Dogs 101 - GREAT PYRENEES - Top Dog Facts About the GREAT PYRENEES

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Dogs 101 - GREAT PYRENEES - Top Dog Facts About the GREAT PYRENEES

The Great Pyrenees, also known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, is a breed of large dogs, developed mainly as a guardian of livestock. Though these dogs have been used for hundreds of years around the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain, like many farm varieties they were bred mainly for their working ability and were standardized fairly recently. Their ancestors are believed to be from Tibet, brought to Spain via Central Asia by waves of tribes moving in this direction. The earliest recorded mention of the breed from the 15th century talks about its characteristic white color, its formidable size and utility as a guard dog for sheep. The breed became especially popular in medieval France and was commonly used to guard chateaus and fortresses. Despite eventual drop in popularity among the nobility, enough healthy specimens were available in the countryside in the late 1800s for fanciers to standardize the breed. Import to the US took some time, and it was only after the 1930s that the breed gained popularity in the country.

Time for some Ruff Trivia:
- The Great Pyrenees is believed to have played a role in the development of which one of these breeds?
o A: Borzoi
o B: Komondor
o C: Newfoundland
What do you think, give it your best guess in the comments below before we get to the answer! Hang on tight and we’ll get back to this Ruff Trivia Question toward the end of the video.

The adult male Great Pyrenees has a height in the range of 27 to 32 inches, and weighs around 115 pounds. The female is slightly shorter with height between 25 and 29 inches, and weight between 85 and 90 pounds. This elegant dog has a characteristic white or principally white double-layered coat that may contain markings of badger, gray, or shadings of tan. The outer coat is coarse, straight or slightly undulating; the undercoat is dense, fine and woolly. The profuse hair about the neck and shoulders forms a mane. Longer hair on the tail forms a plume. Eyes are medium sized, almond shaped, set slightly obliquely. Ears are small to medium sized, V-shaped with rounded tips, carried close to the head. Two other characteristic features are the ‘pantaloon’ effect caused by feathering on the legs, and the double dew claws on each hind leg.

Grooming:The coat of the Great Pyrenees needs brushing twice weekly, and daily when shedding. An occasional bath helps maintain the whiteness of the coat. Some of these dogs tend to drool, needing the occasional wipe. Brushing of teeth, cleaning of ears and clipping of nails has to be regular.

Temperament:The Great Pyrenees is a mild-mannered, devoted and somewhat serious dog. It is protective of its family, and gentle with the people it is familiar with, especially children. Wary of strangers, it makes a great guard dog. A well brought up dog will never be unnecessarily aggressive, as its imposing size is enough to scare away any intruder. This is a nocturnal breed and, unless trained right from a very young age, can bark at night.

Training:These dogs are known to be slow to learn new commands and are somewhat stubborn to train. This requires patience from the owner or trainer. Apart from a slightly domineering personality, the size of these dogs also necessitates early obedience training to prevent problems in adulthood. The breed’s exercise needs are not excessive and can be met with a moderate walk on leash. Some dogs can be lazy in warm weather.

Health:The average life span for the Great Pyrenees is between 10 to 12 years. A generally hardy breed, some typical canine health issues that do occur include congenital heart disorder, patellar luxation, entropion, OCD, gastric torsion, osteosarcoma and some skin problems.

The majestic Great Pyrenees is a calm and easygoing guardian that can quickly jump to action if needed. One of the easier dogs to care for among the larger breeds, its owner still requires patience and experience for a healthy companionship.

Find out if the Great Pyreneeswould be a good addition to your home. Now you can visit Brooklyn’s Corner.com to take our quiz and find out which dog would be the best match for you.
Music by Kevin McLeod - Royalty Free

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