Re: [pyrnet] Question for the group

[JGentzel@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/6/01 7:38:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
lmweisser@home.com writes:

<< Oh yes, it's a very real cousin breed of the Pyr. >>

Yes, maybe, with some big considerations.  The breed is quite different than 
it was pre W.W.II and Spanish Civil war.  PM is larger, more hair, etc., now. 
 It went into essential extinction and the St. Bernard, Spanish Mastiff, 
other Mastiff breeds and some Pyr was used in its redevelopment.  PM is a 
true Mastiff.  The Pyr is not, being the same phenotype generally as the 
Kuvasz, Tatra Mountain dog, Akbash Dog and a few others.  Unfortunately it 
does resemble some of the poorer specimens of Pyrs seen more generally off  
Continental Europe, much like the St. Bernard does.  Its history and origins 
are likely quite different from the Pyr. the PM  and the Spanish Mastiff 
could have been from the same genestock and might (emphasis on the "might") 
have even have been different varieties at one time.  Other than being two 
large dogs with long white coats and that can guard livestock there is not a 
lot of similarity between the Pyr and the PM.  Unfortunately many of us (me 
included) have made some broad and unfounded assumptions now for years, but a 
close study seems to suggest a quite different picture. 

Joe