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Pyrenean Shepherd Dog BreedNicknames: Berger des Pyenees, Petit Berger, Pynenees Sheepdog, Pyr Shep |
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| Right Breed For You? | This breed will thrive in the home of an active family. The Pyrenean Shepherd is dominated by his love for his work. As a companion, he is very active and enthusiastic and insists upon being involved in the day’s activities whatever they may be. The best owner for the Pyrenean Shepherd is an active, dog-experienced person living in a rural environment. They are better suited for the country than for the city or suburban areas. The Pyr Shep coat does not require much maintenance beyond a thorough brushing every few weeks. | Pet Supplies Recommendations |
| Shedding: |
Moderate Shed | |
| Height: | 15 – 21 inches (38 – 53 cm) | |
| Weight: | 15 – 32 pounds (7 – 15 kg.) | |
| Life Span: | 9-12 years | |
| Litter Size: | 3 – 6 puppies | |
| Hair Length: | Medium | |
| Group: | Herding | |
| Color: | Fawn, grey, blue, merle, brindle, black, with or without white markings. | |
| Recognized By: | AKC, FCI, NCA, CKC, UKC |
To live with a Pyrenean Shepherd is to take on a highly energetic, intelligent, mischievous companion whose passion for you will be matched only by his desire to work. Be prepared to stimulate his mind and fulfill his need for activity with a challenging dog sport or some kind of flock that he can take charge of. Ever vigilant, he tends to be distrustful of strangers and makes an excellent watchdog. You should give your Pyr Shep plenty of socialization, beginning in early puppyhood, to ensure that his lively personality develops to its fullest potential.
A small, sinewy, lean, lively dog whose sparkling personality and quicksilver intelligence are reflected in the vibrant expression of his unique triangular head and windswept face. A superb athlete, his beautiful, flowing gait “shaves the earth.” Uncoiffed, light-boned and built as a horizontal rectangle, his high energy and intelligent, cunning, mischievous attitude show that he is always on alert, suspicious, ready for action.
An ardent herder of all kinds of livestock, his vigilant attitude and great vivacity of movement give this little dog a highly singular gait and appearance, characteristic of no other breed. The Pyr Shep is naturally distrustful of strangers, but when well-socialized from a young age, he or she has a very lively, cheerful disposition.
The two varieties, Smooth-Faced and Rough-Faced (including both demi-long and long-haired coat types) are born in the same litters.
The coat has two basic varieties, smooth-faced and rough-faced (demi-long or long-haired). The smooth-faced variety has short, fine hairs on the muzzle, with a modest ruff around the face and neck, and some feathering along the legs, tail, and belly.
In contrast, the rough-faced has longer hair on the muzzle and face, though never enough to cover or obscure the eyes or create a bearded effect, and demi-long or long, coarse hair over the rest of the body. The rough-faced dog can also form cords over his hindquarters and front legs. Pyr Sheps needs only a weekly brush, as well as regular checks for burrs or mats, to keep its coat in good condition.
After the first World War, the Pyrenean gained national recognition in France for their valiant work as couriers, search and rescue dogs, watch dogs, and company mascots.
The smooth-faced Pyrenean Shepherd in its harlequin or blue merle colouration may have been one of the foundation breeds for the Australian Shepherd in the late 19th and early 20th century. Pyr Shep fanciers imported breeding stock in the 1970’s and 80’s, establishing the foundation for the breed in America today.
It is not yet a well-known breed outside of its native France, but its size, intelligence, and attractive coat make it appealing. After one of its breed won the World Agility Championship for midsized dogs in 2003, it gained more attention as an intelligent performance dog for dog sports.
The Pyrenean Shepherd was designed to be a sheepdog, and as such is full of the same sort of energy that other herding dogs have, but in a surprisingly small package. This adaptive dog wants to, and can, do all the jobs on the field, and is a natural herder. A dog that needs a job, its cleverness makes it ideal for other work and dog sports such as fly ball, competitive obedience and agility.
Pyr Sheps are “one-man” dogs, attached and dedicated to their owners, with a desire to follow them around the house to help with daily chores. They sense every mood and often seem to be able to read their masters’ minds, as they are constantly watchful. Because of this, they are extremely trainable.
Their natural wariness, while valuable in a herding dog that may need to alert their shepherd of strange animals or people, combined with their herding bossiness, can lead to shyness or aggression in even the most friendly puppy if not properly managed. Frequent socialization from a very young age can help counter this trait.
The Pyr Shep is known as one of the healthiest of breeds, but of course, no breed is free of genetic defects. This breed is known to be subject to occasional cases of hip dysplasia, epilepsy, sub-luxated patellae, PDA, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). These diseases are not common, nor life threatening. Dogs exhibiting these problems should not be bred. And preliminary testing for such problems should be done on all breeding stock.
The long haired Pyrenean Shepherd needs to be brushed at least once per week to prevent matting. Matting of the hair can become very uncomfortable and if the dog is not well-maintained it will easily become distressed. This dog is an average shedder and will require regular visits to the dog groomer’s for optimum upkeep.
A good strong brushing will keep the coat looking glossy, smooth, and tidy. The coat does not tangle easily but does need to be kept clean and free of debris. If the dog has been outdoors for an extended period of time, it is a good idea to give it a bath and maintain its soft coat.
Bathing on a regular basis will prevent ticks and other dirt-related problems, even infections. These dogs do need regular trips to the Vet to check for health conditions or problems, and having the nails clipped by a professional is a good idea.
Since the Pyrenean Shepherd is a natural sheepdog, it has boundless energy and enjoys the thrill of running about . These dogs also have a lot of patience, and owners need not worry too much about the dog chewing and biting home furnishings when they are bored. These dogs can take care of themselves and will find their own activities to tend to. Still, they do need stimulation and will become restless and bored if they are not paid enough attention.
The ideal form of exercise for the Pyrenean Shepherd is a long run or walk with its owners, as well as time spent in a park. Frisbee, playing with balls, and simply playing ‘fetch’ give them enough activities to share their enthusiasm and these dogs do well with a change of games, events, and toys. Soft toys and other changes in their individual environment can help them learn new skills, and these dogs enjoy continuous reinforcement and attention.
Letting these dogs run off the leash is a good idea, but these dogs do sometimes follow their noses. It is important to keep them on a leash until they are well trained to return home or to their owners. The dog does enjoy cooler weather so making sure they are taken outdoors in amicable weather is a good idea. Since they have a lot of hair, overheating can cause distress, fatigue, and lethargy. These dogs move fluidly and easily; they are less likely to get fatigued easily, and toeing comes naturally to them. Since they are often reaching out in great strides, they may have postural problems as they age.
A regular exercise routine works best for these dogs since they can learn new tricks and training outdoors as well. These dogs have a lot of stamina and will have plenty of energy to spare despite their intensive bouts of exercise. Running, swimming, and jogging alongside a bicycle are ideal for the Pyrenean Shepherd.
The Pyrenean Shepherd needs consistent, firm, and ongoing training from a young age. These dogs can be very amusing and fun and may be distracted easily, but with the appropriate amount of training, they can become excellent working dogs and obedient family pets. Since these dogs are very intelligent, they can quickly pick up new behaviors and respond well to positive reinforcement. Their learning rate is very high, but they can also be stubborn.
Early obedience training is most suitable for these dogs and they are strong-willed and can become quite independent. However, once they learn the rules and can respect their owners, they become very trustworthy and faithful. These dogs enjoy thinking for themselves and can become disruptive if they are not paid enough attention. The best way to train these dogs is with a firm, fair, and consistent tone and manner; they adapt very easily and it can be simple to train them in logical steps.
These dogs are sensitive to commands and will learn by imitation; it can be helpful to show them different skills and techniques and spend time reviewing various activities to help them improve.
