Dog Breed Guide

Great Pyrenees

Profile

Size

Extra Large

Country of origin

France

Origin

Ancient

Bred for

Livestock guardian, Watchdog

Height

male 70 - 80cm (28 - 31in), female 65 - 75cm (26 - 30in)

Weight

male 45kg (99lb) and over, female 39kg (86lb) and over

Life span

10 - 12 years

An elegant, majestic dog covered in a thick, pure white coat. Some have pale gray or light tan markings on the ears and head. A distinctive feature is the double dewclaws on each hind leg, which are thought to have helped it keep its footing on rugged mountain rocks.

The Great Pyrenees is gentle, patient and very kind to its family and to children. But as a guardian that once kept watch over flocks all night, it may bark a lot at night when it hears something. It is independent and likes to make its own decisions, so training takes patience.

It handles cold well but strongly dislikes heat. It sheds heavily, especially during the spring and fall shedding seasons, so frequent brushing is essential.

Good to know

For centuries it guarded flocks of sheep from wolves and bears in the Pyrenees, the mountains that form the border between France and Spain. In Britain it is called the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, and in France it is affectionately known as the "patou." In 1675 it is said to have been declared the Royal Dog of France at the French court, and it was prized as a guard dog at the castles of the nobility.

Its first arrival in America is credited to the Marquis de Lafayette, the French hero of the American Revolution, who sent two dogs to a friend in 1824. In the 19th century the breed was also used in crosses to rebuild the dwindling Saint Bernard.

The big white dog in the French story Belle and Sebastian, about the friendship between a boy and a giant mountain dog, is a Pyrenean. The story has been made into TV series and films and is loved around the world.