Correct Forequarters
SHOULDERS: THE SHOULDERS ARE WELL LAID BACK, WELL MUSCLED, AND LIE CLOSE TO THE BODY. THE UPPER ARM MEETS THE SHOULDER BLADE AT APPROXIMATELY A RIGHT ANGLE. THE UPPER ARM ANGLES BACKWARD FROM THE POINT OF THE SHOULDER TO THE ELBOW AND IS NEVER PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND. THE LENGTH OF THE SHOULDER BLADE AND THE UPPER ARM ARE APPROXIMATELY EQUAL. THE HEIGHT FROM THE GROUND TO THE ELBOW APPEARS APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE HEIGHT FROM THE ELBOW TO THE WITHERS.
FORELEGS: THE LEGS ARE OF SUFFICIENT BONE AND MUSCLE TO PROVIDE A BALANCE WITH THE FRAME. THE ELBOWS ARE CLOSE TO THE BODY AND POINT DIRECTLY TO THE REAR WHEN STANDING AND GAITING. THE FORELEGS, WHEN VIEWED FROM THE SIDE, ARE LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE WITHERS AND ARE STRAIGHT AND VERTICAL TO THE GROUND. THE ELBOWS, WHEN VIEWED FROM THE FRONT, ARE SET IN A STRAIGHT LINE FROM THE POINT OF SHOULDER TO THE WRIST. FRONT PASTERNS ARE STRONG AND FLEXIBLE. EACH FORELEG CARRIES A SINGLE DEWCLAW.
FRONT FEET: ROUNDED, CLOSE-CUPPED, WELL PADDED, TOES WELL ARCHED.
A sound front-end assembly is critical for breed function. Good reach is required for efficient movement on flat and rough terrain. Powerful shoulders and strong, flexible pasterns allow the Great Pyrenees to absorb shock as it easily descends steep slopes.
| Correct Shoulder - An imaginary line running from the withers to the point of the shoulder should meet a line drawn from the elbow to the point of the shoulder at an angle which appears to be about 90 degrees. | Incorrect Shoulder - Straight shoulder; scapula does not have the required lay back (it is too vertical). Joining of upper arm and shoulder blade creates an angle greater than the desired right angle. |
Shoulders - To achieve proper reach, the Great Pyrenees' shoulder blade (scapula) joins the upper arm (humerus) at an angle which visually approximates 90 degrees. The upper arm angles backward so that the elbow is directly beneath the withers.
The shoulder blades should be fairly close together at the withers (a gap of two finger widths) and lie snugly upon the ribcage. Since the ribs are well sprung from the spine the scapulae slope forward and laterally to the point of the shoulder, allowing for easy movement of the leg assembly.
Correct Body - Oval-shaped ribcage with moderately broad chest.
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Correct Front |
Correct Body |
Correct Skeleton |
Forelegs - From the front, the bones form a parallel pair of straight vertical columns from the point of the shoulder to the foot. The "bone" of the foreleg must be in balance with the "medium substance" of the frame; neither fine and delicate nor heavy and coarse.
| Incorrect Front - Too narrow | Incorrect Front - Out at the elbows, bowlegged and toeing in |
Incorrect Front - Too broad |
Pasterns are strong and flexible, set on at a slight slope to the lower leg bone.
Each foreleg has a single dewclaw.
Correct Front Feet - Single dewclaw on the inside of the foreleg.
Front Feet - Tight cat-like feet to maximize endurance and minimize injury. Note: Due to the Great Pyrenees' dense coat, all visual observations must be verified by hand examination.
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