Ideal Male

Ideal Female

General Appearance

THE GREAT PYRENEES DOG CONVEYS THE DISTINCT IMPRESSION OF ELEGANCE AND UNSURPASSED BEAUTY COMBINED WITH GREAT OVERALL SIZE AND MAJESTY. HE HAS A WHITE OR PRINCIPALLY WHITE COAT THAT MAY CONTAIN MARKINGS OF BADGER, GRAY, OR VARYING SHADES OF TAN. HE POSSESSES A KEEN INTELLIGENCE AND A KINDLY, WHILE REGAL, EXPRESSION. EXHIBITING A UNIQUE ELEGANCE OF BEARING AND MOVEMENT, HIS SOUNDNESS AND COORDINATION SHOW UNMISTAKABLY THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH HE HAS BEEN BRED, THE STRENUOUS WORK OF GUARDING THE FLOCKS IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER ON THE STEEP MOUNTAIN SLOPES OF THE PYRENEES.

When standing back, viewing the Great Pyrenees in profile, the overall impression should be of a large, elegant, long haired, primarily white dog. It is slightly longer than tall, solidly built, and well balanced. In addition to the overall beauty and elegance of the dog, there should be absolutely no question that this is a working dog: physically, mentally and temperamentally capable of its centuries old task of guarding the flocks from predators in all kinds of mountainous terrain and in all kinds of weather.

When approaching more closely, what becomes apparent is the regal beauty of the head. Its beauty comes from the soft, smooth transitions, the absence of an apparent stop, the balanced proportions of front and rear skull, and from the unique quiet confidence reflected in the Pyrenean eye.

The elegance of this breed is important and can be seen when the dog is static, as well as when it is in motion. This is neither a slight, shelly breed nor a heavy, cumbersome one, for neither extreme could protect the flocks. The correct Great Pyrenees is an agile, effortlessly moving dog of moderation and balance. It possesses sufficient substance, coat and size to combat a wolf or bear, but neither too little nor too much to prevent its successful accomplishment of that task.
There is only one type of Great Pyrenees -- there should be no difference between show dogs and working livestock guardian dogs.