Pyrenean Shepherd puppies

About the Pyrenean Shepherd

The Pyrenean Shepherd is the small herding dog of the French Pyrenees, the moving half of a partnership with the big white flock guardians. This is a light, wiry dog of 6.8 to 13.6 kg standing 38 to 53 cm, in rough faced and smooth faced varieties, and they are among the longest lived of all breeds at a reported 17 to 19 years. The character is intense, quick and watchful, mischievous with their own people and thoroughly suspicious of strangers.

Exercise and mental work are the whole story: this dog was built to cover ground all day and needs a sport, a job or serious training to stay sane. Grooming is a weekly brush, since the soft undercoat mats easily. Pyr Sheps are sensitive, vocal and reactive to movement, so early socialisation is essential and supervision makes sense around young children. The breed is a poor fit for a quiet household that wants a decorative dog and a short walk.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Pyrenean Shepherd puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed for
• Patellar luxation, diagnosed by physical examination of the stifle
• Patent ductus arteriosus, found by a cardiac examination in puppies
• Choroidal hypoplasia, detectable by DNA test and an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Progressive retinal atrophy, detectable by DNA test
• Epilepsy, diagnosed by veterinary work up and tracked through breeding lines

Your Pyrenean Shepherd puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Pyrenean Shepherd.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 6.8 to 13.6 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 13.6 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Pyrenean Shepherd

Previous: Pyrenean Sheepdog (Smooth Faced) · Next: Rafeiro do Alentejo

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Pyrenean Shepherd breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pyrenean-shepherd/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: A. Köppl, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.