The Pyrenean Mastiff, is one of the giant Molosser breeds.  They were originally bred to accompany herds of sheep from winter to summer grazing, as protection from wolves, bears and thieves, along the way. They wore heavy spiked metal collars called "carlunkas' to protect their necks. They were highly sought after and greatly valued.

Photo Courtesy Of De La Terra Alta (USA)

Courtesy Of Murtois (Italy)

Due to the decrease of wolves and other predators, and modern man's new reliance on rail to transport sheep, and then the onset of the civil war followed by World War II, food became scarce. Because of this the numbers of Pyrenean Mastiffs were reduced dramatically. The Pyrenean mastiff nearly became extinct during the 1930-1940s.

 

Fortunately a few years later for the breed a group of wolves crossed into the mountains again and the Mastin was needed yet again to protect the flocks of sheep. A group of dedicated Spanish enthusiasts who had these dogs, or had heard of them combined in their efforts to travel the country, they found about 100 dogs, and selected 30 from which to establish a breeding program. The Spanish club was intent on saving the Pyrenean mastiffs from extinction, and promoting the breed to the world.

Courtesy Of Murtois (Italy)

Pyrenean mastiffs are rectangular big strong dogs. Full of Vigour and Life. The minimum height for females are 72cm or 28" and for males 77 cm or 30". The bigger dog is preferred and there are no upper limits regarding the height. Double dewclaws are usual but not obligatory.

Courtesy Of Murtois (Italy)

The PM has a thick, coarse and moderately long coat between 6-9 cm. This is longer on the shoulders, throat, under the stomach and on the breeches  of the legs. The base colour is always white with a characteristic mask, and patches covering both ears. Colours are grey, golden, brown, silver-grey, black brindled , and sand colour.

The temperament is steady and uncomplicated. The PM is highly intelligent and will learn fast. They have very routine behaviour and even if the Pyrenean mastiff appears as though it is not interested it is acutely aware of all going on around it, even what is in the sky.

This kind of behaviour makes the dog very stable even in extreme situations. The Pyrenean mastiff is not an aggressive dog, it will seldom look for trouble. But with strength and agility it is well prepared to take it.

 Pyrenean mastiffs adore the children of their household. They will protect and watch out for them. Generally they are friendly with all people, (socialisation is ESSENTIAL to ensure this) but the people with in their immediate family circle are the ones they adore the most, and will have the most trust and confidence in. They are highly intelligent and need constant mental stimulation. They thrive under short and simple commands, used from day one. As with any breed of dog a hard and punished education will produce either an aggressive or nervous and uncomfortable dog.

The Pyrenean mastiff can tolerate hash climates over long periods due to the longish and dense  coat. Prolonged humidity it can not cope with, and can develop serious skin conditions. As with any breed of dog, Flea and worm treatment must be given to ensure maximum physical health and condition.

A brush once weekly, and a bath when needed is pretty much all that is required for this coat. Stripping out annually is a necessity. They do tend to be shedding in small amounts all the time as well as the annual moult. Space assists enormously with the structural development of this breed. I have found personally that the larger the area the dog has to itself the better the development structurally. But as with my mastiffs I have found that it is easier to daily yard my dogs into groups of two, matching a younger dog with an older less active dog and therefore minimizing the risk of injury.

A walk daily is required to help keep your Pyrenean mastiff fit and healthy, the brain active, and the dog sociable. I walk up to 3 kilometres consecutive days with my adult dogs. But only when the bones have finished developing. My younger dogs are put out daily into large yards in groups of two and given a 5 -10 minute walk on the road daily until they are 12-14 months of age. Then I will gradually increase this. Puppy schools, obedience training and urban socialization is highly recommended for all ages of dogs of this breed.

As with all dogs a good diet is important, please refer to breeders for the best possible diet. Personally I have found this breed does not cope with a diet that is high in fat and high in protein combined. I have tried and found this diet brings on skin conditions and pano. I use a low fat Low protein super premium diet made by Purina: called Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach Formula fed  exclusively to prevent skin conditions and growing pains in younger dogs.

Secure strong and escape proof fencing is required with this breed and any large mastiff breed. The Pyrenean is a flock guardian breed...they will figure out the boundaries of the property that they reside and will protect that property and its inhabitants animal and human. They do not continuously try to escape as some other breeds of dogs, but even so it is essential they are contained safely within the boundaries of your property.

 In Australia you are required by law to keep dogs securely contained within your own property. And it is most important for the safety of your dog, the breed, and the public to do so. The Pyrenean Mastiff is an incredibly large and powerful dog. They have a beautiful friendly nature and will gallop full steam up to strangers to greet them. To the public who do not know the nature of the breed it is terribly frightening and intimidating to have such a strong agile and powerful dog coming straight at them. They could easily react in a way that could trigger prey drive responses in any breed, this is why it is so important to keep any dog especially giant breeds securely confined within your own property. Out on the street with a lead on they will greet the public with the same enthusiasm, but they will be under control and will not  frighten people by charging straight to them to say hello.

We only offer puppies to homes with secure fencing, and to homes that agree to keep their dogs not only on lead in public but also under effective control in public places. There are many obedience and training schools for dogs throughout Australia to offer assistance in this. With today's society living in a time of such anti dog hysteria, it is more important than ever that all breeds of dogs (especially the large ones) are effectively controlled and managed in any public situation. This beautiful breed is only in its infancy within this country, it is vital to properly represent it to the public at this early stage of its establishment and development in Australia by managing it correctly and having it under effective control. I choose puppy homes carefully and stress the importance of this to any potential owners.

The Pyrenean Mastiff is a wonderful companion and guardian of home and family. The primary occupation for our dogs is Conformation Showing and working in Victorian primary schools with children..

I spend a great deal of time and effort preparing out Pyreneans for the show ring. They require washing and drying prior to conformation exhibition. I begin showing our Pyreneans as babies so they are happy and familiar (if still somewhat determined to do their own thing) with all the activity at a normal conformation show. They love their weekly outings to the dog shows.

It has been particularly obvious to me that this breed unlike many in the Mastiff family are true show dogs. Not only do they truly enjoy the activity of being shown and socialized.

They can really stretch out, and gait. Many of our are very animated in the conformation ring.

The breed does  truly have the loving nature described of them and will adapt happily to a family life. We have Seven of the Fourteen Pyrenean Mastiffs presently In Australia all having passed the stringent Pet Educator temperament test and all have worked in Victorian Primary Schools happily assisting as Pet Educators teaching primary school children about responsible pet ownership and safety around dogs. Some working days these dogs are displayed to as many as 120 children daily. They are a big hit with the children so far and have temperaments very suitable for this role. 

This information was written by Breton mastiffs.

Power Point presentation on The Pyrenean Mastiff.

Many thanks to Finn Espen Nerguard for the original text provided for the historical information above. Photos of other breeders dogs are credited. Many thanks to Karen Graff, Juan Bueno, and Milena Mura, for the use of their beautiful dogs pictures. The remaining photographs of dogs on this page were bred by, or are the property of Breton Mastiffs. They were bred or supplied by:

Valley de los Volcanoes (Germany) Frank Braun.

Murtois (Italy) Milena Mura.

Breton Kennels (Australia)