Pyrenean mountain dog: characteristics of the breed and features of care

The Pyrenean wolfhound, the Pyrenean mountain dog or the Pyrenean wolfhound - this can be called the same breed of dog, very similar to a polar bear. This is a Pyrenean mountain dog - a loyal and reliable guard and at the same time a friendly companion.

The Pyrenean mountain dog is of French origin. It is believed that her progenitors were very large dogs living in the distant past in Asia. This is confirmed by excavations: the remains of such large dogs that lived 6,000-8,000 years ago were found. In the French Pyrenees, where they first appeared, they were used as shepherds for flocks of sheep. There is no exact data on how they ended up in Europe, but it is assumed that they came with nomadic tribes from Asia. Possessing great endurance and strength, brave dogs were not only guards, but also carried a heavy load.

Here, in conditions of mountain isolation, where white dogs coexisted next to local Basque dogs, natural hybridization and the formation of characteristics necessary for a person took place.

In the French Pyrenees, there is a legend about where these huge dogs came from. It tells the story of a girl lost in the mountains in winter. By nightfall, she was completely weak and frozen, and began to pray to God for salvation. Suddenly the huge snowdrifts turned into giant dogs, which warmed her with their warm thick fur. In the morning, the smart dogs took the child to the village.Grateful parents provided the dogs with shelter, and they became reliable protection from ill-wishers and wild animals.

In later times, white guards began to be used to guard border castles and fortresses. This is confirmed by documentary records of the early 15th century. So, gradually the breed gains popularity, and in the 17th century (specifically in 1675) the Pyrenean mountain appears at the French court of Louis XIV, who gave them the status of court security officers.

These giants were loved for their beauty, obedient and restrained disposition. Their population is growing, and in the XVII-XVIII centuries. France becomes their exporter to other European states (England, Italy). The first registered breed was presented at a dog show in 1885, but it was not until 1907 that the standard of the Pyrenean mountain dog was officially confirmed.

World wars of the first half of the XX century. led to the almost complete loss of these beautiful animals. However, French and Spanish like-minded dog handlers, having found the surviving dogs in the remote Pyrenean highlands, gradually restored the breed. It was officially recognized again in 1960. In 1986, international canine organizations and the FCI finally approved the breed standards. Currently, the number of these wonderful dogs is not so great in comparison with other breeds. Now they are almost never used as sheep herders. Usually they perform a guard function, or they are ordinary pets.

The appearance of this large mountain beauty is striking in its representativeness, slenderness, beautiful snow-white hair and enormous size. Its overall appearance, when large in size, is harmonious and elegant. Their coat is usually painted white, but spots of light gray, fawn, badger or red shades are possible, but they are never black. Stains should not be more than a third of the total coat. They have a characteristic arrangement: on the head and near the ears, on the root part of the tail, sometimes spots can also be on the body.

The coat, with a soft, dense, dense and short undercoat, is straight and long, but slightly harsh, well fitting to the body. Short hair grows on the head, and longer on the tail, nape and "pants". Curly hair is an exterior defect.

Several basic traits are considered a breed standard.

• The size of the head is relatively small in comparison with the entire body. Her appearance is distinguished by nobility and grace. The skull has a regular shape with a well-defined occipital protuberance. The wedge-shaped, rather broad muzzle with flat cheeks has a smooth transition from the forehead to the nose. Cheekbones and arches above the eyebrows are poorly expressed. The lips and nose of a deep black color stand out beautifully on the white color of the coat. The bite of powerful jaws has a scissor-like appearance - the upper lip is slightly lowered to the lower one. The number of strong white teeth is 42.
• Particular attention is paid to the expression of the dog's eyes: it should be spiritualized - thoughtfully intelligent, slightly sad. Combined with the "smile", this look gives the whole face a characteristic, unrepeatable and unique so-called Pyrenean expression. The color of the eyes of white dogs is brown with an amber tint, they have a slightly slanted almond shape.
• The ears are of medium size, drooping, with short hair, in the shape of a rounded triangle. From the outer edge of the eyes to the base of the ears, there is a noticeable line that appears as a result of the fusion of the hair of the upper part of the muzzle with the lower one.
• Dogs have a muscular neck of medium length with a well-defined nape.
• The elongated body has a wide chest, a long back with strongly developed muscles, a "slide" that slopes slightly towards the tail.
• A low-set tail, covered with long and thick hair, can rise above the back when running and walking, but not too high.
• Straight legs are parallel to each other. The muscles on them are very well developed. On closed fingers there are dense pads. Hind legs have 6 toes, not 5. Located above the other 2 thumbs were in former times special "cats" that facilitate movement in mountainous terrain. The joints on the paws are well defined, but they are not visible under the coat. The articular nodes are directed exactly backwards and are located under the body.
• The weight of an adult male and female is slightly different. The male weighs about 60 kg with a height of about 80 cm at the withers, and the bitch weighs about 55 kg with a height of 65 to 72 cm.

Despite its formidable appearance, the Pyrenean hound has a calm, balanced disposition, it does not have aggression and fighting properties. She is characterized by natural nobility, intelligence and courage. This giant is distinguished by great loyalty to the owner and all household members. Brave dogs take care of all family members, taking them under their protection. To achieve obedience, already at the age of 4 months, a puppy must be treated with severity and inflexibility, since it is at this time that they begin to show their character and excessive independence. The owner must become a real leader for the dog, otherwise it will not obey.

These dogs also have some free thinking and independence.so they can easily escape if the opportunity presents itself. Possessing independent thinking, they consider everything around their territory.

The natural genetic qualities of guards and defenders are manifested in a wary, but non-aggressive attitude towards strangers. The dogs first look at strangers and, making sure that they are not a threat, allow them to come closer and allow themselves to be stroked. When a stranger appears, they are able to growl menacingly, bare their teeth and bark loudly if they suspect bad intentions. Combined with their threatening appearance, this behavior makes them excellent guardians and protectors, rather than direct aggression. Dogs perform their protective functions diligently, diligently and attentively.

The proud nature and dignity of the Pyrenean dog does not tolerate arrogance from strangers, as well as a rude and even more cruel attitude towards themselves by household members. However, even in this case, the dog can only growl warningly.

Despite its impressive size, the white dog is mobile and restless, loves to play and be naughty, especially with children. In relation to them, she shows great condescension and tolerance, she is able to endure all children's play. White giants are kind and affectionate by nature. These qualities can be used in rehabilitation centers for children with developmental disabilities.

They get along well with other pets available, even cats. Mountain dogs can easily tolerate prolonged loneliness. Although they have a sociable disposition, pets will never impose their presence.

The Iberian wolfhound inherited good health from his shepherd ancestors who lived in harsh conditions. Dogs have strong immunity. Their life expectancy can reach 10-12 years. However, the living conditions and nutrition have a great influence on the life span of the dog.

Despite its good health, a white dog can develop certain medical conditions.

• Dysplasia of the extremities, which usually occurs in large dogs due to the high stress on the joints.
• Skin problems arise from a thick undercoat, especially if the dog lives in hot climates.
• The structure of tight-fitting ears does not provide adequate ventilation. From this, ear diseases can occur.

And also white giants do not tolerate small rooms, a long stay in which can cause dangerous diseases. For health, they need to live in a large area where there is an opportunity to actively move.

Since this is a rather rare breed, it is necessary to buy a pyrenean mountain dog puppy only in kennels from breeders specializing in breeding this particular breed. It is not recommended to purchase a puppy from resellers, since you can fall for a deception and get, instead of a thoroughbred Pyrenean wolfhound, puppies of the Pyrenean or Caucasian shepherd dogs very similar to him, more common and cheaper.

You can get lists and addresses of such kennels from local kennel clubs. If there is no opportunity to personally see the puppy due to the distant location of the kennel, then it is recommended not to choose it by photograph, but to request a video with the puppy. On personal examination, it is necessary to see the parents in order to assess the working ability, their character and behavior. It is also necessary to evaluate the environment in which the dogs live. They should not be kept in tight cages or enclosures.

The territory of the kennel should be quite spacious for the active life of dogs. The more animals move, the faster and more harmoniously their physical and psychological development occurs. There is no need to rush to choose a puppy: first you need to observe all the babies in the litter. Healthy puppies are quite active, cheerful and cheerful, and they should look well-groomed. It is desirable that they are already socialized. All puppies in a litter should be of approximately the same size, correct build and be similar to each other.

White dogs have very well developed sexual dimorphism (gender difference), so you need to see if the sex is well defined in puppies.

A healthy puppy is distinguished by a strong, voluminous and proportional physique. The chest is long and wide, the belly is firm and slightly tucked up. Especially carefully you need to examine the puppy's paws. They should be straight, fairly thick and set moderately wide. On the hind legs, the presence of two extra (dewlap) fingers is mandatory - this is a sign of purebredness.

Puppy size also matters. A 2 month old puppy weighing less than 7 kg indicates either a genetically small dog or malnutrition. At the age of three months, he should not weigh less than 12 kg, and usually his weight ranges from 14-19 kg. The selected puppy must be at least two months old. Socialized puppies with a good and normal psyche do not lower their eyes, but look directly at the person, showing interest and benevolence. The specific Pyrenean look is also a characteristic of the breed.

The Pyrenean wolfhound is not at all adapted to urban conditions and life in an apartment. Such a dog loves space and freedom. Therefore, it is better to keep it in a private house outside the city with a large personal plot. It is also impossible to chain and place a white dog in a cramped enclosure. The animal kept in such conditions will often become sick and weakened. On the street, it is necessary to equip a spacious aviary with a large booth for sleeping and resting the pet. You can also let your dog go home at night, but it should be outside during the day. The white giant is very well adapted to live outside the home and is not afraid of snow, rain or cold.

It is impossible to place a booth near the fence, since the dog will easily jump over the fence, jumping onto the booth. The best place for her is near the house, and the entrance to the booth should have a direction to the door to the house and the front gate so that the dog can see them.

By nature, dogs are predatory animals. Their teeth are designed to tear meat and gnaw bones, and their esophagus is designed to swallow large pieces of meat that are easily digested by saturated gastric juice. When organizing food for the Pyrenean wolfhound, this fact must be taken into account. Experienced breeders and dog breeders recommend natural food for this dog. The main part of the food (about 2/3) should be protein products: any lean meat, offal, fatty sea fish, eggs, which are preferably fed raw. Fresh tripe is also very beneficial for dogs. Sometimes it is allowed to give meat boiled.

It is necessary to supplement protein foods with various vegetables and fruits, which are also given raw. Coarse fiber forms the correct intestinal microflora. Boiled vegetables are useless in this regard. Porridge can also be given. But remember that this is a source of carbohydrates that contribute to the accumulation of fat. They can be fed to your dog in winter when extra energy is needed. The norm of cereals for one week is 1 glass.

The dog's nutrition must be supplemented with mineral and vitamin complexes, which are given strictly according to the instructions or after consulting a veterinarian. In addition, it is also recommended to add sunflower or other oil (2 tablespoons) to food every day, which can be replaced with oily sea fish (100 g) as sources of useful polyunsaturated acids. It is useful to include brewer's yeast (2-3 tablets), bran (1 tablespoon) and fish oil (0.5 teaspoon) in the diet, and pamper your pet with honey and other products from the apiary 2 times a week.

Overfeeding the dog should not be in order to prevent obesity, which negatively affects the joints and spine. To prevent this, you need to remove the feeder as soon as the dog eats - it takes him 10 to 15 minutes. The daily rate directly depends on the degree of activity of the dog and the conditions of its keeping. In winter, these rates are almost doubled to maintain the required energy balance. In addition to natural, dry food is also allowed. But there is a requirement for their quality: the feed must be at least premium, and preferably even super premium.

Caring for a Pyrenean dog consists of the usual activities. One of the important points is hair care. Although the dog's coat has the ability to repel dirt and water, it needs to be brushed regularly, about 2-3 times a week, and daily during shedding. White wool is not very dirty, so you should not wash your pet often: 4 times a year is enough. From frequent bathing, the coat becomes thin, it weakens and can fall out. If the pet participates in exhibitions, then when bathing, you can use special shampoos with a whitening effect. This shampoo eliminates the yellowness of the fur in the mouth and eyes, on the paws and in the lower abdomen.

It is also important to know that it is impossible to cut the hair of white dogs, as this leads to skin problems... But you need to check your skin regularly, as the thick coat can hide wounds and other damage, as well as skin allergies. Grooming is also required for the ears of the animal. They should be inspected weekly and, if necessary, wiped with cotton swabs soaked in a special agent. In addition, you should brush your dog's teeth, care for his eyes, and trim his nails. This is especially true for the claws on the dewclaws, since they themselves do not grind on them.If the nails are not trimmed, they can twist and dig into the skin.

They also carry out such standard events:

• you need to be vaccinated regularly and in a timely manner;
• treat wool with parasite agents;
• inspect the coat daily to exclude the possible presence of ticks;
• regularly carry out prophylaxis of infection with worms with special preparations.

Of course, not everyone can buy such a dog, costing from 35 to 90 thousand rubles. But if there is such an opportunity and suitable conditions for its maintenance, then the Pyrenean mountain dog will become both a reliable protector and a loyal companion.

In the next video you will find interesting facts about the Pyrenean mountain dog.