds and a 25 inch female weighs about 85 pounds. Weight is in proportion to the overall size and structure. Proportion: the Great Pyrenees is a balanced dog with the height measured at the withers being somewhat less than the length of the body measured from the point of the shoulder to the rearmost projection of the upper thigh (buttocks). These proportions create a somewhat rectangular dog, slightly longer than it is tall. Front and rear angulation are balanced. Substance: the Great Pyrenees is a dog of medium substance whose coat deceives those who do not feel the bone and muscle. Commensurate with his size and impression of elegance there is sufficient bone and muscle to provide a balance with the frame.
Owning
Remember this is a large breed and they take up a lot of space. If you live in small quarters, please think about whether you have room to share with a new large friend. You must take time to train and socialize your Great Pyrenees to socialize.
Temperament
Character and temperament are of utmost importance. In nature, the Great Pyrenees is confident, gentle, and affectionate. While territorial and protective of his flock or family when necessary, his general demeanor is one of quiet composure, both patient and tolerant. He is strong willed, independent and somewhat reserved, yet attentive, fearless and loyal to his charges both human and animal.
Did You Know
His remains are found in the fossil deposits of the Bronze Age, which roughly dates his appearance in Europe between 1800 and 1000 B.C., although it is believed that he came originally from Central Asia or Siberia and followed the Aryan migration into Europe. The Great Pyrenees is descended from the Hungarian kuvasz and the Maremmano-Abruzzese, the Great Pyrenees is considered the aristocratic relative of the St. Bernard and the Newfoundland. The first pair of Great Pyrenees were brought to the United States in 1824 by General Lafayette for his friend, J. S. Skinner.