The Pyrenean Mountain Dog is a very original and large French shepherd dog. The beautiful white animals are only suitable as house dogs under certain conditions and should only be kept by experienced dog owners that can offer them a lot of space.
The origin of the Pyrenean Mountain Dog
In the vast mountainous landscape of the Pyrenees, this dog has watched over the flocks of sheep for centuries. When the castles and palaces of this rugged environment were still inhabited, it served the nobility as a reliable watchdog.
Life in the harsh environment of the mountains has created a very special kind of dog breed. There are still bears and wolves that live there today. The "Patou", as the dog is affectionately called by the locals, will defend its master, the farm and the herd with its life at all times.
At the time of Louis XIV, the dog came into fashion as a status symbol among the French upper class. In 1923, the first official breed standard was defined. After the Second World War, the population of large mountain dogs had dramatically decreased. The urbanisation had pushed back the agriculture in the Pyrenees more and more and so the number of Pyrenean Mountain Dogs increasingly went back.
The dog was managed to be bred back from stocks in the valleys and individual populations that had survived in remote mountain regions. Today, the French can keep their "Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées" in honour once again. The FCI leads the Patou under the standard No. 137, group 2, section 2 Molossoids and 2.2 Mountain dogs.
The breed characteristics of the Pyrenean Mountain Dog
They look like big white cuddly bears! Nevertheless, these dogs are not always fun to play with. They are considered stubborn and can only be led by experienced dog owners. First-time owners should not buy this dog under any circumstances. Their herd protection instinct can be so strongly developed that it becomes aggressive when not kept occupied. This dog loves independence and is used to making its own decisions.
Many Pyrenean mountain dogs do not get used to living in a house, they prefer to lie outside in all kinds of wind and weather conditions.
- very large white mountain dog
- is considered a national symbol of the South of France
- Working dog and not just a pet
- only suitable for experienced dog owners