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The Pyrenean Sheepdog Description

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

Energetic, small sheepdog. Medium or long coated with windswept appearance. Alert, lean and racy outline. Mischievous, inquiring.

Characteristics

Highly intelligent, strong herding instinct. Tremendous energy and stamina for size.

Temperament

Alert, lively, wary of strangers.

Head and Skull

Head almost triangular when viewed from above, length of skull equal to its widest point, flat on top with central furrow, showing slight occiput, side of skull slightly rounded. Muzzle slightly shorter in length than skull; tapering evenly to nose with no apparent stop; well filled below eyes. Toplines of nose and skull parallel. Nostrils well open. Well pigmented on nose, lips and in roof of mouth.

Eyes

Expressive, almond, wide open, not bulging or sunken. Dark brown, but one or both may be blue or flecked with blue in merle or slate coloured animals. Eye rims black. Never obscured by head coat.

Ears

Fairly short, moderately wide at base, placed on top of head but neither too close nor wide apart. Bottom part of ear erect and mobile, with top ideally hanging forward or to side when alert, but laid back in repose.

Mouth

Strong teeth, scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Rather long, muscular, and set well into shoulder.

Forequarters

Forelegs lean, sinewy and straight when seen from front, with single dewclaws. From side, pasterns slope gently and are flexible. Shoulder fairly long and well angulated, with upper arm joining shoulder blade at right angles. Withers prominently visible.

Body

Lean, strong. Ribs slightly rounded and extending well back. Brisket reaching to elbow. Loins strong and slightly arched.

Hindquarters

Short, sloping croup; fairly low set tail. Strong, well muscled thigh, second thigh well developed and long. Well angulated stifle. Hocks lean, low set and well angulated. Single or double dewclaws on rear.

Feet

Lean, rather flat, oval shape. Dark pads and nails, well furred between pads.

Tail

Previously customarily docked or sometimes born with short or stump tail.
Docked: Set low and well covered with hair.
Undocked: Set low. Not too long, reaching to hock with upward hook at end. Well covered with hair. Never carried above topline.

Gait/Movement

Walks with fairly short strides, trots freely with vigour. Smooth gait, feet never raised very high. Head carried high with slow action, tending to drop with faster action. Good angulations ensure effortless gait. Pacing should not be penalised.

Coat

Long or semi-long. Fairly harsh; dense, almost flat or slightly wavy; denser and more woolly on rump and thighs. Hair on muzzle short. Longer on face and cheeks, where it grows away from the nose and eyes.
Semi-long coats: Short hair with fringing on forelegs and short hair below hocks.
Long coats: Long hair on legs to cover toes.

Colour

Various shades of fawn, with or without black hairs there may be a little white on chest and feet. Light to dark grey, often with white on head, chest and legs. Blue merle, slate blue or brindle. Black or black and white. Unmixed colours preferred. Large areas of white, predominance of white, or black and tan undesirable.

Size

Height: dogs: 40-48 cms (16-19 ins); bitches: 38-46 cms (15-18 ins).