Pyrenean Sheepdog

This is one of Frances oldest breeds as the Pyrenean Sheepdog or Berger des Pyrenees dates back to the 19th Century. Used for herding and moving large flocks of sheep around the mountainous French Pyrenees, they came to the attention of rest of the world during the First World War, when they were used as nimble and swift messenger dogs by the French army.
They can still be found working as a sheepdog in rural France today, though more often they have found a home as companion dogs. The first breed standard was published in 1926 in France but the breed is still relatively new to the UK with the breed club not being formed until 1992. The breed still remains numerically small in the UK.

Pyrenean Sheepdogs will appeal to those who like a pastoral breed but want something with a bit more fire and independence. These dogs are incredibly trainable, however that doesn’t necessarily mean easy to train! You’ll need to be highly experienced in positive reinforcement training methods (and in some cases, canine confidence-building), lead an active lifestyle that has plenty of time and room in it for exercise and education. In the right home this is a super, rewarding dog in an economical size. Rural and semi rural homes will suit best, with families who have older children or are child-free.

Two hours per day of physical dog exercise, ideally with plenty of free running, the Pyrenean Sheepdog really benefits from having a job. There are a number of canine sports that will help fulfil that need, including agility, Treiball, flyball and even heelwork to music. This is not a breed for the fair-weather walker or couch-potato owner as ;an under-exercised Pyrenean Sheepdog is liable to be very vocal, destructive and difficult to live with.

Economical to house and feed, the Pyrenean is not demanding on indoor space but will require a large and secure garden. Best suited to countryside living, with access to a variety of secure spaces to play, free run and train, this is a breed who will find inner city or busy town living over-stimulating and stressful.

The Pyrenean Shepherd needs to have a balanced dog diet including all the main nutrient groups and a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food.

Brush through every other day at least, checking paw pads, ears and beard for debris. The Pyrenean will shed, but rather than individual hairs shed constantly, they tend to kick out clumps of hair when they rub or scratch. Regular dog grooming will keep this to a minimum.

Clever and quick, the Pyrenean is an extremely trainable dog and can achieve high levels of performance in a variety of competitive activities, however you’ll need to enjoy training as a hobby, and have plenty of time to dedicate to it. Positive reinforcement and clever motivation using treats, toys and the opportunity to work will see good results. As with all dogs, heavy handed or dominance-based methods will not work and will likely produce a dog who distrusts the handler.

For families familiar with hard working pastoral breeds, the Pyrenean may make a good pet, however they are not suited for homes busy with small children. For older children or teenagers with a special interest in training this may make a fun companion to work with. Despite their modest size, they are not at all suited for first time owners, or those without a great deal of time to dedicate to training and exercise.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.