Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog

These dogs take their name from the mountain range in southwestern Europe where they have long been used as guardians of the flocks. In the United States they are called Great Pyrenees. In the United Kingdom and on the continent of Europe, they are known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog. In their native France, they are Le Chien de Montagne des Pyrenees or Le Chien des Pyrenees. These dogs are sometimes also referred to as 'pastou' (pronounced patou), meaning shepherd in old French. Whatever the name, it is the beautiful white dog with a "certain elegance" which for centuries has been the working associate of peasant shepherds high on the mountain slopes; the dog "discovered" by French nobility in the seventeenth century and elevated to the status of court dog of France. As a race the Pyrenean dog dates back far into antiquity, where its fossil remains are found in deposits of the Bronze Age, 1800–1000 B.C.

In 1675, they were adopted as the Royal Dog of France by the Dauphin, Louis XIV, and subsequently became much sought after by nobility. Having a precocious sense of smell and exceptionally keen eyesight, each dog was counted equal to two men, be it as guard of the chateau, as invaluable companion of shepherds or as useful pack and message carrying animal across the mountains. As a protector of the family, no breed could be more devoted, sensible and wise. Tidy and fastidious by nature and despite their size, they are ideally suited to life as a family pet. Today, Great Pyrenees Mountain Dogs are protective companions, show obedience dogs, livestock guardians and goodwill ambassadors doing therapy work in hospitals and seniors’ homes. All in all, these dogs are intelligent, noble and most of all a great family friend. They are gentle and kind by nature, in particular around kids and even babies.

Pyrenean mountain dogs are truly gentle giants. We have loved this breed for many years and in 2008 finally had the opportunity to get our first Pyrenean puppy. There were no Pyrenean puppies in Latvia so we spent a long time researching many breeders and settled on a breeder in Sweden. We were on a waiting list for a year until the white bundle of joy, Dafi, was able to join our family.

Pyreneans are large, strong and intelligent dogs that are very affectionate. They are fantastic with kids and other animals. They are full of love and affection and will become a big part of your family. It is sometimes unbelievable how many emotions they can express. They are one of the few dogs that will actually smile with their teeth. So if you see a large grin and a wagging tail on a Pyrenean then don't be alarmed — they are happy to see you and are smiling at you.