Posts tagged "pyrenean shepherd"

Name: Pyrenean Shepherd

Personality: En francais, the Pyrenean shepherd is known as Berger des Pyrenees, but don't think this dog snobbish in the stereotypical French way. "Never will you find such a loyal, devoted companion as you will in a Pyrenean shepherd," declares the Pyrenean Shepherd Club of America. Hallmarks of the breed, which remains relatively unknown stateside, include "a cheerful disposition and quicksilver intelligence," says DogTime.

Grooming: Never mind the shaggy-dog exterior; available in "smooth-faced" or "rough-faced," the coat of a Pyrenean shepherd "is easy to maintain and stays very clean," according to the PSCA. "A quick brushing once every couple of weeks will keep his coat in tip-top shape." The club stresses that the breed's dewclaws (the appendage-like claws on the backs of the legs) must be kept trimmed to prevent any injuries.

Common Health Issues: This is "one of the healthiest breeds," according to the PSCA. The problems they might incur over the course of their lives -- the usual, garden-variety complaints like hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, epilepsy, luxated patella -- are "not common, nor life threatening."

Training Tips: For a well adjusted dog, be sure your Pyrenean shepherd receives "plenty of socialization, beginning in early puppyhood, to ensure that his lively personality develops to its fullest potential," advises DogTime. Dog Breed Info Center warns, "Even with proper socialization, Pyres can still go through a long teen phase where they are very cautious of people before they mature and settle down at around two years of age. Anyone wanting a Pyre needs to have the time and patience to possibly dedicate months to training and developing a well adjusted dog."

The Westminster Kennel Club 134th Annual Dog Show (Feb. 15–16) is like Oscar night for dogs... so let's meet the stars! Paw Nation spoke with some of the Westminster show dog's owners to give you a sneak peek at the adorable contestants you'll see prancing around the ring on the big day.


Dog Breed: Pyrenean Shepherd (one of three new breeds competing this year)

Group: Herding

Dog's Full Registered Name: Ch. La Brise Coco Chanel

Nickname: Coco

Dog's Age: 4

Owners' Names: Valerie Davis and Ann Shepard

Hometown: South Glastonbury, Conn.

Tell us about Coco's personality.
She is very outgoing and friendly, which is not a typical of most Pyrenean shepherds.

What is her weirdest quirk?
What is funny is how she acts at the shows. Coco seems to have the attitude that the shows are purely for folks to see her. She isn't the best conformation dog, but she has a tremendous presence that seems to win over the judges.

What makes Coco special?
Coco is very intuitive with people. My other Pyrenean shepherd had a litter of puppies and when two gals came to see the pups, one was in a wheelchair with stage-four cancer. Coco had never seen anyone in a wheelchair but when I let her out of her crate she went right to the gal with cancer. She then lay her head on the woman's lap and seemed to know that the woman needed some comfort. Coco never left her side the entire visit and totally ignored the rest of us. She seemed to know she had a mission, and would probably make a super therapy dog. In my eyes, she is just a great little dog and a tremendous ambassador of the breed!

Just like there's a sport or two added to the Olympic games every four years, dog shows add a few new breeds to their show rosters. This year, the National Dog Show (airing on NBC Thanksgiving Day) is debuting three new adorable breeds: the Pyrenean Shepherd, the Irish Red and White Setter, and the Norwegian Buhund.

"There have been times when we've gone three of four years without adding a new breed, and then maybe just one breed and then no more for a while, so three is a lot," says longtime National Dog Show announcer Wayne Ferguson.

If a breed is new to the National Dog Show, that means it's also newly recognized by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia (which runs the show) and the American Kennel Club, the granddaddy of all dog registries. But it doesn't mean the breed hasn't been around long. The Irish Red and White Setter, for example, is one of many breeds that was first introduced to America after World War II.

"The AKC is constantly being approached about miscellaneous breeds," says Ferguson. "They only accept 168 of them, but there are a couple hundred more out there that are recognized in many countries." Other American kennel clubs, like the United Kennel Club, recognizes many breeds that the AKC doesn't.

The process of gaining recognition for a particular breed can be lengthy and takes a lot of lobbying on the part of breeders and dog-show enthusiasts. "Various people will plead their case over and over, and the AKC will compile a file and then say, 'You know, we're getting a lot of Buhund people talking to us; we got 80 emails last month asking when we're going to bring them in.' Then they'll see what good examples there are out there of the breed." When the AKC feels that an exemplary standard of the breed has been achieved, chances are it's show time.

So what do you need to know about this year's debuting breeds? Read on.