Pyrenean Mountain Dog  

Interim

 The Great Pyrenean Mountain Dog is a native of the Pyrenean Mountains in the Basque country, which lies between Spain and France. His exact origins are not known, but theory is that they came to the western Mediterranean coast with nomadic tribesman many centuries ago. Originally, Great Pyreneans are said to have been descendants of large dogs which roamed the mountains of Asia thousands of years ago. According to what is written in French books, this large dogs accompanied the nomadic tribesman and their flocks from Asia on their migration westward. In the Pyrenean Mountains they met ideal environmental circumstances for their development. Already as early as in 1407, the historian Labedanis Boudette mentions that the Castle of Lourdes, the same as de Foix, was guarded by Great Pyrenean Dogs. In their native country France, the Great Pyrenean Mountain Dogs were bred and used for centuries by the shepherds to guard them and their flocks from attacks by wolves, bears and also against two legged predators. Today the result is a dog which is still capable of doing his work in the field, takes his responsibilities very serious and is eager to give even his life for his master or his flocks.  The Great Pyrenean is also a family dog, gentle and devoted to those he loves.

 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. 

Faults ***  Dogs and bitches under minimum size or over maximum size. 

Substance *** Dogs too heavily boned or too lightly boned to be in balance with their frame.

Eyes *** Medium sized, almond shaped, set slightly obliquely, rich dark brown. Eyelids are close fitting with black rims. 

Ears *** Small to medium in size, V-shaped with rounded tips, set on at eye level, normally carried low, flat, and close to the head. There is a characteristic meeting of the hair of the upper and lower face which forms a line from the outer corner of the eye to the base of the ear. 

Skull and Muzzle *** The muzzle is approximately equal in length to the back skull. The width and length of the skull are approximately equal. The muzzle blends smoothly with the skull. The cheeks are flat. There is sufficient fill under the eyes. A slight furrow exists between the eyes. There is no apparent stop. The boney eyebrow ridges are only slightly developed. Lips are tight fitting with the upper lip just covering the lower lip. There is a strong lower jaw. The nose and lips are black. 

Teeth *** A scissor bite is preferred, but a level bite is acceptable. It is not unusual to see dropped (receding) lower central incisor teeth. 

Faults *** Too heavy head (St. Bernard or Newfoundland-like). Too narrow or small skull. Foxy appearance. Presence of an apparent stop. Missing pigmentation on nose, eye rims, or lips. Eyelids round, triangular, loose or small. Overshot, undershot, wry mouth.

Topline *** The backline is level.

Body ***  The chest is moderately broad. The rib cage is well sprung, oval in shape, and of sufficient depth to reach the elbows. Back and loin are broad and strongly coupled with some tuck-up. The croup is gently sloping with the tail set on just below the level of the back. 

Tail*** The tailbones are of sufficient length to reach the hock. The tail is well plumed, carried low in repose and may be carried over the back, "making the wheel," when aroused. When present, a "shepherd's crook" at the end of the tail accentuates the plume. When gaiting, the tail may be carried either over the back or low. Both carriages are equally correct. Fault ***  Barrel ribs.

Forelegs *** The legs are of sufficient bone and muscle to provide a balance with the frame. The elbows are close to the body and point directly to the rear when standing and gaiting. The forelegs, when viewed from the side, are located directly under the withers and are straight and vertical to the ground. The elbows, when viewed from the front, are set in a straight line from the point of shoulder to the wrist. Front pasterns are strong and flexible. Each foreleg carries a single dewclaw. 

Front Feet *** Rounded, close-cupped, well padded, toes well arched.

Thighs *** Strongly muscular upper thighs extend from the pelvis at right angles. The upper thigh is the same length as the lower thigh, creating moderate stifle joint angulation when viewed in profile. The rear pastern (metatarsus) is of medium length and perpendicular to the ground as the dog stands naturally. This produces a moderate degree of angulation in the hock joint, when viewed from the side. The hindquarters from the hip to the rear pastern are straight and parallel, as viewed from the rear. The rear legs are of sufficient bone and muscle to provide a balance with the frame. Double dewclaws are located on each rear leg. 

Rear Feet *** The rear feet have a structural tendency to toe out slightly. This breed characteristic is not to be confused with cow-hocks. The rear feet, like the forefeet, are rounded, close-cupped, well padded with toes well arched. 

Fault *** Absence of double dewclaws on each rear leg.

Faults *** Curly coat. Stand-off coat (Samoyed type).

Fault ***Outer coat markings covering more than one third of the body.

Faults ***  Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousnes with which the fault should be regarded should be exact proportion to its degree.

Note ***  Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully decended into the scrotum.

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