Magnificent
Sheepdogs
The Great Pyrenees
is a unique and very ancient breed of dog. Nobody knows exactly how ancient.
They were bred by sheep herders in the Pyrenees mountains for the purpose
of protecting their sheep. Drawings found in that area that date probably
from the second century, resemble the breed. Their presence is documented
from Roman times when they were used as guard dogs for castles of the rich.
Asia was my first Pyr - in fact, my first dog. She was a mix.
Her daddy was a beautiful Pyr, her mother was a Pyr/ Anatolian mix.
She was my friend and companion during the three worst years of my life.
Unfortunately she developed cancer at age seven and had to be put down.
I was devastated. I guess I was hard to live with, so my wife and
a work associate looked for a puppy. They found one with Lary and
Nancy Carr - breeders near Graham, WA.
Some theorize that their antecedents were Tibetan
Mastiffs because of their similar appearance. My personal theory
(and it’s only a theory) is that primitive sheep herders in a primitive
time and place were severely troubled by wolves killing their animals that
were not only their food but clothing source, captured some wolf pups to
get some wolves of their own. The only fact in support of this idea is
that they have a natural immunity to dog diseases such as distemper. An
immunity one would expect from a wild animal. As time went on, they
were also probably crossed with other dog breeds. Legend says St Bernards
were crossed with Pyrs to get that immunity.
Patou
was my buddy for nearly ten years. A great dog and I still miss him.
Many centuries
(generations) of breeding produced a dog that is highly intelligent, big
and powerful but gentle and loving. Sheep herders leave those dogs out
with the sheep. They sleep with the sheep, herding them only to the extent
of periodically running a circuit around them to move them into a tighter
group and barking to scare away the predators. The Pyrenees herders
had another dog called le petit berger, or “little shepherd”
who herded the sheep much as the collies do.
Patou
II
They generally
are very gentle with small dogs and other domestic animals, but have an
instinctive hatred for predators - wolves, cougars, coyotes and even racoons.
Since they are intelligent and heavily instinct driven. they are not easy
to train to do tricks. But, they can be relied on to be always loyal and
careful. If they do “tricks” they are ones the dogs themselves have
invented. When we went to a breeder(Larry and Nancy Carr) to get
one, we found the “daddy dog” could open the door using just his paw
on the door knob. These dogs do not like confinement. They
are country dogs. Patou usually sleeps in front of our house.
Sometimes he will come in the house and sleep - but usually he prefers
outside. Often times, he sleeps on the lawn - even in freezing weather.
His double coat protects him. When I come out, he runs a circle around
the yard, barking to warn the predators to stay away. First thing
in the AM, we go to the mailbox to get the newspaper and mail (about a
mile round trip). He runs on ahead and checks out all the driveways
and animal trails to be sure nothing lurks there to bother me. We
meet people on the way, some walking their dogs. He greats all as
friends - both two-legged and four-legged. He considers a stranger as just
a friend he hasn't met yet.
See: WOLVES,
SHEEP, and SHEEPDOGS