The Great Pyrenees is a beautiful and incredible dog that has lived side by side with humans for many years. They are best known for their large size and luxurious white fur, but they also have many other outstanding breed characteristics.
According to the American Kennel Club, the Great Pyrenees’ popularity rose five spots from 2022 to 2023, and it is now ranked 64th.Number The most popular dog breed in America.1 As the Great Pyrenees slowly becomes more well-known and more people learn more about this breed, we would like to share some of the most interesting facts about this adorable dog.
11 Facts About the Great Pyrenees
1. The Great Pyrenees has a fossil record
The Great Pyrenees is an ancient dog breed that has coexisted with humans for thousands of years. The oldest records of the Great Pyrenees show them living in the mountains of Asia Minor, working alongside shepherds to keep and protect livestock flocks. Fossils of Great Pyrenees from the Bronze Age have also been found. The Great Pyrenees is thought to have evolved from a type of white mountain dog that dates back 11,000 years.
2. The Great Pyrenees has several names
The Great Pyrenees is a purebred dog that goes by many different names around the world. Outside of North America, it is often called the Pyrenean Mountain Dog. In French-speaking countries, it is called “Le Grande Chien de Montagne des Pyrenees,” which means “Big Dog of the Mountains.” It is also often shortened to “Pyrs” or “Patou.”
The Great Pyrenees was first brought to America in 1824. It was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1933 and registered as the Great Pyrenees.
3. Great Pyrenees were royal pets
The Great Pyrenees had humble beginnings as a sheepdog and working dog for livestock farmers, but grew in popularity during the French Renaissance and was increasingly sought after by French aristocrats: A 1407 record shows the Great Pyrenees being used to guard the Fort de Lourdes, and in 1675 the dog was designated the Royal Dog of France by the court of Louis XIV.
Great Pyrenees were also pets of the British Royal Family. Queen Victoria of England was known to be a dog lover and is recorded to have had a Great Pyrenees as a pet at least once in her life.
4. The Great Pyrenees came to America with the Marquis de Lafayette
The Great Pyrenees was introduced to America in 1824 when the Marquis de Lafayette brought a pair of dogs, which he gave as a gift to his friend J.S. Skinner, author of “Adventures in the Pyrenees.” Dog and sportsman.
The Great Pyrenees population did not grow significantly in the United States until the 1930s, when a friend introduced Mary Crane, a Boston socialite, to two Great Pyrenees puppies from Europe and she fell in love with the breed. Mary and her husband Francis imported two Great Pyrenees puppies, one of whom fathered the first Pyrenees puppies born in the United States and the first Great Pyrenees to win an AKC championship title.
5. Great Pyrenees puppies grow quickly
Great Pyrenees puppies start out surprisingly small, weighing just 1 to 2 pounds, but they grow quite quickly as puppies, usually reaching their maximum size between 18 to 24 months of age, which means they can grow to between 70 and 140 pounds in just under two years.
6. Great Pyrenees can have colorful patterns.
Great Pyrenees are generally known for their pure white coat, but they can have a variety of colored markings and may also have a white or light-colored undercoat.
According to the AKC standard, Great Pyrenees can have a white base coat with badger, gray, reddish brown, or tan markings. These markings can appear as spots on the ears, head, or body. However, coats with markings that cover more than one-third of the body are not permitted.
7. Great Pyrenees are passionate about raising their young.
Those unfamiliar with the Great Pyrenees are often intimidated by their large size, but they are actually gentle giants with a calm and confident demeanor, and they are patient and protective of the family’s children.
Great Pyrenees are not known to be aggressive dogs and are usually docile, but at the same time, they can be wary of any threats to the family and be vigilant guardians.
8. Great Pyrenees in World War II
The number of Great Pyrenees dogs in Europe declined during World War I. Their numbers remained small afterwards, but they played an important role as artillery dogs during World War II, helping to carry supplies across the Pyrenees to the Allied forces between France and Spain.
Today, Great Pyrenees are primarily kept as companion dogs, guard dogs, and sheepdogs, and although it is less common, Great Pyrenees are sometimes seen in search and rescue missions.
9. The Great Pyrenees helped save the St. Bernard.
In the late 1800s, distemper and avalanches in the Swiss Alps caused a major decline in the St. Bernard population. To help repopulate the St. Bernard population, several large dog breeds were included in breeding programs. The Great Pyrenees was one of the breeds included in these breeding programs, helping to revive the St. Bernard and save it from the brink of extinction.
10. Great Pyrenees love snow
As a dog that hails from mountainous regions, it’s no surprise that the Great Pyrenees loves snow: their thick undercoat keeps them warm in cold or frigid temperatures, and they’re generally light-footed when walking through the snow.
It’s clear that Great Pyrenees love snow, but do they also love water? It seems that Great Pyrenees don’t like water as much as they do snow. Although they can swim, they are not known for being good swimmers.
11. Great Pyrenees bark loudly
Great Pyrenees are not big barkers, but they do bark quite loudly at times, usually only when they sense an intruder or threat on the family property.
Great Pyrenees are not good apartment pets because they are loud dogs. They can feel cramped in a small apartment, and may not get enough exercise in crowded city areas. Great Pyrenees often do well in suburban or rural areas where they have plenty of space to run around.
Conclusion
“The Great Pyrenees is a special and talented breed. Not only are they large in size, but they also have great personalities and have been valuable aids to mankind throughout history. I’m glad to see this breed gaining more recognition and I hope their fanbase continues to grow so they get the love and recognition they deserve.”
Featured image credit: everydoghasastory, Shutterstock
