Great Pyrenees, also known as Pyrenean Mountain Dogs, are strong and well-proportioned, with beautiful appearance and elegant and majestic temperament. They have been working for humans for about four millennia.
Confident, kind-hearted, and tolerant. They have a calm and gentle nature. They are very strong-willed, independent, and reserved. They have a strong sense of responsibility and care for the people or animals they are responsible for. When necessary, they will protect their territory, flock, or family. They generally exhibit a calm and composed demeanor, with great patience, loyalty, and courage, and possess the ability of a guardian dog.
The Great Pyrenees is originally from France, dating back to 2000 BC, with its early history tracing back to the Roman period when it was brought to Spain by the Romans. Its original roles were as a sled dog, guard dog, herding dog, and hunting dog, serving humans for various purposes.
In the UK and mainland Europe, the Great Pyrenees is commonly referred to as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, working alongside shepherds in the Pyrenees Mountains. Fossils of the Great Pyrenees have been found dating back to the Bronze Age, suggesting that it appeared in Europe between 1800-1000 BC. Some believe the Great Pyrenees originated from Central Asia or Siberia and later migrated to Europe with the Aryan people. Another widely accepted theory is that the Great Pyrenees is descended from the Molossus, an ancient breed of mastiff-like dogs. The Molossus has been found in the oldest layers of the Baltic and North Sea coasts, along with evidence of domestication. The Molossus also appeared in Babylonian art around 3000 BC and shares many physical and visual characteristics with the Great Pyrenees.
In Europe, the Great Pyrenees have always lived in the high mountains until the Middle Ages. A relief sculpture of the Great Pyrenees was found in Carcassonne, depicting the dog as a guard dog of the French royalty, predating its role as a palace dog by 500 years. As early as 1407, historian Bourdet described feudal lords keeping Great Pyrenees as guard dogs, watching over castles together with guards and also serving in prisons. In 1675, the French Crown Prince, accompanied by Lord de Mautain, visited Balaruc. During the visit, the Crown Prince developed a fondness for the Pyrenean Shepherd Dog and brought it back to the Louvre. The Marquis de Lafayette, also known as Lafayette, also admired this breed of dog, which gradually became a pet for the nobility. Every noble wanted to own such a dog, and as a result, the fame of the Great Pyrenees skyrocketed and became widely known.
For fishermen in Newfoundland and the Bay of Biscay, no dog is better suited as their protector and companion than the Great Pyrenees. They enjoy pulling carts and are skilled at moving on soft snow, making them ideal for sled pulling and guiding sled teams. As early as 1662, when the fishermen settled in Newfoundland, the Great Pyrenees became their good friends. Here, the Great Pyrenees was crossbred with black English hunting dogs brought by British settlers, creating the ancestor of the Newfoundland dog.
With the decline in the number of Great Pyrenees in the Pyrenees Mountains, the breed was on the brink of extinction. In addition, dog breeders on the European continent were actively searching for this breed, leading to a large number of Great Pyrenees being exported from France. Finally, thanks to the efforts of some athletes and the demand for Great Pyrenees on winter farms, the decline in the number of this breed was halted. Today, the breed is thriving again in its natural habitat.
It wasn't until 1933 that the Great Pyrenees was recognized by the American Kennel Club, gaining more recognition worldwide. The first pair of Great Pyrenees brought to the United States were given to Skene by Lafayette in 1824. In his book "Dogs and Athletes," Toffolet wrote that at that time Skene said the role of the Great Pyrenees was indispensable for areas where wolves and sheep-killing strays were common, as well as for farmers who needed to produce wool. Since then, several Great Pyrenees have been imported to the United States, and in 1933, the breed was officially introduced to the country. Today, the Great Pyrenees consistently ranks among the top breeds registered with the American Kennel Club each year.
Great Pyrenees are confident, gentle, and friendly in their natural habitat. When necessary, they will protect their territory, sheep, or family, but their large size and need for exercise make them unsuitable for keeping in urban apartments. It is best for owners to have a large living space, such as a yard of their own.
1. Heart Disease
Canine heart disease is often associated with obesity and old age. When dogs have heart disease, the main symptoms are fatigue and shortness of breath. It can be difficult to detect heart disease in dogs, and by the time owners notice, the disease is usually severe.
2. Infectious Diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common and highly contagious diseases in dogs with high mortality rates. Dogs that have not received timely vaccinations are highly susceptible to these two infectious diseases. Once they are infected, they may show symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, elevated body temperature, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney Disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease cannot be ignored. The terrifying aspect of canine kidney disease lies in its silent progression. By the time owners discover it, more than 75% of the dog's kidney cells may be damaged. When dogs have problems, typical symptoms include blood in urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Gastrointestinal worms such as roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms are common parasites found in dogs. When dogs are infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms are weight loss, lethargy, diarrhea, presence of worms in feces, and pale gums. Heartworms are parasites that live in the dog's heart, and infected dogs may exhibit symptoms such as low vitality, coughing, anemia, asthma, and abdominal fluid.
5. Canine Pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but it is often a complication of other diseases. It commonly occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory system, bacterial infections, canine distemper infection, viral flu, impaired lung function, and heartworm infection. Coughing, nasal congestion, and elevated body temperature are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
The caloric needs of a Great Pyrenees puppy during the growth and development period are twice that of an adult dog. It is said that dogs can live for about 12-16 years, which is much shorter compared to humans. It can be said that the period from 1 year to 1.5 years after a Great Pyrenees is born is very important for their growth. In order to ensure that the puppy grows up healthy and strong, special attention should be paid to its diet during the development process.
Great Pyrenees dogs have small appetites and are not picky eaters. Adult Great Pyrenees dogs only need to be fed once a day. You can use cornmeal and bran, add a small amount of fish powder, bone powder, salt, calcium hydrogen phosphate, and some animal broth. Cook it in a pot to make a thin porridge, or make it into buns first, steam them in a steamer until cooked. Pay attention to cleanliness and hygiene in daily life, after each steaming of the buns, clean the steamer; the kennel should also be cleaned and flushed regularly.
Although both long-haired and short-haired Great Pyrenees require grooming, there are still differences. Long-haired Great Pyrenees generally need to be combed at least once a week, while short-haired ones can be done every ten days or so. It is best to use a metal comb for grooming the Great Pyrenees, and there are dedicated combs for sale at pet stores. When grooming your dog, be careful and preferably use the other hand to press down on the roots of the hair and slowly comb it, so that the dog will not feel pain and develop aversion to grooming.
1. Cannot bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, of course, it should not be done too frequently. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on its hygiene condition. In hot weather, it can be bathed one or two more times, while in winter, it can be reduced one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed 5 times, otherwise it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Brush regularly
Dogs shed their fur almost every day, especially during spring and autumn seasons. To ensure good hair growth, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use special brushes for pets to help the dog clean its naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Get some sunlight
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. In addition to making the fur more shiny, letting the dog bask in the sun can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, the pet owner can let the dog exercise a bit, which can help improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites will absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving it of nutrition. Therefore, deworming is necessary. It is recommended to do both internal and external deworming. Deworming medicine can cause great harm to the dog's stomach, so it is recommended to feed probiotics regularly to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order to have beautiful fur, dogs must have a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to their daily diet. On the one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that is suitable for the dog and provides sufficient nutrition to meet its needs. On the other hand, you can also feed the dog with a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil.
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