Pyrenean Shepherd Dog Breed

The Pyrenean Shepherd, a member of the Herding Group of breeds, was originally developed as a livestock herder centuries ago in Central Europe. As such, dogs of this breed are excellent working animals on farms--but they make great pets for active, experienced owners as well. A few breed facts:

• Small- to medium-sized (average of 18 inches at the shoulders in height and 22 pounds in weight)
• Two coat varieties: rough-faced and smooth-faced
• AKC Breed Rank: 176 of 194

And some good (and not so good) breed qualities:

The Pyrenean Shepherd is to the canine world what the Fiat is to sports cars: compact, fast, and decisive. These small, active dogs are extremely passionate in both their work and in their relationships to human family members.

The Pyr Shep dog is intelligent--but stronger than its intellect is its work ethic. Dogs of this breed need a job to do or they'll become frustrated and destructive. Training can be fairly easy, if your Pyr Shep is in the mood to learn! The goods news is that these dogs have the capacity for learning many complex tasks and commands.

Through history, Pyrenean Shepherds have gained high acclaim for their herding skills. They're extremely fast and agile--in fact, it's commonly said that these dogs "shave the earth" with their gliding style of running. But the downside to this busybody demeanor is that Pyr Sheps can be bossy and controlling; they certainly have high herding instincts, which can cause them to try and physically "control" moving objects--children, other pets, even bicyclists and cars! On the flip side, they're playful and affectionate with their human family members. Pyr Sheps' "take-charge" demeanor, combined with their natural alertness, curiosity, and high barking tendencies, also makes them great watchdogs.

Since they're fairly small, Pyr Sheps aren't overly strong--but they have incredible speed and endurance. Owners should be prepared to give their Pyr Sheps plenty of daily exercise.

The Pyrenean Shepherd is sometimes called Le Petit Berger (which translates from French to "the little shepherd")--and while some consider Petit Bergers to be a variation of the breed, it's in reality only an alternate breed name.

The main variation within dogs of this breed is with the coat: The Smooth-Faced Pyrenean Shepherd has a short- to medium-length, smooth coat, with fairly short, smooth hair on the face and head. The Rough-Faced Pyr Shep, meanwhile, has longer, slightly wavy hair that's harsher in texture; the facial hair is longer on the sides and is usually swept back, giving this variant a sort of "windblown" look. Neither variety is more common than the other, and both variants can be born within the same litter.

While both varieties are mostly similar in size, the Smooth-Faced variant can be a little taller (up to 21 inches at the shoulders in height) compared to the Rough-Faced (up to 18 inches in height).

Active, playful, intelligent, affectionate, and at times bossy, the Pyrenean Shepherd temperament is equal parts work ethic and love. These dogs, with their history as herders, are incredibly task-oriented, and they have strong herding instincts--which not only means they'll try to control moving objects, but they can be controlling and even dominant in general. Pyr Sheps are great with kids, though, and will play with them for hours; on the other hand, their bossy personalities mean they often don't mix well with other pets (Pyr Sheps do best in a "one-pet household," in other words). They're usually mistrustful of strangers as well. All this means that Pyr Sheps will need plenty of socialization with various types of people, animals, and situations as early in the dogs' lives as possible.

Training dogs of this breed, especially if begun in puppyhood, can be pretty easy; though highly intelligent and enthusiastic, Pyr Sheps can have an independent streak, and may require a few repetitions to learn tasks and commands. In any case, positive, reward-based training methods work best with these dogs.

And because of its alertness and controlling demeanor--not to mention its high barking tendency--the Pyr Shep makes a great watchdog, and will sound a vocal alarm if it perceives a potential threat.

Though considered healthy overall, Pyrenean Shepherds can suffer medical issues including joint problems like hip dysplasia and patellar luxation, epilepsy, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Some Pyr Sheps can also inherit a condition called patent ductus arteriosus (PRA), a congential heart defect.

Life expectancy for these dogs is 12-16 years.