Pyrenean Sheepdog (Berger des Pyrénées)
Temperament:
This smart four-legged friend has it all. As a passionate herding dog, his shaggy coat is full of energy. The clever Pyrenean sheepdog - called Berger des Pyrénées in French - loves two things above all: his work and his family. In this breed portrait, you can find out whether this charming French dog would fit into your life.
Characteristics
The intelligent Pyrenean Sheepdog is known for its loyalty to its owner. However, it is also a stubborn breed with a lot of energy. This four-legged friend therefore absolutely needs an experienced owner who can consistently show him his limits. If this is successful, working with this independent breed is all the more fun.
This bundle of energy loves to play with his owner. However, it is an active working dog that should not be kept without a clear task and intensive physical and mental exercise. With appropriate exercise, this dog is an exuberant companion. However, the breed tends to bark, but without barking excessively.
As a lively herding dog, the Pyrenean Sheepdog should never be kept in a kennel. It needs contact with the family in the house. With appropriate exercise, the four-legged friend can also live in a family with children and enjoy time with the family. The Pyrenean Sheepdog is suspicious and reserved towards strangers.
The Pyrenean Sheepdog has a medium to long coat. It is dense and smooth to slightly wavy. Its texture is reminiscent of goat hair or sheep's wool. Due to these characteristics of the coat, dogs of this breed often have villi or strands, the so-called cadenettes, or plates. These then cover the croup and thighs like roof tiles. They can also appear on the chest and elbows. The coat structure gives this smart four-legged friend a tousled appearance.
The Pyrenean Sheepdog comes in different colors. The fawn - yellow-brown - variety comes in lighter and darker shades. Black hair can be covered and white patches can occasionally appear on the chest and limbs. Gray also occurs in varying degrees in this breed. The head, chest and legs are often white. There are also blue with black patches, brindle, pure black or black with white patches. In the official breed standard, however, the pure colors are preferred.
The males of the medium-sized Pyrenean Sheepdog reach a shoulder height of around 42 to 48 cm. The somewhat smaller females usually reach 40 to 46 cm. However, a tolerance of 2 cm up and down is permitted in otherwise perfect specimens. These cute bundles of energy reach a weight of 8 to 15 kg.
It is worth noting that even in the official FCI directory there are two variants of this breed. The long-haired, shaggy variant is much better known and has the breed standard 141. The smooth-haired variant has a much shorter coat, especially on the face. This variant of the breed is also becoming increasingly popular and has the breed standard 138.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
When choosing food, make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients, is balanced and meets your dog's requirements. Age, size or weight, activity and health status play an important role. You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of food.
Treats should only be fed in moderation and deducted from the basic diet to avoid obesity.
Puppies can be fed 4-6 times a day. The number of meals should be gradually reduced to 2 per day until the dog is fully grown. A rest period should be observed after meals.
Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.
Health & Care
For all dogs, it is best to start grooming regularly as a puppy. This allows the dog to get used to it slowly and makes grooming much easier later on.
The Pyrenean Sheepdog should be brushed about once or twice a week. This prevents and loosens tangles without changing the natural, deliberately shaggy appearance of the fur nose.
Due to the rough texture, small twigs and other plant parts often get caught in the coat during walks. Ticks also like to take every opportunity to bite into your dog's skin. It is therefore advisable to check the coat after every walk and remove any stowaways.
Check regularly that the fur does not obstruct your dog's vision or even grow into his eyes. Trim it if necessary.
Drooping ears provide the best conditions for infections. They should therefore be checked regularly and cleaned with a special ear cleaner for dogs. Also make sure that your furry friend's claws don't get too long. If necessary, you can trim them with claw scissors. If you are unsure, ask your vet to show you how to do it properly and safely. Be careful not to cut too deeply, especially with dark claws.
Our cute four-legged friends also benefit from regular tooth brushing. There is special toothpaste for dogs. You can use this with a small, soft toothbrush or with a special attachment for your finger.
In addition to grooming the appearance, attention must also be paid to the breed's typical characteristics. A Pyrenean Sheepdog absolutely needs direct family contact in order to lead a happy life. The agile Frenchman will only be in good hands if his typical herding dog urge to move and his intelligent mind are fully utilized.
So if you don't have a flock of sheep to herd, you should take your pet for a walk for several hours a day and also keep him busy with mental exercise. Dog sports such as agility can be a good way to work off the dog's extraordinary energy. Some dogs of this breed are also trained as avalanche dogs.
Suitable accessories
The Pyrenean Sheepdog also needs the typical basic equipment of any dog. This includes bowls, leads, sleeping areas, harness and collar.
Special ear cleaners for dogs, claw clippers, tick tweezers, toothpaste for dogs and a toothbrush for dogs are required for regular grooming. A comb and brush to remove knots and tangles, a mild dog shampoo and a first aid kit are suitable for grooming. It's best to ask your vet what should be in the first aid kit.
As a very athletic dog, the Pyrenean Shepherd is also suitable for toys that you can take with you on walks or use in the garden. But also think about a colorful selection of brain toys and sniffing tasks so that your dog is also mentally challenged. This is the only way to turn your lovable herding dog into a balanced companion.
Origin & History
The breeding of the Pyrenean Shepherd Dog began with the primary aim of breeding particularly hard-working dogs for the French shepherds in the Pyrenees. The sheepdogs had to be enduring, healthy and agile. When breeding, the main focus was on the character of the dogs. Little importance was initially attached to appearance.
The Pyrenean Sheepdog is considered to be the oldest shepherd dog in France. It developed quietly over many centuries and only became known in official cynology at the beginning of the 20th century. At this time, Bernard Sénac-Lagrange wrote the first official breed standard from 1921 to 1925. The breed was officially recognized by the FCI on 28.01.1955. The variant of the breed with short facial hair had already been recognized by the FCI two days earlier, on 26/01/1955.
