Breed Standards

Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées

Pyrenean Mountain Dog

France.

13.03.2001.

Pastoral guardian in the mountains.

Group 2 - Sheepdog
,Section 2 : Molossoid breeds
,2.2 Mountain type
,Without working trial

Mrs Pamela Jeans-Brown, revised by Raymond Triquet and Alain Pécoult).

Present in the Pyrenees from time immemorial, known in the Middle Ages and used as a guardian of castles, it is mentioned by Gaston Phoebus in the 14^th century. Already appreciated as a companion dog in the 17^th century, it reached glorious heights at the court of Louis XIV. The first detailed description of this breed dates from 1897 in the book by Count de Bylandt. Ten years later the first breed clubs were set up and in 1923 the Réunion of Pyrenean Dog Fanciers ( Réunion des Amateurs de Chiens Pyrénées – R.A.C.P.), at the instigation of Mr Bernard Sénac-Lagrange, registered the official standard with the SCC (Société Centrale Canine, French K.C.) the current standard is still very close to the standard worked out in 1923, only a few clarifying amendments having been made.

Dog of great size, imposing and strongly built, but not without a certain elegance.

The widest part of the skull is equal to its length.

The muzzle is slightly Shorter than the skull.

The length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock is slightly greater than the height of the dog at the withers.

The depth of the chest is equal to, or slightly less than, half the height at the withers.

Used on its own to guarantee the protection of flocks from attacks by predators, its selection depended on its aptitude for guarding and dissuading as much as on its attachment to the flock. The resulting main qualities are strength and agility, allied to gentleness and attachment to those it is protecting. This protecting dog has a propensity for independence and a sense of initiative which demand a certain degree of authority from its owner.

Not too large in comparison with the size of the dog. Its sides are fairly flat.

Strong, relatively short, with very little dewlap

The length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock is slightly greater than the height of the dog at the withers. The distance between the sternum and the ground is approximately half the height at the withers, never less.

It reaches at least as far as the point of the hock. It is bushy and forms a plume. Carried low in repose with its tip forming a hook for preference. When the dog is alert, the tail rises towards the back, forming a strong circle with only the tip touching the loins (making the wheel “arroundera” to quote the expression used by the people of the Pyrenees).

The movement of the Pyrenean Mountain Dog is powerful and free, it is never ponderous, the movement is extended rather than fast, and not without a certain suppleness and elegance. The angulation of the dogs permits an unflagging gait.

Thick and supple, often showing patches of pigmentation over the whole body.

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

General appearance giving the impression of heaviness, without distinction. Flat, flabby, sluggish dog.