Great Pyrenees
		by Lori Huber

	Far out in the pasture the sheep flock or goat herd browse lazily.  Careful inspection reveals that two of the white shapes in the middle of the herd aren’t quite the same as the rest.  A hawk flies over and suddenly the two large white shapes jump up and run to the fence line, barking and warning off any possible predator and danger to their herd.  They are the herd’s livestock guardian dogs; two Great Pyrenees and are just doing their job.  

	The Great Pyrenees is a very special breed of dog.  Often known as “The Gentle Giant” and named for the European mountain range, these dogs are believed to have arrived in the Pyrenees Mountains in about 3000 BC, originating from the white mountain flock guard dogs of Asia Minor eleven thousand years ago.  Also known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, the breed developed a special relationship with the shepherd, his family, and flock.  Beginning principally as a shepherd’s dog, the breed soon became one of nobility.  In the early 1400’s there are French literary references of the usefulness of the “Great Dogs of the Mountains” as guardians of the Chateau of Lourdes.  In the 1600’s they became adopted as the Royal Dog of France and were highly sought after by nobility.  Despite their royal adoption, the dog’s main reputation came from their loyalty and devotion to their mountain flocks, shepherds, and shepherd’s families.  In 1931 the breed was brought to North America with the founding of the Basquaerie Kennels at Needham, Massachusetts and in 1933 the breed was officially recognized and licensed by the American Kennel Club.
	
	Today the Great Pyrenees is found as a working dog as well as a companion and family dog.  Many function as livestock guardian dogs on farms and ranches and others are trusted and beloved family members in homes.  They are very social dogs and get along extremely well with other animals that belong to the shepherd, farmer, or family.  They have a special ability to identify and distinguish predators or unwelcome intruders and are nurturing of small, young, or sick animals.  They are large, regal looking dogs, mature males weighing in the range of 130-150 lbs and females 100-120 lbs.  They are thickly coated with three layers of long, soft predominantly white hair, though often with badger masks in beige, gray or black, color on their ears, or even a few spots.  Males typically have a mane like coat that is thicker around the neck and chest.  They are healthy, hearty dogs typically with a life span of twelve or more years; considerably longer than most large breeds.  Purebred Great Pyrenees also have the trademark of double dew claws on their back feet and sometimes on their front, thought to be to create a snow shoe effect  for better traversing the snowy mountains of their birth home.

	Training a Great Pyrenees to be a livestock guardian dog is an uncomplicated task.  The breed’s inherent traits of loyalty and protection and ability to bond with virtually anything make them the ideal guardian.   The dog will consider whatever it is raised with to be its family and will protect it with its life.  Its protective instincts make its guardian behavior instinctive as well.  A Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dog will, for example, routinely inspect the pasture each morning before the herd goes out to graze by doing a fence patrol around the full perimeter of the field.  When he returns to the barn the goats or sheep will then file out to the pasture, the LGD following close behind, staying with them until they return to the barn at night.  The Great Pyrenees, although a fearsome fighter and capable of protecting against most predators, is a gentle natured dog and will use warning techniques to keep predators at bay, resorting to killing only as a last resort when necessary.  They work best in pairs as packs of coyotes, the most common goat and sheep predator, have been known to split up and while some occupy the LGD the rest attack the herd.   
	
	Despite the Great Pyrenees’ roots and excellence as a guardian of livestock, the breed is very adaptable and as many have been adopted as family companions and pets.  Often Great Pyrenees puppies are raised and bonded with children, becoming their companion and guardian.  Their loyalty and gentle disposition make them ideal family pets, often out-weighing the consideration of their large size and heavy coat of hair.

	As small goat farm and Great Pyrenees LGD owners and breeders we have had a lot of contact and experience with this wonderful breed.  Our primary LGD’s are Dixie, a seven year old female and Beau, a six year old male.  This pair has produced three litters of purebred puppies from which ten have gone on to become livestock guardian dogs on other farms and nine have gone to homes to become family guardians and pets.  

	We acquired Dixie as a puppy when she was just eleven weeks old and raised her in a pen with two young goat kids.  By six months of age she was patrolling the fence line and warning off any circulating predators.  When our goat herd grew and Dixie was about two years old we decided to get her a companion and acquired Beau who was from another goat farm and already grown and guarding.  Their dispositions are completely opposite.  Dixie is an Alpha personality and the “boss”.  Although much larger than her, Beau is very easy going and defers to her with no contest.  Both are very friendly, congenial dogs who love attention and human company as well as their goat family’s.  As is typical in the Great Pyrenees, despite their ages, Beau and Dixie continue to be very playful.  It’s amazing to watch them frolicking and chasing each other around like hundred and twenty plus pound puppies!   Beau likes to roll on his back and have his belly scratched.  Dixie enjoys carrying five gallon water buckets around the pasture.  They seem to have internal clocks and know when it’s five o’clock and feeding time; sitting at the gate every day without fail within a five minute range, “smiling” and waiting for us to come up to the barn to feed them and give them some attention.   For all of their playfulness and friendliness, they take their guarding responsibilities seriously and the slightest threat puts them into action, despite what else may be going on.  Once the threat is gone they come back to whatever they were doing as though nothing had taken them away.  
	
	Since having the LGD’s we haven’t lost a single goat to predation.  There are at least two coyote packs in our area.  On warm summer nights we hear them howling and have also heard pups yipping.  Beau and Dixie have admirably protected the herd not only from the coyotes but also from the neighbor’s Pit Bull who got into the pasture and chased after some goat kids.  
	Whether as a livestock guardian, a family guardian, or just a couch potato family pet, the Great Pyrenees is a breed beyond compare.  We couldn’t recommend them higher and hope everyone gets a chance to experience this wonderful dog.