Pyrenean Sheepdog Longhaired

Coming from humble beginnings, it was practically unknown to the official dog scene until the early 20th century. Its type varies considerably from one valley to the next, its shape, its coat can be very different, but its character and behaviour never varies. The first official standard was drawn up between 1921 and 1925 by Mr. Bernard Seanc-Lagrange. It was first modified under his presidency and then under those of Messrs. Charles Duconte (1954-1986), Guy Mansencal (1986-2000) and Alain Pecoult (since 2000) in close collaboration with Raymond Triquet since 2001.

A dog displaying a maximum of nervous energy in a minimum of size and weight. An ever alert physiognomy, a knowing air combined with great liveliness of movement give this dog a characteristic appearance unlike any other.  Important proportions:

• Skull is about as long as it is wide.
• Muzzle is shorter than the skull in ratio: muzzle 2, skull 3.
• Length of body is greater than height at withers.
• Distance from elbow to ground is greater than half the height at withers.

It is a courageous, resourceful little dog, showing initiative and totally devoted to its  master. It is eadstrong by nature and firm control is usually needed to channel its energy  and bring out its intelligence and liveliness. It is often wary of strangers.

Triangular in shape.
Skull: Moderately developed, almost flat, with a scarcely noticeable central furrow, harmoniously rounded on the sides, showing a very slight occipital protuberance. Approximately as long as it is wide.
Front section slopes gently to the muzzle.
Stop: Scarcely discernible.
Nose: Black
Muzzle: Straight, a little shorter than the skull, tapering like a wedge but without a pointed tip.
Lips: Not very thick, covering the lower jaw completely and showing no apparent comers. Edges and palate are black or heavily marked with black.

Expressive, slightly almond-shaped and dark brown. Neither protruding nor sunken. Wall eyes are accepted in dogs having blue with black mottling (harlequin or slate grey) coats of which they are almost always a characteristic. Eye rims are black whatever the coat colour.

They must be rather short, moderately broad at the base and not set too close to each other at the top of the skull, but not set too far apart either. They are triangular, fine and ending in a point, dropped, flat and very mobile. When alert, seen from the front, the top edge notably prolongs the transversal line ofthe skull. They may also half-pricked, in which case the lower part must be pricked and mobile, and ideally the top third or half of the ear should fall forward to the front or the side, symmetrically for both ears.

Complete dentition. Strong canines. Scissor bite (upper incisors covering the lower incisors without loss of contact). Pincer bite (edge to edge) is tolerated.

Rather long and muscled, springing well up from shoulders.

Upright, lean, sinewy, well fringed.
Shoulder: Rather long, moderately, oblique.
Upper arm: Oblique and moderately long.
Forearm: Straight.
Carpus (carpal joint): Noticeable wrist joint.
Metacarpus (pasterns): Slightly oblique seen from the side.

The bone structure is strong without heaviness, muscle is lean.
Topline: Well supported.
Withers: Prominent.
Back: Rather long and strong.
Loins: Short, slightly arched, but seems more so because coat is often thicker on hindquarters and croup. Croup: Fairly short and rather oblique.
Chest: Moderately developed, reaching to elbow. The ribs are slightly rounded.
Flanks: Scarcely descending.

Rather closed angulation. Semi-long coated dogs have no fringings on limbs.
Upper Thigh: Not very long, moderately oblique, strong, well defined muscle.
Stifle: Well angulated and parallel to the body.
Lower Thigh: Rather long and oblique.
Hock: Lean, set low, well angulated, hocks are sometimes a little close.
Rear Pastern: Perpendicular to the ground or very slightly oblique from back to front.
Dewclaws: Single or double dewclaws are acceptable on hind legs as is their absence.

Lean, fairly flat, of a definite oval shape. Dark pads. Small hard nails covered by hair which is also found under the foot and between the pads.

Well fringed, not very long, set rather low and with a hooked tip. When the dog is alert, the tail should, in general, hardly rise above the topline, however it may curve forward. In countries where this practice is not forbidden by law, some dogs a re docked.  A rudimentary tail is permitted.

Walking, the Pyrenean Sheepdog has a rather short stride. The trot, preferred pace ofthe Pyrenean Sheepdog should be free and vigorous. At a gentle trot, the head is carried fairly high, when the speed increases, the head is in line with the back. The feet are never raised high, the movement is flowing, the dog skims over the ground.

Skin: Thin, often marbled with dark patches, irrespective of coat colour.
Coat: Long or semi long, but always dense, almost flat or slightly wavy, thicker and woollier on the croup and thighs, texture somewhat between goat's hair and sheep's wool. In some dogs the mixture of coarse and wooly hair can produce sorts of strands or cords called"cadenettes" and sometimes matted or felted hair called "matelotes" which overlaps like tiles on the croup. "Cadenettes" can be found on the chest and forelegs at elbow level. The muzzle has shorter, less dense hair. On the end of the muzzle, and sometimes along the whole muzzle, it is laid flat and set from front to back. On the sides as well as on the cheeks, the hair is longer and brushed up in a windswept way from front to back. Eyes must be clearly visible and not covered by hair.

Fawn, lighter or darker, overlaid with black or not and sometimes with a little white on the chest and on the limbs; grey, lighter or darker, often with some white on the head, chest and limbs; blue with black mottling (harlequin or slate blue). There are also brindle, black coats or black with white markings (limited spotting). Solid colours are preferred.

Height at withers:
Males: from 42 cm to 48 cm
Females: from 40 cm to 46 cm
A tolerance of plus or minus 2 cm is allowed for perfectly types specimens.

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare ofthe dog.

SEVERE FAULTS:
General appearance:

• Heavy dog, not very active
• Head; ogival skull, rounded forehead, stop too pronounced or non existent.

Muzzle: Square or rectangular. Lack of pigmentation on nose or lips.
Eyes: Light or of wild expression. Lack of pigmentation on the eyerims.
Tail: Tail curled on or over the loin; 'squirrel tail' (carried horizontally over the back); fused vertebrae. Coat: Too abundant on the head, especially when it covers the eyes and on the muzzle when it looks like a griffon's moustache. Poor texture, soft, wiry, curly or frizzy. Coat lacking density or thickness.
Colour: White covering more than one third of the coat. Harlequin coat lacking contrast between grey and black having fawn glints. Very diluted coat colour. Black coat with tan
on head and on limbs (black marked fawn).

ELIMINATING DEFAULTS:
Behaviour/Temperament: Aggressive or overly shy.
Nose and eyelids: Any colour other than perfectly black.
Mouth: Over or undershot or any malformation ofthe jaws. Absence of more than 2 teeth (except PMl). The presence of canines and carnassial teeth (PM4 upper jaw and MI lower jaw) is obligatory.
Ears: Naturally erect ears.
Eyes: Wall-eyes for any dogs other than blue with black mottling (harlequin or slate grey). Flesh colour on the eye rims. Light yellow eyes.
Tail: Limp, hanging vertically.
Coat: Curly.
Colour: White or colour not stipulated in the standard. White covering more than 1/3 of coat in black dogs.
Size: Outside the limits.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum