Here are some links to doggy websites I came across while surfing the Internet.
Some giving advice for dog health issues and individual care for your Pyr and some have information about dog training and dog housing.

Pyrenean temperament

Should we, could we or have we already changed it? I am going to present this item for you not as an ethnologist and not as an expert dog behaviourist, but as an ordinary Pyr owner. The reason why it is I who am presenting this is, I guess, that it was I who suggested that temperament should be on the program.I have owned Pyrs since 1965. I very early became concerned about temperament as we did have problems when we started with the breed in Denmark. Out of the first 10 males imported to Denmark eight were put to sleep because of aggressiveness. Since I have often wondered how we could go on with the breed.I am going to point out different things and I am going to ask several questions, but I am not going to give any answers and I do not think we can come to any agreements as much more as I cannot even make up my own mind.This world conference (held by the P.M.D.C. of GB in England 1996) on the Pyrenean is in part a result of the divergences in opinion of the standard; and indicates a wish to minimise the differences. In this context, I feel it is necessary to discuss the temperament as well.I do not think there are great differences in the definition of what a good temperament is; and we all have a general idea on what we want the Pyrenean’s mental set-up to be.But we know that show breeding, even if not intending to, can change the temperament of breeds. It has happened that breeds have been divided into working types and show types; and certain breeds have split into two entirely different breeds. Some breeds, that used to be easy-going rather lazy fellows, changed to energy bombs as a result of breeding for show winners.Demand from society on how dogs are supposed to behave has also changed. In many places in the world the freedoms and accepted actions of dogs have become very restricted.Temperament that was appreciated 100 years ago might give troubles today.As an example I can mention my first Pyrenean bitch. When I got her she was seven months, very shy and prepared to defend herself. When I went shopping, I used to take her with me, but I always chained her in a place where nobody could accidentally come too close to her. Then my own daughter was born and I could now use the baby pram to hide the dog. During this period there was a case where a baby was stolen and hidden by a woman for several months upsetting everybody. Suddenly my vicious dog had turned into a faithful and courageous dog that protected the baby so well; this was not due to changes in the dog’s nature but by circumstances in society that had nothing to do with dogs.I mention this as I have a feeling that good guard dogs were more appreciated a few decades ago and statements on dogs from earlier time can be influenced by that.

The "Dangerous dogs" law that has come to existence in the UK -and I understand from the Internet that it also is threatening responsible dog owners of certain breeds in at least some States in the USA - is something that might be spread to many other places in the world and make life complicated for owners of guard dog breeds.

How is the temperament?

We all have some vague ideas about how a Pyrenean ought to be. He should simultaneously be a good guard dog, yet friendly and gentle; have a good sense of occasion, be playful and calm, and maintain a tenderness towards everything that is small and weak.

It seems that through use as a livestock protection dog these in some way contradictory traits have developed in the Pyrenean. However changes in the balance among the traits can change the dog’s behaviour greatly.

Could Mental tests be a good guide?

At the same time these traits are very difficult to measure. Mental tests could possibly be a good guide to a dog’s disposition, but the mental tests I know of are not designed for livestock protection dogs. My experiences with this tests are that they tell very little about how the dog functions in everyday life.

I personally know of about ten dogs that have gone through a temperament test in Denmark. I know these dogs very well as four of them belong to me, but I would not be able to match the results and the dogs if it were not for the name on the papers....... read more

To explore this site, follow the links in the left frame, some links are also placed on the individual pages and some immages or pictures are clickable too.

And please don't forget what this little Pyr girl below is asking you !