This is a large breed of working dogs, molossoidtype Her homeland is Aragon - an area located in Spain and bordering France. Here is the main part of the Pyrenees. Hence the name of the breed. Originally used to protect animals in pastures. Today they are great guards, bodyguards, companions.
From the history of the breed
Since ancient times, the Pyrenean Mastiff was valued infirst of all for their superb guard qualities. These dogs have proven themselves as herders assistants. Physically strong, incredibly hardy, these animals perfectly resisted the predators - bears and wolves. Surprisingly, these menacing dogs for predators are very affectionate and attentive to their "wards" in the herd.
For a long time nobody was engaged in the breed. These were peasant working dogs, so nobody was interested in their appearance.
They were first presented in Madridexhibition in 1890, and from that moment on the Pyrenean Mastiff began to rapidly gain popularity. In 1946, the first expert description was published and the breed standard was adopted.
In the middle of the XX century, Spain is experiencing seriouspolitical and economic crisis. Peasants find it difficult to maintain such powerful dogs, so their numbers are significantly reduced. The breed is on the verge of extinction.
Rescue the disappearing breed tookamateur breeders, who, together, decided to develop it at any cost. Their work turned out to be productive - in the second half of the 20th century, the Pyrenean mastiff (we posted his photo in this article) began to appear again at exhibitions. In 1974, representatives of this breed, Ira and Perrot, receive primacy and a mass of eulogistic reviews of experts. And again, the popularity of these dogs is increasing dramatically. In 1977, the Pyrenean Mastiff Club begins to work. He united not only Spanish breeders, but also their foreign colleagues.
In 1981, the Spanish Dog Society approved the breed standard. In the same year, it was recognized in the world (FCI No. 92).
Today the breed is in a state of active development, although it still remains not too numerous.
Pyrenean Mastiff - breed description
This large and at the same time elegant doghas a big massive head. The skull is rather wide, rounded. Differs smooth transition from the forehead to the face, which has a square shape. The eyes are almond-shaped, small, usually dark brown. Triangular ears are not very large, hanging flat along the cheekbones.
Housing
Pyrenean Mastiff - dog with bodystretched format with strong bones. Powerful cone-shaped neck. The back is dense, muscular, wide croup slightly sloping. Taut and tight belly.
Limbs strong and well muscled. Feature of the breed - profitable fingers. Paws rounded, "cat", with arched toes.
Wool
These dogs have a thick, dense and tough coat of medium length. On the neck, shoulders, rear surfaces of the limbs, the abdomen is longer.
Color
Always white, with a distinct “mask”.On the body are allowed spots of the same color as the mask. Not completely welcome white or tricolor color. The paws and tip of the tail should always be white. Acceptable colors: white with gray, bright yellow, brown, black spots.
The height of males at the withers rarely exceeds 77 cm, females - 72 cm. These animals weigh from 55 to 80 kg.
Character
Pyrenean Mastiff makes an impressionharsh, even formidable dog. Of course, there is some truth in this, because these animals are shepherds, guards. And in order to protect the lives and property of the owners, they are ready for anything.
In the family, they are very affectionate and peaceful, immensely attached and loyal to the owner. For children, it is a tremulous and caring nurse.
Care and maintenance
Pyrenean Mastiff, the characteristic of which is smallwhat is different from that of other large dogs, needs space and quite serious physical exertion. Keeping it in an apartment is not desirable. Even if the apartment is spacious, it will not give this beautiful giant proper space. Therefore it is necessary to spend a lot of time on walks, and not every owner is ready for this. It is much more correct to contain a mastiff in a country house.
It is necessary to walk it at least two times.Walking should be long - at least an hour. Try to ensure that your pet has the opportunity to run and play in the fresh air.
Care of hair
The Pyrenean Mastiff is naturally endowedmagnificent "fur coat". Wool is very thick, it is a lot. But this should not scare the future owners. Caring for her is not so difficult. It is enough to brush it once a week. During the shedding it should be done more often. It is not recommended to wash and cut it. It is necessary to bathe a dog only if it gets very dirty, using good shampoos for dogs.
Periodically it is necessary to inspect and clean the ears and eyes, as well as trim the claws.
Food
To feed such a pet can be as naturalfood and dry food. The first option will require you to daily cooking for your pet. Feeding dry food is much easier, but on condition that they are premium. They are completely balanced. In order for such food to go to the dog for the good, follow certain rules:
- the quantity must fully comply with the instructions;
- do not give your dog extra vitamins and mineral supplements;
- Ensure that there is always clean water in the bowl.
Novice dog breeders need to know that experts do not recommend feeding animals with mixed feeds. In other words, natural products and dry food should not be mixed.
Особенно внимательно необходимо отнестись к feeding puppies. If you plan to feed an animal with dry feed, you should know that at different periods of the baby’s development he will need different feeds - during the period of active growth he will need calcium and proteins in large quantities, an adult animal will not need such a large amount of nutrients.
Young Pyrenean Mastiff should not be lethargic andapathetic. If your pet has become sad and sedentary, consult your veterinarian. It is possible that the food he receives is not entirely balanced. Remember that the basic health problems of a dog begin with improper feeding.
Choosing a puppy
Мастифы отличаются крепким здоровьем.Bitch easily puppy without help. At birth, puppies weigh an average of 750 grams. By two months - already 15 kg, so it is very important at this time to provide the kids with a balanced diet.
When choosing a puppy, pay attention to the conditions in which the animals are kept. The room should be spacious enough, dry and clean. It should not have a sharp smell.
Many people think that special playfulness is no different.Pyrenean Mastiff. Puppies should be mobile, moderately active. Pay attention to how the mother treats the babies - she should feed them and not show aggression to her cubs.
Despite the fact that Russia is not tooThe Pyrenean Mastiff breed is widespread, the nursery that breeds these animals in our country can be found if desired. For example, "Star Shine" in the city of Yekaterinburg, "Amanauz" in the Moscow region, the nursery "Polini" in the Moscow region, etc.
We are not in vain talking about nurseries.To buy a puppy of the Pyrenean mastiff should only be in a specialized institution or from a well-established breeder. Only in this case, you can be sure that you are acquiring a purebred and healthy animal. As a rule, in the nursery puppies at the time of acquaintance with the new owner (8-10 weeks) are already completely independent, vaccinated, have some behavioral skills. Moreover, they are ready to move into a new family.
Training
As already mentioned, it is very clever and curiousDog - Pyrenees Mastiff. Puppies from a very early age are very eager to learn new skills. They strive to please the owner as much as possible in order to earn his praise. Puppies and young dogs are able to quickly absorb the team. However, it is necessary to know that the mastiff can sometimes be stubborn, and then the owner must gently but persistently seek submission. Physical impact on a puppy is strictly prohibited.
Training should be built in the form of a game, inwhich puppies happily turn on. Training should be regular, without long intervals, otherwise the young mastiff may simply forget the knowledge gained.
Pyrenean mastiff: owners reviews
Everyone who purchased this dog to live incountry house, 100% satisfied with their pet. This is an indispensable guard. Mastiff owners note that these animals fearlessly defend their territory and owner’s property. Along with this, it is an extremely gentle and peace-loving creature in relation to adult and small members of its family. Many owners admire the ability of these giants to play with very young children. They will never harm a child, even by accident.
And the owners, who decided to have such a dogin a city apartment, they are often disappointed. Their pet feels very uncomfortable, requires long walks, for which many owners are not ready.
Pyrenean Mastiff draws attentiondog breeders for their unpretentious, peaceful and balanced character, the ability to be a friend to the whole family. Mastiff owners value their pets for loyalty and nobility, endurance and strength.
It is based on the reviews of the owners, we once againWe strongly recommend that before purchasing a puppy, weigh the pros and cons well, so as not to be disappointed in your pet and not make the living being suffer.
