Size, Proportion and Substance

Correct Overall Proportions and Angulation

SIZE: THE HEIGHT AT THE WITHERS RANGES FROM 27 INCHES TO 32 INCHES FOR DOGS AND FROM 25 INCHES TO 29 INCHES FOR BITCHES. A 27 INCH DOG WEIGHS ABOUT 100 POUNDS AND A 25 INCH BITCH WEIGHS ABOUT 85 POUNDS. WEIGHT IS IN PROPORTION TO THE OVERALL SIZE AND STRUCTURE.

PROPORTION: THE GREAT PYRENEES IS A BALANCED DOG WITH THE HEIGHT MEASURED AT THE WITHERS BEING SOMEWHAT LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF THE BODY MEASURED FROM THE POINT OF THE SHOULDER TO THE REARMOST PROJECTION OF THE UPPER THIGH (BUTTOCKS). THESE PROPORTIONS CREATE A SOMEWHAT RECTANGULAR DOG, SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN IT IS TALL. FRONT AND REAR ANGULATION ARE BALANCED.

SUBSTANCE: THE GREAT PYRENEES IS A DOG OF MEDIUM SUBSTANCE WHOSE COAT DECEIVES THOSE WHO DO NOT FEEL THE BONE AND MUSCLE. COMMENSURATE WITH HIS SIZE AND IMPRESSION OF ELEGANCE THERE IS SUFFICIENT BONE AND MUSCLE TO PROVIDE A BALANCE WITH THE FRAME.

FAULTS:

SIZE: DOGS AND BITCHES UNDER MINIMUM SIZE OR OVER MAXIMUM SIZE.

SUBSTANCE: DOGS TOO HEAVILY BONED OR TOO LIGHTLY BONED TO BE IN BALANCE WITH THEIR FRAME.

Size - The Great Pyrenees appears to be more massive than he really is. Therefore, if you are going to make an accurate assessment of size and substance, it is essential that you use your hands to get underneath the coat. The Great Pyrenees is a large dog. Males should be at least 27 inches tall at the withers and females should be over 25 inches.

While large size is always desirable, it should not be achieved at the expense of soundness or correct type.

As with the size, the coat misleads the casual observer in terms of actual weight. While the Standard does not specify a range for weight, it is very clear that weight must be in proportion to overall size. Again, the Great Pyrenees is not a heavy lumbering dog nor is it light and racy.

Proportion - Size and weight are important, but only if the total dog is in balance and presents an image of elegance and moderation.

In general, the Great Pyrenees appears to be slightly longer than he is tall. The distance from the withers to the elbow is approximately equal to the distance from the elbow to the ground.

Substance - The Standard calls for medium substance. According to Spira, substance is defined as being "used in reference to bone, particularly leg bone." Maintaining balance with the frame, Great Pyrenees bone is of medium substance as opposed to a Newfoundland which is "well boned" and the "heavy-boned" Mastiff.

The overall statement that this section of the Standard is making is that the correct Great Pyrenees is a dog which must be in balance -- height, weight and bone.

Incorrect Substance - Too heavily boned. Overall substance is excessive and
out of balance with the frame. The dog is too massive and lacks elegance.

Incorrect Substance - Too lightly boned. Substance is too light for the frame,
giving the dog a weedy or fragile appearance.