Correct Neck, Topline and Body
NECK: STRONGLY MUSCLED AND OF MEDIUM LENGTH, WITH MINIMAL DEWLAP.TOPLINE: THE BACKLINE IS LEVEL.
BODY: THE CHEST IS MODERATELY BROAD. THE RIB CAGE IS WELL SPRUNG, OVAL IN SHAPE, AND OF SUFFICIENT DEPTH TO REACH THE ELBOWS. BACK AND LOIN ARE BROAD AND STRONGLY COUPLED WITH SOME TUCK UP. THE CROUP IS GENTLY SLOPING WITH THE TAIL SET ON JUST BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE BACK.
TAIL: THE TAILBONES ARE OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH TO REACH THE HOCK. THE TAIL IS WELL PLUMED, CARRIED LOW IN REPOSE AND MAY BE CARRIED OVER THE BACK, "MAKING THE WHEEL," WHEN AROUSED. WHEN PRESENT, A "SHEPHERD'S CROOK" AT THE END OF THE TAIL ACCENTUATES THE PLUME. WHEN GAITING, THE TAIL MAY BE CARRIED EITHER OVER THE BACK OR LOW. BOTH CARRIAGES ARE EQUALLY CORRECT.
FAULT:
BARREL RIBS
| Incorrect Neck - Too long and out of balance. | Incorrect Neck - Too short and stuffy. | Correct Neck - Strongly muscled and of medium length. |
Neck - The neck of the Great Pyrenees must be strongly muscled and of sufficient length to facilitate movement and combat. The neck should contribute to the Great Pyrenees' proud carriage and elegance.
A stuffy, short-necked dog lacks elegance. Too long a neck compromises proper balance.
Correct Topline and Body - The longer hair on the neck may give the appearance of
a sloping backline, but by using your hands you can accurately identify a level backline.
Topline - When static and in motion, the backline from withers to croup must be level (parallel to the ground). A strong, straight and level backline is essential for drive and control over front and rear movement.
Show ring presentation of the Great Pyrenees stacked with a sloping backline is not correct and should be discouraged.
| Correct Body - Oval-shaped ribcage with moderately broad chest. | Correct Body - Back is broad and ribs are well sprung. | Incorrect Body - Back is too narrow. |
Body - To permit the Pyrenees to work in the mountains, the chest, which extends to the elbow, must be broad enough and deep enough to allow for sufficient heart and lung development. The width of an adult's hand should fit easily between the forelegs. The strength of this breed can be easily seen in the breadth of back and strength of coupling.
Viewed from the front, the elbows are directly under the shoulder joints (point of shoulder). The forechest is sufficiently developed so that there is good fill between the forelegs. From the sideview, the forechest extends well in front of the foreleg. Forechest development should be verified by hand since a full coat or ruff can give the impression of more body than actually exists.
Top: Correct Tail - Carried low in repose.
Bottom Left: Correct Tail Carriage - "Making the wheel" when in motion. The tail wheels over the loins, with only the tip touching the back, providing an open arch through which you can see light.
Bottom Right: Correct Tail Carriage - Carried low when in motion.
Tail - Normally, the tail is carried low in repose. It should hang down so that the last bone of the tail reaches at least to the hock. Near the end of the tail it is not unusual nor is it incorrect to find a kink or "shepherd's crook" in which one or two bones angle away from straight tailbone alignment.
When in motion, the tail may be carried either over the back in an open "wheel" or low -- both are equally correct. No preference should be given to one over the other. Handlers should be discouraged from lifting the tail into a wheel before moving the dog.
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