Correct Head - Male Correct Head - Female
CORRECT HEAD AND EXPRESSION ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE BREED. THE HEAD IS NOT HEAVY IN PROPORTION TO THE SIZE OF THE DOG. IT IS WEDGE SHAPED WITH A SLIGHTLY ROUNDED CROWN.
EXPRESSION: THE EXPRESSION IS ELEGANT, INTELLIGENT AND CONTEMPLATIVE.
EYES: MEDIUM SIZED, ALMOND SHAPED, SET SLIGHTLY OBLIQUELY, RICH DARK BROWN. EYELIDS ARE CLOSE FITTING WITH BLACK RIMS.
EARS: SMALL TO MEDIUM IN SIZE, V-SHAPED WITH ROUNDED TIPS, SET ON AT EYE LEVEL, NORMALLY CARRIED LOW, FLAT, AND CLOSE TO THE HEAD. THERE IS A CHARACTERISTIC MEETING OF THE HAIR OF THE UPPER AND LOWER FACE WHICH FORMS A LINE FROM THE OUTER CORNER OF THE EYE TO THE BASE OF THE EAR.
SKULL AND MUZZLE: THE MUZZLE IS APPROXIMATELY EQUAL IN LENGTH TO THE BACK SKULL. THE WIDTH AND LENGTH OF THE SKULL ARE APPROXIMATELY EQUAL. THE MUZZLE BLENDS SMOOTHLY WITH THE SKULL. THE CHEEKS ARE FLAT. THERE IS SUFFICIENT FILL UNDER THE EYES. A SLIGHT FURROW EXISTS BETWEEN THE EYES. THERE IS NO APPARENT STOP. THE BONY EYEBROW RIDGES ARE ONLY SLIGHTLY DEVELOPED. LIPS ARE TIGHT FITTING WITH THE UPPER LIP JUST COVERING THE LOWER LIP. THERE IS A STRONG LOWER JAW. THE NOSE AND LIPS ARE BLACK.
TEETH: A SCISSOR BITE IS PREFERRED, BUT A LEVEL BITE IS ACCEPTABLE. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE DROPPED (RECEDING) LOWER CENTRAL INCISOR TEETH.
FAULTS:
TOO HEAVY HEAD (ST. BERNARD OR NEWFOUNDLAND-LIKE)
TOO NARROW OR SMALL SKULL
FOXY APPEARANCE
PRESENCE OF AN APPARENT STOP
MISSING PIGMENTATION ON NOSE, EYE RIMS, OR LIPS
EYELIDS ROUND, TRIANGULAR, LOOSE, OR SMALL
OVERSHOT, UNDERSHOT, WRY MOUTH
The head is the key to true Pyrenean expression and it is essential to correct breed type. It is an elegant, molded wedge with smooth, soft transitions; not sharp, abrupt, chiseled angles.
Correct Eye and Expression
Expression - "Correct Pyrenean eye" gives the dog its unique expression. It is a far-away, almost dreamy look that says, "I have everything under control" -- a very intelligent, regal, relaxed look.
| Incorrect Eye - Too loose, showing haw. Eyelids must be close fitting. | Incorrect Eye - Triangular shape instead of correct almond shape. |
Eyes- eyes are medium sized, almond in shape, set at a slightly downward (oblique) angle. The dark brown color of the eye contributes significantly to creating true Pyrenees expression.
Ears - Of small to medium size and carried low, flat and close to the head, they almost disappear by blending into the fur of the neck and ruff.
The beauty and correct expression of the Great Pyrenees head and eye can only be seen when the dog is relaxed with its ears low in their natural position. Therefore, judges are discouraged from whistling at the Great Pyrenees or shaking keys to "make it alert," as you might with one of the Terrier breeds.
| Correct Skull - Smooth wedge shape with sufficient fill under the eyes. | Correct Skull - Muzzle approximately equal to length of back skull. |
Skull and Muzzle - As viewed from above, the skull is wedge-shaped. The length of the muzzle should be approximately equal to the length (stop to occiput) and breadth (between the ears) of the backskull. Too short a muzzle tends to give a common appearance and spoils the elegance. A long muzzle, without adequate backskull width and depth, is equally incorrect as it makes the head look narrow and snipey.
Probably the single phrase in the Standard which causes the most question among newcomers to the breed is, "there is no apparent stop;" yet this key description of the correct skull remains unchanged since the original U.S. Standard of 1933. When viewed in profile, the basic plane of the topskull should not be parallel with the plane of the muzzle. Instead, the muzzle slopes up slightly from tip of the nose to the point at which it joins the top of the backskull. There is, therefore, a point between the eyes where the two planes come together with a minor but not overly apparent change of slope (stop). The change is gradual, soft and smooth. There should be no abrupt, sharp angle caused by the two planes not meeting evenly. The key to understanding this phrase is the word "apparent." While there is a point of joining, it is so subtle as not to be apparent.
Correct Skull - Proper amount of stop; it is there, but subtle and not apparent.
| Incorrect Skull - Too much crown. | Incorrect Skull - Too much stop and not enough length of muzzle; detracts from the beauty and elegant expression. |
In addition to actual stop, the perception of an apparent stop can be caused by two other incorrect head features: (l) too much rear skull above the level of the eye. A Great Pyrenees' head should have a slightly rounded crown; too much rounding and/or too much crown forming a dome gives the impression of a heavy head with an excess of stop; and (2) the over development of the supraorbital ridges or bony protuberances over the eyes. While different from the stop, such eyebrow ridges are equally incorrect and spoil the beauty of correct Pyrenean expression.
Correct Lip - Covers lower lip, but not lower jaw.
| Incorrect Lip - Too long, hangs down over lower jaw. | Incorrect Lip - Pendulous, too long and loose. |
The lips of the Great Pyrenees must be tight. The upper lip does not overlap the lower jaw, but fits snugly just over the lower lip. Pigmentation is important! Lips, nose and eye rims must be unbroken black. It is also desirable for the Great Pyrenees to have a black palate, pads and some black toenails. However, it is not necessary for judges to check for black palate or black toenails while judging in the ring.
COMPARATIVE PROFILES
Top-Left to Right: Great Pyrenees, Kuvasz,
Newfoundland, St. Bernard
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