Post by charmingnancy on Jan 13, 2009 15:14:16 GMT -5
Great Pyrenees
Group: 3- Working Dogs
Origin: France and Spain
Purpose: Used as a livestock guardian dog.
Description:
The Great Pyrénées (known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog in most places in England and Continental Europe and Le Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées or le Grand Chien des Montagnes in France) descended from the Molossian hounds brought to Spain by the Romans. He was originally used to protect sheep from predators and guard fortresses during the middle ages. The Pyr is a working dog who's physical and mental characteristics have remained virtually unchanged through the centuries. While today, the Pyr is most commonly seen as a family companion or in the show ring, there is a growing interest to use the breed once again as a guardian of livestock.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat: 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. Longer hair on the tail forms a plume. There is 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 shorter and of finer texture. Correctness of coat is more important than abundance of coat.
Faults: Curly coat. Stand-off coat (Samoyed type)
Colour: White or white with markings of grey, badger, reddish brown, or varying shades of tan. Markings of varying size may appear on the ears, head (including a full face mask), tail, and as a few body spots. The undercoat may be white or shaded. All of the above described colourings and locations are characteristic of the breed and equally correct.
Faults: Outer coat markings covering more than one third of the body.
Head: Correct head and expression are essential to the breed. The head is not heavy in proportion to the size of the dog. It is wedge-shaped with a lightly rounded crown.
Expression: The expression is elegant, intelligent and contemplative.
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 the 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 bony eyebrow ridges are only slightly developed. Lips are light 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.
Neck: Strongly muscled and of medium length, with minimal dewlap.
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 tuckup. 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.
Forequarters: Shoulders - The shoulders are well laid back, well muscled, and lie close to the body. The upper arm meets the shoulder blade at approximately a right angle. The upper arm angles backward from the point of the shoulder to the elbow and is never perpendicular to the ground. The length of the shoulder blade and the upper arm are approximately equal. The height from the ground to the elbow appears approximately equal to the height from the elbow to the withers. 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 are rounded, close-cupped, well padded, toes well arched.
Hindquarters: The angulation of the hindquarters is similar in degree to that of the forequarters. Thighs are 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. 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 fore feet, are rounded, close-cupped, well padded with toes well arched.
Faults: Absence of double dewclaws on each rear leg.
Gait: The Great Pyrenees move smoothly and elegantly, true and straight ahead, exhibiting both power and agility. The stride is well balanced with good reach and strong drive. The legs tend to move toward the center line as speed increases. Ease and efficiency of movement are more important than speed.
Size:
The height at the withers ranges from 27 inches to 32 inches (69 - 81 cm) for dogs, and from 25 inches to 29 inches (64 - 74 cm) for bitches. A 27 inch dog weighs about 100 pounds (45 kg) and a 25 inch bitch weighs about 85 pounds (37 kg). Weight is in proportion to the overall size and structure.
Temperament:
Character and temperament are of utmost importance. In nature, the Great Pyrenee 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.
Fault: Although the Great Pyrenees may appear reserved in the show ring, any sign of excessive shyness, nervousness, or aggression to humans, is unacceptable and must be considered an extremely serious fault.
Health:
Like other large breeds, the Pyr is susceptible to hip dysplasia, so puppies should come from parents with hip certification from PennHip or the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. The breed is also subject to Factor XI deficiency, a bleeding disorder; bloat; heat stroke; lameness; and bone cancer. His low metabolism makes him sensitive to anesthesia, a condition that must be taken into effect whenever surgery is planned.
Average Lifespan:
The Great Pyrenees breed's average life expectancy is 10 to 12 years.
History:
It must be a Great Pyrenees, the dog named after a mountain chain in Europe! This big, happy dog was developed in the Pyrenean Mountains between France and Spain to guard the flocks and protect the homes of the shepherd and his family. Here the big dog fearlessly faced wolves and bears and alerted his family to bandits.
Virtually unknown outside his mountain home for centuries, his ancestry is a puzzle. One theory traces his origin to the Tibetan mastiff and tracks his path to the Pyrenees with wandering herdsmen and marauding conquerors from that Far Eastern region. But the Tibetan Mastiff is a dark-colored dog for all its other resemblance to the Great Pyrenees and its relatives, and most of the flock guardians are pale or white. Thus a second theory places the Pyr's origin with pale dogs in Asian Minor.
Wherever he came from, the Great Pyrenees has several sheep-guarding cousins: the Maremma from Italy, Akbash and Anatolian from Turkey, Komondor and Kuvasz from Hungary, and Tatra Sheepdog from Poland. Only the Kuvasz and the Komondor join the Great Pyrenees as AKC-recognized breeds.
Once he left the mountains, the Pyr became a favorite in the French courts. The dog's prowess as a guard was a topic of conversation as early as 1407, and the breed was dubbed the Royal Dog of France by Louis XIV in 1675. A few years earlier, the Pyr had migrated to Newfoundland with Basque fishermen to protect the new settlement, and there it took part in the development of the Newfoundland dog. Today, the Pyrenees' influence can be seen in the lankier look of the black-and-white Landseer Newfoundland.
In 1824, General Lafayette brought two Great Pyrenees to the US as a gift for a friend, but serious breeding did not begin here until 1931. Today, the Great Pyrenees ranks 45th in popularity among the AKC registered breeds with 4,521 individuals and 1639 litters registered in 1996.
Sources:
Wikipedia
Canada's Guide to Dogs
CKC
Canis Major
Pictures:[/b]
Photobucket[/size]
Group: 3- Working Dogs
Origin: France and Spain
Purpose: Used as a livestock guardian dog.
Description:
The Great Pyrénées (known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog in most places in England and Continental Europe and Le Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées or le Grand Chien des Montagnes in France) descended from the Molossian hounds brought to Spain by the Romans. He was originally used to protect sheep from predators and guard fortresses during the middle ages. The Pyr is a working dog who's physical and mental characteristics have remained virtually unchanged through the centuries. While today, the Pyr is most commonly seen as a family companion or in the show ring, there is a growing interest to use the breed once again as a guardian of livestock.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat: 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. Longer hair on the tail forms a plume. There is 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 shorter and of finer texture. Correctness of coat is more important than abundance of coat.
Faults: Curly coat. Stand-off coat (Samoyed type)
Colour: White or white with markings of grey, badger, reddish brown, or varying shades of tan. Markings of varying size may appear on the ears, head (including a full face mask), tail, and as a few body spots. The undercoat may be white or shaded. All of the above described colourings and locations are characteristic of the breed and equally correct.
Faults: Outer coat markings covering more than one third of the body.
Head: Correct head and expression are essential to the breed. The head is not heavy in proportion to the size of the dog. It is wedge-shaped with a lightly rounded crown.
Expression: The expression is elegant, intelligent and contemplative.
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 the 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 bony eyebrow ridges are only slightly developed. Lips are light 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.
Neck: Strongly muscled and of medium length, with minimal dewlap.
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 tuckup. 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.
Forequarters: Shoulders - The shoulders are well laid back, well muscled, and lie close to the body. The upper arm meets the shoulder blade at approximately a right angle. The upper arm angles backward from the point of the shoulder to the elbow and is never perpendicular to the ground. The length of the shoulder blade and the upper arm are approximately equal. The height from the ground to the elbow appears approximately equal to the height from the elbow to the withers. 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 are rounded, close-cupped, well padded, toes well arched.
Hindquarters: The angulation of the hindquarters is similar in degree to that of the forequarters. Thighs are 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. 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 fore feet, are rounded, close-cupped, well padded with toes well arched.
Faults: Absence of double dewclaws on each rear leg.
Gait: The Great Pyrenees move smoothly and elegantly, true and straight ahead, exhibiting both power and agility. The stride is well balanced with good reach and strong drive. The legs tend to move toward the center line as speed increases. Ease and efficiency of movement are more important than speed.
Size:
The height at the withers ranges from 27 inches to 32 inches (69 - 81 cm) for dogs, and from 25 inches to 29 inches (64 - 74 cm) for bitches. A 27 inch dog weighs about 100 pounds (45 kg) and a 25 inch bitch weighs about 85 pounds (37 kg). Weight is in proportion to the overall size and structure.
Temperament:
Character and temperament are of utmost importance. In nature, the Great Pyrenee 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.
Fault: Although the Great Pyrenees may appear reserved in the show ring, any sign of excessive shyness, nervousness, or aggression to humans, is unacceptable and must be considered an extremely serious fault.
Health:
Like other large breeds, the Pyr is susceptible to hip dysplasia, so puppies should come from parents with hip certification from PennHip or the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. The breed is also subject to Factor XI deficiency, a bleeding disorder; bloat; heat stroke; lameness; and bone cancer. His low metabolism makes him sensitive to anesthesia, a condition that must be taken into effect whenever surgery is planned.
Average Lifespan:
The Great Pyrenees breed's average life expectancy is 10 to 12 years.
History:
It must be a Great Pyrenees, the dog named after a mountain chain in Europe! This big, happy dog was developed in the Pyrenean Mountains between France and Spain to guard the flocks and protect the homes of the shepherd and his family. Here the big dog fearlessly faced wolves and bears and alerted his family to bandits.
Virtually unknown outside his mountain home for centuries, his ancestry is a puzzle. One theory traces his origin to the Tibetan mastiff and tracks his path to the Pyrenees with wandering herdsmen and marauding conquerors from that Far Eastern region. But the Tibetan Mastiff is a dark-colored dog for all its other resemblance to the Great Pyrenees and its relatives, and most of the flock guardians are pale or white. Thus a second theory places the Pyr's origin with pale dogs in Asian Minor.
Wherever he came from, the Great Pyrenees has several sheep-guarding cousins: the Maremma from Italy, Akbash and Anatolian from Turkey, Komondor and Kuvasz from Hungary, and Tatra Sheepdog from Poland. Only the Kuvasz and the Komondor join the Great Pyrenees as AKC-recognized breeds.
Once he left the mountains, the Pyr became a favorite in the French courts. The dog's prowess as a guard was a topic of conversation as early as 1407, and the breed was dubbed the Royal Dog of France by Louis XIV in 1675. A few years earlier, the Pyr had migrated to Newfoundland with Basque fishermen to protect the new settlement, and there it took part in the development of the Newfoundland dog. Today, the Pyrenees' influence can be seen in the lankier look of the black-and-white Landseer Newfoundland.
In 1824, General Lafayette brought two Great Pyrenees to the US as a gift for a friend, but serious breeding did not begin here until 1931. Today, the Great Pyrenees ranks 45th in popularity among the AKC registered breeds with 4,521 individuals and 1639 litters registered in 1996.
Sources:
Wikipedia
Canada's Guide to Dogs
CKC
Canis Major
Pictures:[/b]
Photobucket[/size]