Dog
Group:
Herding 
Pyrenean Shepherd Champions
You must login to add your Champion Dog to this list.
Pronunciation:
pir-uh-ne-uhn shep-erd
Breed Description:
The Pyrenean Shepherd breed of dog is a small sized breed of dog taht should be athletic in appearance while still having a very sturdy and robust build. They should be slightly longer than they are tall and should have an alert and regal bearing. The head should be wedge shaped with medium sized, half folded ears. The tail should also be medium in length. The ears are commonly cropped and the tail is commonly docked.
The coat of the Pyrenean Shepherd can be of two types and these are:
Smooth-faced Coat: This is a coat where the dog has a long coat on the entire body, except on the face, which has short, smooth hair. There should be feathering on the tail, belly and legs. There should also be a slight ruff around the neck.
Rough-faced Coat: The rough-faced coat should have long, rough hair on teh entire body and a medium length wiry hair on the muzzle. There should not be so much hair that it creates a beard and it should not be too sparse to look like the smooth-faced coat.
Both coat types can be found in the same litter and they can be various colors including merle, in blue, fawn or brindle, brindle, gray, black or fawn with or without a black mask.
Temperament:
The Pyrenean Shepherd breed of dog is an intelligent and playful breed that is known for being a wonderful family dog. They are protective of their family and their natural wariness of strangers makes them an excellent guard dog. They are usually patient with children, however, they do need to be raised with them for this to happen. The breed does well with other dogs and pets and is usually very easy to train. The Pyrenean Shepherd is used to working on their own so they can be an independent breed. In addition, they can often get into trouble since they tend to have a mischievous temperament. The breed does well when they have something to do and they can shine in a number of canine sports including flyball and agility.
Height:
The average height for a Pyrenean Shepherd is between 15 to 19 inches.
Weight:
The average weight for a Pyrenean Shepherd is between 18 to 32 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Pyrenean Shepherd breed of dog is considered to be a healthy breed, however, they can suffer from some health problems including Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Hip Dysplasia and Epilepsy.
Living Conditions:
The Pyrenean Shepherd breed of dog can do very well in apartments if tehy are given proper exercise. The breed can do well as an outdoor dog, however, they can be very wary of strangers and will need a fenced yard.
Exercise:
The Pyrenean Shepherd breed of dog is a very active breed of dog that requires about 60 minutes of exercise each day. The breed does well as a jogging companion.
Life Expectancy:
14 to 16 years
Grooming:
The Pyrenean Shepherd breed of dog is an easy breed to groom, despite its coat. Generally, they should be brushed once a week, although to keep the hair free of dirt, it is recommended that you brush them two or three times a week. Bathing should only be done when it is necessary. Nails should be trimmed on a regular basis and the ears should be cleaned on a weekly basis.
Origin:
The Pyrenean Shepherd breed of dog is an ancient breed of dog and is believed to be several millennium old. The breed was developed in Pyrennes as early as 4000BC and was used primarily for herding sheep and other livestock. The Pyrenean Shepherd was often used in conjunction with the Great Pyrenees, the latter being used to guard the livestock that the Pyrenean Shepherd herded. While the breed was well known in their native country, it wasn't until the 1900's that the breed made it to North America. It was officially recognized by the AKC in 1992, but it has remained an uncommon and not well-known breed. 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.
