Breed of
dog.
Originates from the
Pyrenees Mountains between
France and
Spain. Its
primary purpose for many centuries has been to be a
working dog. The sheer
bulk of a Great Pyrenees,
combined with its fierce
loyalty makes it excellent at guarding
sheep.
Skeletal remains have been found that
date back to the
Bronze Age. In the
17th Century the breed came into favor among the French
nobles. They were made the
official French court dog by
Louis XIV. In recent years they have become rather
popular as
house pets.
Great Pyrenees are members of the Mastiff family. As such, they are quite large. Height at the shoulder generally varies from 27-32 inches for dogs, and 25-29 inches for bitches. A 27 inch dog should weigh around 100 pounds, and a 25 inch bitch should weigh around 85 pounds. They are very powerful, but not so much as the Saint Bernard. Great Pyrenees dogs have thick white coats, which some of the more fanatic owners harvest to make clothes.
As with other large dogs, Great Pyrenees often have problematic hips. Also due to their size, it is rare to have one live more than a few years beyond the age of ten.