Pyrenean Mountain Dog

About the breed

Name, origin and history: a dog from the Pyrenees

The Pyrenean Mountain Dog (Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées) is a French breed of large pastoral guardian dog; FCI Standard No. 137 places it in Group 2, Section 2.2 (Molossoid breeds, mountain type), without working trial. The Croatian Kennel Club lists it as "pirinejski planinski pas", the Cinological Association of Slovenia (KZS) as "pirenejski planinski pes", and in the USA it is called the Great Pyrenees.

According to the historical summary in the FCI standard, the breed has been present in the Pyrenees from time immemorial, guarded castles in the Middle Ages, is mentioned by Gaston Phoebus in the 14th century and reached its glory at the court of Louis XIV. In 1923 a fanciers' association registered the official standard with the French kennel club, and FCI says the current standard is still very close to it.

A flock guardian, not a herding dog

The Pyrenean Mountain Dog was bred to protect flocks from predators on its own, not to drive them. The FCI standard gives its utilisation as "pastoral guardian in the mountains": the dog worked alone, so guarding and dissuading aptitude mattered as much as attachment to the flock. The Pyrenean Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain (PMDC) says they guarded flocks for centuries against wolves, bears and brigands, and the AKC that the larger dogs were bred for guarding and the smaller Pyrenean Shepherds for herding.

Height and weight under the FCI standard

The FCI standard gives a height at the withers of 70–80 cm for males and 65–75 cm for females, with a tolerance of +2 cm for perfectly typed specimens. The breed is described as a dog of great size, imposing and strongly built but not without a certain elegance; the body is slightly longer than the height at the withers.

The FCI standard gives no weight. The UK Kennel Club sets minimum heights of 70 cm (dogs) and 65 cm (bitches) and minimum weights of 50 kg and 40 kg, which apply only to specimens of minimum height; taller dogs should be heavier. The AKC standard says a 27-inch dog weighs about 100 pounds (about 45 kg) and a 25-inch bitch about 85 pounds (about 39 kg). The PMDC warns that a fluffy puppy can, within months, reach the height of a dining table and exceed 65 kg. As an editorial estimate from these sources, expect roughly 40–65 kg; 65 kg is a threshold that adults can exceed, not an upper limit.

White coat, patches and double dewclaws

The coat is well furnished, flat, quite long and supple, and longer on the tail and around the neck; the "trouser" hair is finer, woollier and very thick, and the undercoat is thick. The colour is white, or white with patches of grey (badger or wolf), pale yellow or orange (arrouye) on the head, ears, base of the tail and sometimes the body; badger grey is the most appreciated.

The standard requires double, well-formed dewclaws on the hind legs; their absence, a single dewclaw or atrophied double dewclaws are eliminating faults. The PMDC advises against removing them, but says they should be checked and trimmed regularly so they do not curl round and embed in the leg.

Temperament: calm but independent

The FCI standard describes strength and agility allied to gentleness and attachment to those it protects, and adds that this protecting dog has a propensity for independence and initiative that demands a certain degree of authority from its owner. The UK standard calls the temperament "quietly confident", with nervousness and unprovoked aggression highly undesirable. The AKC describes the breed as independent, intelligent and patient, affectionate and calm with its family. Individual behaviour also depends on genetics, socialisation and experience.

Barking, territory and garden fencing

Barking is an expected trait of a guardian, but it varies a lot between individuals. The PMDC writes that a tendency to bark is essential in a breed used as a guard for centuries; the bark is very deep and loud, the club asks owners to consider neighbours, and some dogs will bark if as much as a "blade of grass" moves. In its Q&A the same club says most Pyreneans bark only at unusual sights or sounds, though some simply like to bark. An AKC breed-facts article says the breed was developed to guard flocks at night, so owners shouldn't be surprised if it often barks at night; in its trait scores it rates barking 3 out of 5 ("occasional").

The PMDC cautions that a seemingly dog-proof garden boundary soon proves otherwise unless it is very high, and that the breed digs a lot.

Family, children and other animals

A Pyrenean Mountain Dog can suit a family with children, but only on conditions: enough space, early socialisation, supervision around small children, and an owner who can handle an independent giant. The PMDC says well-brought-up Pyreneans are known for their love of children, and the German club KfUH (Klub für Ungarische Hirtenhunde) that they are particularly good with children and small pets. The AKC rates the breed 3 out of 5 ("with supervision") for young children and for other dogs. Because of its size, supervision makes sense despite the calm temperament.

Flat, garden and time alone

A flat rarely suits a Pyrenean Mountain Dog. The UK Kennel Club accepts town or country but lists a large house and a large garden for the breed; the KfUH sees a house with a well-fenced plot and full family contact as ideal and advises against kennel or chain keeping. The PMDC writes that the breed thrives on its owner's company: long periods alone lead to boredom and chewing, and a confined dog's howling can bother neighbours. Because of the thick coat, the club also recommends a cool, quiet retreat.

Exercise and growing puppies

An adult needs moderate exercise: the Kennel Club gives up to 1 hour a day, PDSA about an hour, and the AKC says the breed is not highly active. For mental work the AKC mentions obedience trials and cart-pulling.

For puppies the PMDC warns that too much exercise can cause more problems than too little, and that the period from about two to ten months is critical; it advises against long lead walks and jumping, such as stairs or leaping out of cars, because damage at this age could develop into problems such as hip dysplasia and osteochondritis.

Training: patience, not force

Do not expect quick obedience. The PMDC warns that the breed is very independent and that instant obedience of the kind seen in German Shepherds is pointless to expect; the AKC says standard obedience work will be met with indifference and slow responses. The PMDC recommends a lead on walks and rewarding good behaviour, the KfUH rejects force and harshness and favours short, calm sessions, and the AKC recommends early socialisation and puppy classes.

Coat care

The coat needs regular care and sheds heavily. The Kennel Club says the breed sheds and needs brushing more than once a week; the PMDC finds a good brush twice a week enough for an adult, plus combing in the moult, and the KfUH advises daily brushing during it. The AKC writes that the coat resists dirt and tangles and recommends thorough brushing at least weekly with a pin or slicker brush.

For puppies the PMDC recommends daily combing until the adult coat replaces the puppy coat, especially the "trousers" and under the ears; excessive bathing does not help the coat. Hair between the toes and above the eyes should be trimmed, and nails and dewclaws checked regularly.

Health: what clubs and sources say

Sources highlight mainly musculoskeletal and skin problems and some cancers. In 2021 the UK Kennel Club and breed representatives confirmed the priorities as osteosarcoma, arthritis, osteochondrodysplasia, and hot spots and other skin conditions. The evidence base of that plan cites a US teaching-hospital study reporting elevated risk of hip dysplasia, shoulder osteochondrosis, panosteitis and patellar luxation, but mostly on small numbers of dogs. The Kennel Club lists hip, elbow and eye testing under the BVA/KC schemes for the breed.

The Great Pyrenees Club of America (GPCA) recommends that every breeding dog earn a CHIC number, which requires hip and patella evaluations plus one further test from a list, and it especially recommends DNA tests for neuronal degeneration and dwarfism. The AKC also mentions bloat and some cancers, and PDSA deafness, epilepsy and entropion. None of this means every dog will be affected; the tests are a sensible question for a breeder.

How long does a Pyrenean Mountain Dog live?

Lifespan is roughly 9–11 years across the sources reviewed (an editorial estimate summarising the figures below): the UK Kennel Club and PDSA say "under 10 years", the AKC 10–12 and the KfUH 10–13. In the UK Kennel Club's 2004 survey (response under 15%, 66 deaths) the median age at death was 9 years 7 months, and the most common cause was cancer (26 of 66 reported deaths); this is a survey, not a registry, so treat it as a framework, not a prediction.

Pyrenean Mountain Dog or Maremma Sheepdog

The Maremma Sheepdog differs from the Pyrenean Mountain Dog in FCI group, height and colour. FCI Standard No. 201 places the Maremma-Abruzzese in Group 1 (sheepdogs) and gives a height at the withers of 67–73.5 cm for males and 62–70 cm for females, weights of 40–52 kg and 35–45 kg, and a solid white coat. The Pyrenean Mountain Dog is usually taller under FCI (70–80 cm), and patches are allowed. The Sarplaninac and the Karst Shepherd share its Group 2, Section 2.2.

The Pyrenean Mastiff (Mastín del Pirineo, FCI No. 92) and the Pyrenean Sheepdog (FCI No. 141) are different breeds: the Mastiff has a lower height limit of 77 cm for dogs and 72 cm for bitches and a white base colour with a mask, while the Sheepdog (long-haired variety; the smooth-faced variety is FCI No. 138) stands 42–48 cm for males and is in Group 1.

What to ask a breeder

Before buying a puppy, ask the breeder for both parents' health-test results: hips and elbows, patellas under the American recommendations and eyes under the British ones, plus the DNA tests available for the breed (multifocal retinopathy, Glanzmann's thrombasthenia). Also ask about the parents' and grandparents' health history, how the puppies were raised among people, dogs and everyday noises, and what the contract says about a serious hereditary disease. You can find a breeder in the directory.

Who it suits and who it suits less

The breed suits an owner with a house and a high fenced garden, time for consistent training, and a taste for a calm, independent guardian over a dog that follows every command. It suits less anyone in a flat or close to neighbours, leaving the dog alone for long periods, struggling with barking and hair, or seeking a quickly obedient sports dog. Conditions:

• a high fenced garden and a cool place to rest;
• early socialisation and consistent, gentle training;
• regular brushing, dewclaw checks and health results for both parents.

Pros & cons