Pyrenean Shepherd facts for kids
Smooth-faced Pyrenean Shepherd
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| Other names | Berger des Pyrénées Petit Berger Pyrenees Sheepdog |
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| Common nicknames | Pyr Shep | |||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | France/Spain | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Pyrenean Shepherd is a medium-small dog breed. It comes from the Pyrenees Mountains, which are in the south of France and northern Spain. This dog is known for its skills as a herding dog.
In the colder northern parts of the mountains, the Pyrenean Shepherd originally had long, white fur. In the Basque area of Spain, a smaller type of this dog was used to protect sheep. These brave dogs would guard the sheep from dangerous animals like bears and wolf attacks.
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History of the Pyrenean Shepherd
The Pyrenean Shepherd is a very old dog breed. Some people think these dogs might have lived with Cro-Magnon people, who were early modern humans. Pictures of dogs that look similar have been found in ancient cave paintings at Lascaux in France.
These dogs have been helping people with livestock since the Middle Ages. They are one of the oldest dog breeds still around today.
Pyrenean Shepherds and Royalty
The Pyrenean Shepherd became popular with French royalty for a while. This happened when the son of King Louis XIV visited Barèges, France. He really liked a Pyrenean Shepherd he met there. He took the dog back to live with him at the Louvre Palace in Paris.
Later, in the 1880s, Queen Victoria of England owned one of these dogs. Around that time, the British Kennel Club officially recognized the Pyrenean Mountain Dog as a breed.
Saving the Breed
In the 1930s, two Pyrenean Shepherd puppies were brought to Needham, Massachusetts in the United States. They were bred there, which helped to keep the breed from disappearing. During World War I, Pyrenean Shepherds were used to carry packs and supplies for soldiers.
Appearance of the Pyrenean Shepherd
Pyrenean Shepherds can look quite different from each other. They can have either a smooth face or a rough, shaggy face. One common type of Pyrenean Shepherd today is said to look like a mix between a Collie and a teddy bear.
See also
In Spanish: Pastor de los Pirineos para niños
