The Great Pyrenees is a big dog with an equally big heart. Pyrs have been serving as guardians for their flocks for thousands of years. Here are some interesting facts about the Great Pyrenees:
They Were Bred to Be Guard Dogs
The Great Pyrenees was bred to be a for the farmers in the Pyrenees Mountains of Europe which form the border between France and Spain. These farmers bred the Great Pyrenees and the smaller Pyrenean Shepherds; the latter was in charge of herding, while the former was in charge of protecting the flock from predators like wolves and bears.
The Breed Is So Old, They鈥檝e Been Fossilized
The Great Pyrenees likely arrived in the Pyrenean Mountains with their shepherds around the year . Fossils of the Great Pyrenees have been found in the region and dated to between 1800 B.C. and 1000 B.C. Experts think the breed probably evolved from white mountain dogs that originated in Asia Minor as many as 11,000 years ago.
They鈥檙e Instinctively Nurturing
The Great Pyrenees is not just a guard dog. He is a . The Great Pyrenees protects the members of the flock, and he also cares for and them. His instinct is to be kind to and patient with all vulnerable animals.
They鈥檙e Nocturnal by Nature
The Great Pyrenees was bred to guard the flocks at night while the shepherds were sleeping and predators roamed about. Because of this, he is naturally . People who keep Pyrs as pets shouldn鈥檛 be surprised to find they often bark at night. This makes them a great deterrent for burglars.
They Became Royalty in France
For thousands of years, the Great Pyrenees was the dog of peasant livestock farmers. But he later gained popularity with the French royals and nobility in the Renaissance years. According to French , the 鈥淕reat Dogs of the Mountains鈥� served as guardians for the Chateau Fort de Lourdes, a castle in southwestern France. In 1675, King Louis XIV鈥檚 royal court declared the Great Pyrenees the Royal Dog of France.
Queen Victoria Owned a Great Pyrenees
French nobility weren鈥檛 the only ones to covet Pyrs. Queen Victoria of England in the mid-19th century. Queen Victoria was a dog lover and owned many different breeds throughout her life.
The Marquis de Lafayette Brought Them to the United States
The Marquis de Lafayette, a French military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War and was close with George Washington, brought the to the United States in 1824. Lafayette gave a pair of Pyrs to his friend, J.S. Skinner, who later wrote a book called 鈥淭he Dog and the Sportsman.鈥�
They Helped Revive the St. Bernard
In 1870, Pyrenean blood was used with that of other large breeds to help bring back the Saint Bernard after that noble dog鈥檚 numbers had been so greatly depleted by avalanches and distemper at the hospice in Switzerland.
They Were Used to Haul Artillery in WWII
Standing guard isn鈥檛 the only job that this breed has had. During World War II, the Great Pyrenees was used to bring over the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France.
They鈥檙e Independent-Minded
The breed was bred to work as guard dogs, protecting and watching their flocks. As a result, they鈥檙e independent thinkers. While obedience training may not excite a Great Pyrenees, early socialization and puppy training classes can help them become a well-adjusted, well-mannered companion.