Dog
Pyrenean Mastiff Champions
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Pronunciation:
pir-uh-nee-uhn mas-tif
Breed Description:
The Pyrenean Mastiff breed of dogis a giant sized breed of dog that should be massive in size and proportion while still being an athletic and sturdy breed. This is a dog that should well-balanced and proportioned and they should have a massive head with a broad, short muzzle. The long ears should be set low on the head and should hang down the side. The top line is level and the build should be slightly longer than they are tall. The Pyrenean Mastiff should have a deep chest and a medium length tail that has a slight curve at the end.
The coat of the Pyrenean Mastiff should consist of two coats. The undercoat should be short and dense and it should have a woolly texture to it. The topcoat should be long and abundant with the longest hair being 2 to 4 inches in length. There should be a course feel to it and the hair should be straight and free from any curl. There should be a thick mane around the neck and the tail and thighs should be feathered. The Pyrenean Mastiff is usually primarily white with markings of gray, brindle, black, silver, gold or tan.
Temperament:
The Pyrenean Mastiff breed of dog is a gentle and quiet dog that has a sweet disposition. This is an intelligent breed that learns quickly and is always happy to listen when they need to. The breed is usually very calm and while they can be playful, they tend to approach life in an alert and protective manner. The breed is rarely relaxed adn is always watching their family to ensure that they are kept safe. The Pyrenean Mastiff is usually wary of strangers and their size and natural guarding instinct makes them an excellent guard dog. They love children and are usually an excellent choice for a family, even with young children. They do well with other dogs and pets and while they are gentle and quiet, they are not the best breed for new or timid owners since they aren't pushovers. This is a breed that has a mind of its own.
Height:
The average height for a Pyrenean Mastiff is between 28 to 34 inches.
Weight:
The average weight for a Pyrenean Mastiff is between 120 to 175 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Pyrenean Mastiff breed of dog is considered to be a healthy breed, however, there are a number of health problems that can affect the breed including entropion, ectropion, gastric torsion, which is also known as bloat, and hip dysplasia.
Living Conditions:
The Pyrenean Mastiff breed of dog is not recommended for apartments, however, some people have found them to be inactive and have had success with them in apartments. The ideal living condition for a Pyrenean Mastiff is a home with a large yard. They should have a fenced yard to keep them from guarding the yard from your neighbors.
Exercise:
The Pyrenean Mastiff breed of dog is not as active as other dogs but they still require between 30 to 45 minutes per day. This dog loves the water so swimming should be offered to them whenever it is possible. In addition, they need to be encouraged to exercise and they can become obese if they are allowed to.
Life Expectancy:
8 to 13 years
Grooming:
The Pyrenean Mastiff breed of dog despite their long coat, is not a difficult breed to maintain. Generally, you should only expect to brush the coat about once per week, however; you will need to brush it two or three times a week during shedding periods. In addition, if you live in warmer climates, your grooming needs may increase up to 4 or 5 times a week. They do not need a bath on a regular basis and can go most of the year with only one or two. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis and the nails should be clipped once or twice a week, but other than that, nothing more really needs to be done.
Origin:
The Pyrenean Mastiff breed of dog is considered to be an old breed that is believed to have been developed for guarding and herding over 3000 years ago. While it is unclear how the breed came to be, we do know that the breed is believed to have been brought to Spain by Phoenician traders and that they may have been developed from the Tibetan Mastiff. The breed was originally used to guard large flocks of sheep and were strong enough to fight wolves that attempted to attack the flock. However, with the extinction of the wolf in the area, the Pyrenean Mastiff fell out of use and faced extinction itself. A handful of breeders managed to keep the breed alive and while it is still a rare breed, the Pyrenean Mastiff has gained enough attention to keep it from extinction. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
