The
Great Pyrenees is a commanding animal of breathtaking
beauty. The
breed got its origin in the southwest of France and
the northeast of Spain in the circle of mountains and
surrounding valleys inhabited by the Basque people. The Great Pyrenees, known in France as Le Chien de
Montagne Pyrenees (the dog of the Pyrenees
Mountain), initially served as a livestock guardian.
The Great Pyrenees is one of the oldest breeds
alive today and
are known for their colorful and well-known past in
France. The
breed was brought to America in 1930 when Francis and
Mary Crane from Needham, Massachusetts, fell in love
with two adorable, snow-white puppies from France and
began a breeding program in 1931.
If it wasn’t for the Crane’s involvement
the breed would be extinct.
The
appearance of the Great Pyrenees is white or a
principally white coat that may contain markings of
badger, gray or varying shades of tan. They possess a keen intelligence and a kindly, while regal,
expression. The
height of the withers for a male is 27-32 inches and
for a female it is 25-29 inches.
A males weight may vary from 100-115 pounds and
a female at 85-100 pounds.
The Great
Pyrenees is blessed with great intelligence and is
alert but very calm in nature.
A calm dog translates into a wonderful house dog
that is satisfied with daily exercise and perhaps a
20-minute evening patrol of the backyard fence-just to
make sure everything is safe.
Even though only working Pyrenees are required
to perform guard duty, the pet Pyrenees still takes
its guard work seriously-though in the home this
translates to guarding family, home, and even small
pets. The
Great Pyrenees is a loving, staunchly devoted dog to
its family. They
are not overly friendly to strangers and tend to keep
a polite but watchful eye on any strangers to their
home.
The
Great Pyrenees can live happily in any environment or
climate. He
will adjust to any temperature, home or atmosphere.
As a breed native to a temperate zone, the
Great Pyrenees can accommodate easily to intensities
of heat and cold.
The metabolism and body temperature of the
breed are lower than that of most other breeds.
As
you have read in the material provided the Great
Pyrenees is a large, loveable protective breed that
will accommodate any family.
The Hitching Post Family Farm is dedicated, not
to better the breed, that has already been done
centuries ago, but to maintain the excellence, quality
and proper health aspects of the breed.
