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The Pyrenean Shepherd is a medium-small breed of dog that was bred originally in the 1700s for herding. It often worked as an active herder together with the Great Pyrenees, who acted as the flock's guardian.
Appearance: The smallest of the French herding dogs,
the Pyrenean is no more than 22 inches (56 cm) at the withers,
with males between 15 1/2 to 22 inches (39-56 cm), and females
between 15 1/2 to 20 inches (39-51 cm). The weight is between
18-32 lbs (8-14.5 kg), aiming for muscular, never fat.
The head is of small proportions in comparison to the dog,
with a rather flat skull, and a somewhat short, pointed
muzzle. The face is expressive and intelligent, with dark
eyes, except in the case of the harlequin or slate gray
colours. In France, the general choice for the dog's ears is
cropped, otherwise, the Pyrenean Shepherd should have drop
ears. Naturally prick ears are not of the breed, and may
indicate an outcross.
The body is long and lean, and should reflect the natural
energetic athleticism of the dog. The legs are well
proportioned, with lean, well-bent hocks typical of a
sure-footed mountain breed. The tail can be cropped short,
naturally short, or naturally long, so long as its carried
below the backline at rest and in motion.
Coat: The coat has two basic varieties, smooth-faced
(or smooth-haired) and rough-faced (or long-haired). The
smooth-faced variety has short, fine hairs on the muzzle, with
a modest ruff around the face and neck, and some feathering
along the legs, tail, and belly. In contrast, the rough-faced
has some long hairs around the muzzle and face, though never
enough to cover or obscure the eyes or create a bearded
effect, and semilong or long, coarse hair over the rest of the
body.
Colour: Shades of fawn are most typical for the
breed, either with or without black shadowing, with shades of
grey, harlequins in various shades, and the much-rarer black.
All colours allow for some white at the head, chest and feet,
but clean colours are preferred.
Temperament: The Pyrenean Shepherd was designed to
be a sheepdog, and as such is full of the same sort of energy
that other herding dogs have, but in a surprisingly small
package. This adaptive dog wants to, and can, do all the jobs
on the field, and is a natural herder. A dog that needs a job,
its cleverness makes it ideal for other work and dog sports
such as flyball, competitive obedience and agility.
Pyreneans are "one-man" dogs, attached and
dedicated to their owners, with a desire to follow them around
the house to help with daily chores. They sense every mood and
often seem to be able to read their masters' minds, as they
are constantly watchful. Because of this, they are extremely
trainable.
Their natural wariness, while valuable in a herding dog
that may need to alert their shepherd of strange animals or
people, combined with their herding bossiness, can lead to
shyness or aggression in even the most friendly puppy if not
properly managed. Frequent socialization from a very young age
can help counter this trait.
Care: In spite of the shaggy coat, even the
rough-faced Pyrenean needs only a weekly brush, as well as
regular checks for burrs or knots, to keep its coat in show
condition. The coat texture is resistant to tangling, and is
quite manageable compared to more showy long-haired dogs.
History: After the first World War, the Pyrenean
gained national recognition in France for their valiant work
as couriers, search and rescue dogs, watch dogs, and company
mascots.
The smooth-faced Pyrenean Shepherd in its harlequin or blue
merle colouration may have been one of the foundation breeds
for the Australian Shepherd in the late 19th and early 20th
century.
It is not yet a well-known breed outside of its native
France, but its size, intelligence, and attractive coat make
it appealing. After one of its breed won the World Agility
Championship for midsized dogs in 2003, it gained more
attention as an intelligent performance dog for dog sports.
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