Dog Articles
Past and Present:
Pyrenean
Sheepdog / Mountain Dog
One of the
most beautiful dogs in the world is the Pyrenean Sheepdog, but,
alas, the breed is almost extinct. Technically speaking, this
animated snowdrift is not a sheepdog at all, but closely related to
the Mastiffs. In form of body and texture of coat he greatly
resembles the Tibet Mastiff, though the latter is not so tall on the
legs and is quite different in color, being velvety black, with rich
tan markings.
Had the
Pyrenean dog been a herder of sheep like the Collie, no doubt his
tribe would have been as numerous as ever; but the Spanish, and
later the French shepherds used him chiefly to guard their flocks
against the ravages of the wolves and bears.
When
wolves and bears became scarce in the Pyrenean Mountains, the need
of this valiant defender grew less and the breed was neglected,
until now but a few specimens remain.
The
Pyrenean Sheepdog is one of the finest dogs that has been used in
the manufacture of the present day St. Bernard. It is quite possible
that the old hospice dog (which died out when roads and railways cut
hither and thither through the Alps) was more of this type than is
generally supposed.
The
Pyrenean dog is one of the large dogs, but by no means so immense as
the St. Bernard. A good male dog would probably weigh about 100
pounds, as against 250 pounds for the St. Bernard.
He is
usually pure white or cream-colored and bears a coat much like that
of a Newfoundland, only with more underfur and of a more woolly
texture.
He has
seldom been brought to this country or even to England. He is
pre-eminently a guardian dog used to insure
safety to the flock from the attack of wolves, smaller
and nimbler dogs being used for the purpose
of driving and herding.
The type
is easier to conceive from the picture than by a written
description. Like all dogs bred for utility, and not yet taken up by
‘the fancy’, he is bound by no standard of perfection and is subject
to considerable variation. The best dog is the one that does his
work best, which is as it should be.
Source:
National Geographic 1919
Recommended Reading
Dog Training
Mastery - An Owners' Manual
|
