Berger des Pyrčnčes.

History:  A lot is unknown about the history of the Pyrenean Shepherd/Berger des Pyrčnčes. The breed is originally from France, and is believed to be one of the oldest French breeds. It’s origin is from the Pyrenean mountains where they have been used for herding for centuries. The breed became known at the end of 1800’s, and it was Henri de Blyandt’s presentation of the breed in 1897 that led to the official breed standard being written in 1926.

The French army started using the breed for communication in the battlefields in 1916. Many of the dogs died, and the breed stock was severely reduced. In 1923 a group of breeders got together to save this unique breed, and the Reunion des Amateurs de Chiens Pyrčnčes was formed. The club is still active today, and in addition to the Pyrenean Shepherd, it protects the interests of three other Pyrenean breeds. Thanks to tourism the breed was internationally known in the 1950’s, and its popularity has continued to grow ever since.

The Pyrshep is a small to middle sized shepherd, still used for herding in the Pyrenean mountains. There are two types of the breed, longhaired (poil long) and shorthaired (face rase). They are fast learners, and a happy, friendly breed. Full of life and love for speed, they are dogs that truly love to work. Agility and obedience are both excellent activities for Pyrenean Shepherds, and they are known to do well as search- and rescue dogs. If the Pyrenean Shepherd is socialized  well at a young age, they will make great family members as adults. The breed has a long life expectancy, and for a dog to live to see 14 is not unusual. Some individuals even reach 16 and 17 years of age. The breed is not known to have any typical illnesses, but some cases of HD can occur.

Breed standard

Land of origin: France.
General appearance: Dog below a minimum size and weight denoting a maximum nervous energy. A facial expression always wide-awake, a clever and suspicious look together with a great liveliness of movement, give this dog a characteristic appearance equal to none other.
Head: The head in its general shape is triangular. The skull is moderately developed, almost flat with a medial furrow slightly marked, rounding harmoniously on the sides.  Stop not apparent. Nose is black. Muzzle straight, rather a little short. Teeth are strong, the dentition must be complete. The pincer-bite is allowed. Enclosing expressive eyes, wide open and dark brown in colour. Coloured spots are allowed in dogs with harlequin coat or slate grey. Ears must be quite short, moderately wide at the base and set not too close to each other on the top of the skull, nor too widely separated at either side of the head.
Neck: Rather long, quite muscular, well set into the shoulders.
Fore- and hindquarters: Fore: lean, sinewy, feathered with hairs, pastern joint pronounced. Hind: the angulations are rather closed. Thigh muscular, but only barely let down. The hind legs may or may not have single or double dewclaws. Feet lean, quite flat, of an accentuated oval shape. The pads covered with hair which goes under the foot and in between the toes.
Body: Bone structure is lean. Back quite long, but well sustained. Loin short and slightly curved. Croup rather short and quite sloping. Chest moderately developed. Tail well feathered , not very long, set rather low and forming a hook at its tip. When the dog is alert the tail must not go over the line of the back.
Coat and colour: Skin often mottled with dark patches, whatever the colour of the coat. The hair is long or semi-long, but always dense, almost flat or slightly wavy. Thicker and more woolly on the rump and thighs, texture being like something in between goat`s hair and sheep`s wool. Hair on the muzzle is shorter and less dense, eyes not covered with hair. Colour come in fawn with different nuances, brindle, grey, black or harlequin (blue merle).
Movement: The trot must be true and vigorous, at the short trot the head is carried a bit high, at the extended trot the head is in line with the back, the feet are never lifted very much, the movement is flowing, he skims over the ground.
Size: Males 40-48 cm. Females 38-46 cm. A tolerance of 2 cm over size is tolerated in the subjects of perfect type