Great Pyrenees - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Ancient History

It is believed, that the Great Pyrenees arrived to the area of Pyrenees mountains around the year 3000 BC. The fossils of Great Pyrenees were discovered in this area and they are dated to between 1800 B.C. and 1000 B.C

2) Guards

The original purpose of great pyrenees was to be the best livestock guardion for the farmers in the Pyrenees mountains. And they were excellent at this job, they were protecting the flock from all kinds of predators, including wolves and bears.

3) Night Animals

Not only they were bred to guard the livestock, they were bred to guard it at night, when the shepherds were sleeping and the danger from predators was biggest. That is why they are very active at night. Dont be surprised, when your Great Pyrenees will be barking at night, it is natural for him and it will discourage all the possible burglars.

4) Barking

Well i mentioned barking in the previous point, but it is important to mention it again. Great Pyrenees is a big barker and it is their natural instinct to bark. It is almost impossible to teach them not to do it. So if you are living in a area with lot of neighbors, who dont like dogs, Great pyrenees might not be the best choice.t

5) War dog

The guarding was not the only important job in the history of this breed. They were used in the second world war. the Great Pyrenees was used to bring supplies of artillery over the Pyrenees Mountains in between Spain and France.

6) Size

The great pyrenees is very large and muscular dog. Male Great Pyrenees average between 27 and 32 inches in height which is 68 – 81 cm; weights start at 100 pounds (45 kilograms). Females range in height from 25 to 29 inches which is 63 to 73 cm, with weights starting at 85 pounds (38 kilograms).

7) Family companion

Great Pyrenees is a good fit for family which is living in a house with a yard. They are calm and well mannered, friendly, devoted and gentle. They are also good for families with older kids, who already know how to behave around dogs.

8) Royalty

It might sounds weird, that a typical guard and protector became a royalty in France, but that is what happened during the Renaissance years. The Great Pyrenees gained enormous popularity among the French nobility. In 1675, King Louis declared the Great Pyrenees the Royal Dog of France.

9) Queen Victoria

But not only they were popular by French royalty. Queen Victoria was a big dog lover and she owned a lot of different breeds. One of them was a Great pyrenees.

10) Independent personality

The Great Pyrenees was bred to be left alone with the livestock, that is why they had to know how to také care about themselves independently. But because of that, the training might be a little bit challanging. But on the other hand, this is a smart dog and with a lot of patience, you can teach them a lot of tricks.