Pyrenean Mastiffs are a rare breed of dog that originated in Spain in the Pyrenees Mountains. They initially guarded livestock. [1] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source While they do share a few characteristics with other dog breeds, they have several unique ones as well. This wikiHow will help you with figuring out whether or not a dog is a Pyrenean Mastiff.
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Taking Note of the Body Structure
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Check the dog's size. Male Pyrenean Mastiffs are typically somewhere between 30 to 31 inches (76 to 79 cm) tall, while females are usually anywhere from 25 to 30 inches (64 to 76 cm) tall. Both male and female Pyrenean Mastiffs typically weigh somewhere between 120 to 240 pounds (54 to 109 kg). [2] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source
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Examine the dog's head. Pyrenean Mastiffs should have a strong head that is large and relatively long. You should notice that the muzzle and skull's longitudinal axes are anywhere from diverging a very little amount to close to parallel and that, when looked at from above, the dog's muzzle and skull appear long with shapes that are even. In this top view, the dog's muzzle and skull should also not have a noticeable width difference at their set on points. When looked at in a side view, the dog's head should not appear to bulge, and it should also be deep. [3] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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View the dog's ears. Pyrenean Mastiffs should have triangular-shaped ears that are medium-sized and hang flat. Their ears should be set above their eye line, and they should hang near to the cheeks when the dog is relaxed, but they should stand noticeably away from their cheeks when the dog is alert. Also, 1/3 of the dog's rear and upper ears should be pricked a little. [4] X Research source
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See what the dog's eyes look like. Pyrenean Mastiffs should have eyes that are almond in shape and small in size, and hazel-colored, though ideally dark. Though the dog's eyelids should ideally closely fit to their eyeball when they are alert, you may notice a little slackness of the lower eyelid, which makes a small conjunctiva stripe visible if the dog is relaxed. [5] X Research source
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Look at the dog's tail. Pyrenean Mastiffs should have a strong, flexible, muscular, medium, high-set tail with a root that is thick. You should also be able to tell that the dog's tail has a noticeably long coat that feels soft and creates a plume. The dog's tail should be hanging low when they are relaxed, and it should reach to the point of their hocks. [6] X Research source
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Consider the dog's overall appearance. Overall, Pyrenean Mastiffs should appear harmonious, with proportions that are medium and a bone structure that is firm. Though the dog is large, they should not seem sluggish or heavy. [7] X Research sourceAdvertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Examining the Coat
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View the dog's coat color. The coat of a Pyrenean Mastiff should have a white base color, along with a mask that is defined well. You may notice patches on the dog that are outlined noticeably, distributed in an irregular way, and matching the mask's color. The dog should also have spotted ears, with white-colored lower legs and their tail tip. Their coat should be quite light at its roots, being preferably very white in color. [8] X Research source
- If you notice patches, they should ideally be sandy, black, brown, gray-silver, an intense golden yellow, marbled, medium gray, or light beige in color. [9] X Research source
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Feel the coat's texture. Pyrenean Mastiffs should have a coat that is bristly in texture, though this is not as much the case on the dog's tail plume. [10] X Research source
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Notice the coat's overall appearance. Overall, a Pyrenean Mastiff should have a coat that is medium in length (preferably, when it is measured on the topline's midsection, it is typically anywhere from 6 to 9 centimetres (2.4 to 3.5 in) long), thick, and dense. The coat should have a longer length on the dog's neck, tail, shoulders, the back of their legs, and under their belly. [11] X Research source
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Recognize a large grooming need. In addition to weekly brushing and bathing whenever needed, when a Pyrenean Mastiff is shedding, they will need to visit the groomer frequently and receive blow outs, so this is something to keep in mind, especially if you are considering adopting this dog breed. [12] X Research sourceAdvertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Checking Temperament
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Find out if the dog is gentle. Pyrenean Mastiffs are known to be gentle and calm dogs. Because of this, they typically do well with children, though supervision when they are around small children is needed due to their size. With correct socialization, they can also usually do well with other dogs. [13] X Research source
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Understand that this dog does not usually need a lot of exercise. While they still require a walk and/or playing, Pyrenean Mastiffs typically do not need a lot of exercise. [14] X Research source
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Be aware of the potential for aggression. Pyrenean Mastiffs are guard dogs. Because of this, they may end up becoming overprotective or aggressive whenever they think that something is a threat to their family or home. [15] X Research source
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Realize that this dog is self-reliant. While they should not be by themselves the whole day, if their needs are being met, Pyrenean Mastiffs are typically okay by themselves for a little while. [16] X Research source
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Know that this dog may be independent. Though the dogs are self-reliant, this also means that they may be independent, so they need consistent, firm training from early on. [17] X Research source
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See if the dog is intelligent. While they can sometimes be independent, Pyrenean Mastiffs are also known to typically be intelligent dogs. [18] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Tips
- Consider dog DNA testing if you would like to know what your dog's breed is. This can help confirm whether or not your dog is a Pyrenean Mastiff.Thanks
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Warnings
- Be aware that if you plan on adopting a Pyrenean Mastiff, they are banned or restricted in some areas. [19] X Research source Therefore, you'll want to check for breed bans in your area prior to adopting a Pyrenean Mastiff.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pyrenean-mastiff/
- ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pyrenean-mastiff/
- ↑ http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/092g02-en.pdf
- ↑ http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/092g02-en.pdf
- ↑ http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/092g02-en.pdf
- ↑ http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/092g02-en.pdf
- ↑ http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/092g02-en.pdf
- ↑ http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/092g02-en.pdf
- ↑ http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/092g02-en.pdf
- ↑ http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/092g02-en.pdf
- ↑ http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/092g02-en.pdf
- ↑ https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/pyrenean-mastiff#/slide/1
- ↑ https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/pyrenean-mastiff#/slide/1
- ↑ https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/pyrenean-mastiff#/slide/1
- ↑ https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/pyrenean-mastiff#/slide/1
- ↑ https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/pyrenean-mastiff#/slide/1
- ↑ https://www.petguide.com/breeds/dog/pyrenean-mastiff/
- ↑ https://www.petguide.com/breeds/dog/pyrenean-mastiff/
- ↑ https://petolog.com/articles/banned-dogs.html
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