Dear people, again I must say this: CAUTION: The following is offered by way of information reaching out to other loving dog owners. Please do not assume I have any specialist veterinarian knowledge and please do not take the following as a replacement for seeing your own vet.
Back on the 4th May I posted the results of Hazel being scanned ultrasonically in a post Hazel’s Sonogram. Here’s a tiny extract:
Dr. Parker, who is a board-certified veterinarian doctor, came to the conclusion that the most likely cause of Hazel’s illness was the fungal lung infection, as Dr. Codd and the radiologist supposed.
But still Hazel showed too many signs that there was no improvement. Her eating was pitiful and the application of the Fluconazole (anti-fungal) medicine was not helping, bearing in mind that she was first seen by Dr. Codd over a month ago.
Dr. Codd’s advice was that we seek specialist help and yesterday morning Hazel was seen by Dr. Kimberly Winters, DVM, of Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center (SOVSC) who, in addition, has a further qualification (Diplomate AVCIM) in Internal Medicine.
Based in Medford, about a 40-minute drive South from home.
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Waiting to be seen by Dr. Winters.
Jean and I were impressed by the way we were received and noted that the clinic, Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center, offered a 24-hour emergency service. Here’s a piece from their home page:
At Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center, we understand the special bond between a pet and their human family. Our team of highly trained doctors, certified technicians and support staff partner with your family veterinarian to provide specialized diagnostics, surgery and emergency care for your pet upon a referral or emergency basis. Our clinic is staffed 24 hours-a-day, 7 days a week, to receive emergency cases and to monitor our critical care patients. The clinic’s board-certified veterinary specialists and staff are committed to providing exceptional compassionate care utilizing state-of-the-art technology and treatments.
Then we were called in and first seen by one of the technicians to record all the details.
Pulse and body temperature normal.
Then a short while later in came Dr. Winters.
Dr. Winters listening to Hazel’s rather laboured breathing.
Dr. Winters recommended a further xray of Hazel’s lungs and some blood work.
An hour later we had her analysis.
Dr. Winters said that while the condition of Hazel’s lungs could be an indication of a fungal infection she had her doubts. Or, in the words of her subsequent report:
There are several things that are not consistent with fungal infection – no high globulin level, no elevation in white blood cell count, no fever, negative titers, progression despite fluconazole treatment.
But the most important indicator of it being something other than a fungal infection was that the xray showed Hazel’s lungs to be worse.
My photograph of the clinic’s screen display.
This can be more readily seen if I publish the xray image of yesterday and the image taken on the 15th April; see below.
Xray image as of the morning of May 12th, 2016.One of the radiographs taken of Hazel 15th April, 2016.
Despite not truly understanding these images both Jean and I quickly thought the top one, taken yesterday, showed a decline in Hazel’s lungs compared to the lower one, taken on the 15th April.
It was then time to seek Dr. Winters’ opinion.
Essentially, she said that she doubted the diagnosis of it being a fungal infection especially as lung fungal infections were very rare in Oregon. When I queried the fact that it might have been dormant for some time Dr. Winters thought that doubtful because the lungs, even a month ago, were displaying advanced disease.
Dr. Winters couldn’t be sure without a physical examination of the lung tissue but on the balance of probability she believed Hazel was at an advanced stage of cancer with the tumor somewhere in the body and that her lungs were showing that the cancer had metastasized!
A later discussion with Dr. Russ Codd and Jim Goodbrod confirmed this analysis with Russ thinking that the primary tumor might be in Hazel’s arteries. To a very great extent, it has become academic as Russ believes that Hazel will not have that much longer to go and that our main focus should be on keeping her quality of life as high as we can, for as long as we can.
Jean and I are devastated as you can imagine and later on when writing this post my thoughts were on some of the words added to the post Embracing Those Senior Years just last Wednesday. These words:
Hariod, your comments to Paul about your GSD really touched me because I myself am in that same space now with my almost 17 year old shih-tzu. We have always had a special connection but in the last year, as her age has progressed with it’s usual complications, our relationship has moved to another level – becoming even deeper than anything I have ever experienced; so powerfully in tune with each other, it’s incredible.
As I write this, every day she is with us is a precious bonus.
Our aging pets can be very troubling. I ‘ve been there and done that many times in about 60 years and even in my years before I left the farm to attend school. It doesn’t get easy and I always hate watching my pets age. It is devastating to lose them.
Then my words:
There are no favorites in our ten dogs but there are some that are more open in expressing and returning affection. It seems those dogs in particular tear us apart when they die.
In yesterday’s post I wrote about how we determined that our Brandy was a Pyrenean Mastiff (Spanish Mastin del Pirineo). In that search, into both the breeder and the history of the breed, we came across the website of De La Tierra Kennels located in Quartz Hill, California who are Pyrenean Mastiff breeders. As they state on their website:
Tierra Alta were the first kennel to introduce the Mastin del Pirineo to the U.S.A. Our kennels have produced excellent show potential pups bred from the finest imported and now domestic stock available – Tajadera del Tio Roy, Castillo de Ali, Do Limoeiro, De Domus, El Bellotero, Rocaforte, Larresalkoak, Del Paso del Oso, Moralet, Wela Brillante, Springstrand, Iirismaan, Bondadoso and Farma Stekot, Murtoi’s, Del Mostin and Can Cabot. Our foundation mostines are imports directly from Spain, Italy, Finland and the Czech Republic. Our kennels have also exported to Canada, Europe and Mexico. Our kennel has the broadest bloodlines for the PM in the U.S.A. and the largest number of Pyrenean Mastiffs in the country.
and two paragraphs later:
A Moment In History!
Breeder of Pyrenean Mastiffs since 1996: Tierra Alta kennels were proud to announce the arrival of the first Pyrenean Mastiff litter born in the U.S.A. October 1st, 1997
It was then quickly discovered that there is a breed association for Pyrenean Mastiffs and almost as quickly revealed that the breed association shares the same telephone number as the breeders. Nonetheless, I’m going to republish the history of the breed as it is presented on the website of the PMCA Pyrenean Mastiff Club of America.
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Mastin de los Pirineos – Pyrenean Mastif
Statue of the Molossus Belonging to Olympias, daughter of the Molossian King Pyrrhus
Edited By Brian Vesey-Fitzgerald – “The Book Of The Dog“
THE SPANISH MASTIFF & THE PYRENEAN MASTIFF THE HISTORY OF SPAIN
In the Middle Ages, the Christians in the north and the Moslems in the south of the Iberian peninsula were fighting against each other for the control of the land that would one day become known as Espana. In the Christian kingdoms, the business of wool and lambs was the livelihood of the people. At that time existed two hegemonic kingdoms in the yet unborn Spain, Castilla and Aragon. In these kingdoms, each having a very different way of life, were born two breeds of dogs.
In the wide and flat Castilla, the Mastin Espanol (Spanish Mastiff); in the heterogeneous and abrupt Aragon, the Mastin del Pirineo (Pyrenean Mastiff). The system of “trashumancia” in Castilla was completely homogeneous. The big herds had a lot of very detailed rules imposed by the “Honrado Concejo de la Mesta”. These rules included the way to treat the dogs, which was important, since these dogs defended the flocks from many risky situations across many thousands of miles. These big and valiant dogs are the breed we know today as the Spanish Mastiff.
In the kingdom of Aragon, the “Honrado Concejo de la Mesta” had no authority, and the herding rules differed from one valley to the next. The Pyreneans were home to many wolves and bears, and here another magnificent protector, the Pyrenean Mastiff or “Mostin”(from the old aragonish language) was employed.
As the centuries passed these systems continued. The river Ebro remained the border between these two excellent molosser breeds up until our day.
The Spanish Mastiff and Pyrenean Mastiff are both molossoid breeds. The Spanish Mastiff has a shorter coat, slightly bigger head and a little more skin on the throat. The Pyrenean Mastiff has a longer coat and his color is always white with an obligatory mask around the eyes and on the ears. In both cases, the texture of the coat is hard, not soft or wooly. In both breeds the head is important, the structure powerful, a wide chest and round ribs. The expression of the Spanish Mastiff is much “sweeter” than that of the expressive face of the Pyrenean Mastiff.
These two magnificent canine giants have conquered the hearts of many. They are both breeds of excellent temperament and indescribable charm. These Mastiff dogs do not require extensive care. They are healthy breeds that require to spend their days with someone who will be more of a friend and companion than just an “owner’. They are proud, strong and sure of themselves and a great piece of the history of Spain.
ASPECTS OF THE PYRENEAN MASTIFF
The dog we know as the Pyrenean Mastiff belongs to the breed of very big molosus dogs. These dogs were the guardians of the Aragonien sheep herds protecting them from predators such as the wolf and bear. The Mastiff from Navarra and Cataluna are included in the Pyrenean Mastiff of today. They were also used to protect houses, farms and castles.
In their work of protecting the herd they were assisted by the shepherd dog today known as Gos d’Atura Catala. In order to protect themselves while working the Pyrenean Mastiff used to wear a special collar called a “carlanca” generally made of iron with sharp protruding spikes. The collar was an extraordinary help in case of an attack from wolves or bears.
The time eventually came when the herds worst predators disappeared from the Pyreneas. This was around 1930 to 1940. The question of what to do with such a big dog with a large appetite was pondered by the farmers. Due to the lack of interest in this big dog it gradually began to disappear. This could have been disastrous for the breed had it not have been for a few big dog lovers who adopted the task of the breeds survival.
It was hard to feed such a big dog during the period just after the Spanish Civil War but it was obviously one that was accomplished. The great-great-grandchildren of these dogs are the seeds that have been used to revive the breed today. The Pyrenean Mastiff is part of the common origin of the molosus or molususlupoides to guard the livestock. It was distributed within different breeds in the southern part of Europe from Turkey to Portugal and from Caucaso to Sierra Morena.
In the Spanish breed the molosus factor dominates the lupoide one and its structure with a big skull, strong bones and round ribs makes it difficult to rest. The Pyrenean Mastiff is a rectangular dog, thick, big head and wide breast. The ears should be implanted over the eyes line and not too big. The eyes should be intelligent and dark. Overall the Pyrenean Mastiff shall show his power and his strength. The base color of the coat should always be white. The eyes and ears should always be colored. The hair should be long and thick. The Pyrenean Mastiff character is noble, tame with the children and with the people who get along well with the dog, but implacable with those who dare to challenge him.
Often people who are unfamiliar with the breed may say that these dogs are very big and very stupid. Those who refer to the breed in this context are usually more familiar with the barking-attacking anyone or anything without any reason type of dog. The Pyrenean Mastiff is and was a very calm dog possibly due to the fact that his function depended on that. It is a very self reliant dog and barks very little. However if necessary it can be extremely aggressive although it only comes to this point if there really is no other way out. The Pyrenean Mastiff is quiet, good and equilibrated in practically all circumstances. The Pyrenean Mastiff is a dog happy to put on a collar and walk patiently by the side of his owner.
“To each his own” as the saying is known. However in the case of the Pyrenean Mastiff there are some helpful points to look for in the breed: More importance should be placed on the massivity than the size, and to the head rather than the tail. A deeper breast than the elbows rather than shorter and poor. Preferably a too aggressive dog to a too timid one. A deep face profile to a “wolf- thin” profile. A dog with open toes, but extremely strong bones rather than one with perfect toes and too light in the bones or too flat of a breast and ribs. It is more important to seek maybe some incorrect teeth in a powerful and big head rather than some perfect teeth in a “wolfie” head. The ultimate dog is strong, rustic, powerful and full of typicity rather than an “elegant” or “harmonic” or “changed” one.
As previously noted ten to twelve years after the Spanish Civil War the breed was less abundant. With the onset of the seventies, lover of the Spanish dog breeds began to research dogs in the mountains and in the rest of Aragon for the dog that perhaps could belong to the beloved Spanish breed, the old and great molossus from Aragon. The Club del Mastin del Pirineo de Espana (Spanish Pyrenean Mastiff Club) was founded in 1977. It is an association where all breeders, owners and lovers of the breed united to become the most important club dedicated to a Spanish breed. Some years after their beginning the only *monographic book about the Pyrenean Mastiff was written by the club. The international history of the Pyrenean Mastiff is only beginning. Today there are about 4000 Pyrenean Mastiffs in their homeland of Spain.
ORIGIN
Origin: Spain.
The Pyrenean mastiff is a native of the southern slopes of the Pyrenees mountains. The mastiff was developed in the region of the Pyrenean Mountains that stretches from Aragon to Navarra. The breed was once known as the Navarra mastiff. The breed was at one time almost extinct but has gained new interest in recent years. It is still rare despite this. It is also known as the Mastiff of Navarre and the Mastin d’Aragon.
The Pyrenean mastiff should not be confused with its French counterpart, the Great Pyrenees.
The Phoenecian traders acquired mastiffs in Assyria and Sumeria. These dogs were sold in Spain where they were to be bred as working dogs and their heritage can be traced back to the great Asiatic mastiffs.
Description: It is a strong, powerful and tall dog of elegant beauty. Ideal height at the withers for males is 32 inches/81 cm and 29 1/2 inches/75 cm for females. Life expectancy is about 12 -14 years.
The Pyrenean mastiff has such a light step that it hardly leaves any footprints. It posesses a large, long and strong head and long muzzle with a black nose. The skull is slightly rounded, broad and convex, prominent occiput and a wide, deep muzzle. The head should be massive and broad. The neck is powerful and surrounded by loose skin and hanging double dewlaps. The face is symmetrical and the eyes are small and dark with the lower eye lid showing. The ears are pointed and pendant. Although the ears can be cropped and the tail docked, this is not recommended. The tail is carried low and has a fringe and should have a curl at the tip and although it stands up when active, is never carried over the back. The body should be rectangular, well muscled and with strong bone. The back is level, slightly hollow and more inclined toward the withers.
The Pyrenean mastiff has a thick, abundant and coarse coat that is medium long on the body but is slightly longer on the throat and neck. Coat colors most frequently seen are white with markings either golden, any shade of grey, black or badger, sand, red or marbling markings on the sides of the head and ears and the beginning of the neck. Markings may also be found on the posterior. Least prized dogs are those to have black and white markings. No matter what the markings the main body color is always white. A few large patches on the body are permissible but not in all white or tricolored dogs. The fore and hindquarters are strong with plenty of bone and muscle. The forefeet are not very large with toes that are closed and well arched. Double dewclaws on the hindlegs are typical but NOT obligatory in this breed.
TEMPERAMENT
Silent, friendly and intelligent
Uses: The Pyrenean mastiff is a flock guardian, hunter of wild game, personal guardian and working dog. It is an excellent sheep protector, resistant to cold weather and capable of fighting off predators such as wolves.
Every Spring, for many centuries, the shepherds of the Pyrenees would move their large flocks from the lower mountain plains to grazing areas in the high, mountain valleys. The Pyrenean mastiff aided in moving and protecting these flocks during the trip. Four or five dogs would take charge of up to a thousand sheep. The mastiff was equipped with a heavy spiked collar known as a “carlanca” in order to protect the neck during a wolf attack. The mastiff was regognized as a distinct breed in the latter part of the last century. It is a reliable, obedient and protective companion.
All along the southern third part of Europe, from Caucase to Sierra Morena and from Lisboa to Stambul, exist, and have existed during centuries past, molosoid and lupo – molosoid large breeds of dogs. These dogs are dedicated traditionally to guard the ewe herds, and have adapted both their physical and mental abilities to the different circumstances, countries, climates, etc., where their jobs have taken them.
We have known guarding breeds such as the Anatolian Karabash, the Komondor, the Ovtcharka, the Kuvasz, the Polish Tatra, the Maremma – Abruzzese, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, the Mastin Espanol, the Rafeiro de Alentejo, the Estrela Mountain Dog and others. Among them, one of the more fascinating breeds is the Pyrenean Mastiff (Mastin de los Pirineos). This breed is one of the most primitive breeds of flock guardian dogs.
The Pyrenean Mastiff, like the Mastin Espanol (Spanish Mastiff) breed, was influenced in the past from the blood of molosser dogs coming probably to Spain through the South (Cadiz or “Gadir”) proceeding from Asia in the Phoenecian boats. This influence produced two different types of large and powerful dogs perfectly adapted for the job that would be required to do for so many centuries, protecting the lambs against the wolf and the bear.
There were two molossoid Spanish breeds, the Mastin del Pirineo and the Mastin Espanol. The first of these two lived in the north – east part of Spain and the latter in the center, in the area of Castilla and Leon. In the middle age times when both breeds became established, the lands of Aragon and Cataluna were independent and this was where the Pyrenean Mastiff was living. The Mastin del Pirineo can compare his history to that of the Pyrenean Mountain Dog because they have many breed similarities.
Imagine that the Pyreneans valleys direction was north-south and both sides belonged to the Navarra-Aragon-Cataluna crown or in essence to Spain. This situation changed in 1659, when Mazarino, the Regent of France and Philippe IV, King of Spain signed a decree through which France acquired the Northern side of the Pyreneans. From that time on, the French raised their dogs in their own direction and style, hence leading to a characteristic type that later became known as Chien de Montagne des Pyrenees (Pyrenean Mountain Dog/Great Pyrenees). In the Southern Pyrenees, the Spanish chose to remain with the traditional type dogs, working dogs that were more primitive and wide, less refined and homogeneous. During the international expansion that the official cynology has experienced in our twentieth century, both breeds have had opposite appeal.
The Pyrenean Mountain Dog (Great Pyrenees) has enjoyed great recognition due to the excellent selection efforts of the French breeders and those of other countries also. The Spanish Pyrenean Mastiff was barely surviving as a breed, still working in his traditional role as guardian of the lambs, until the middle of this century when the last wolf was killed off in the Spanish Pyreneans. In the forties and fifties Spain was in poor shape, still trying to recuperate from the effects of a civil war. A large breed such as this, that eats a lot and with no useful job to perform in its homeland became a heavier burden on the people during such hard times and with each passing year their numbers began to diminish as a pure breed. In the seventies, a new passion grew among many people who had an interest in the Spanish breed. Gradually the Pyrenean Mastiff began to make a comeback, although far from the wolves and lambs, but closer to a bigger friend, man.
Today people are beginning to once again take an interest in the Pyrenean Mastiff. If luck is on the side of this large and wonderful Spanish breed, it will this time enjoy the recognition that it rightfully deserves.
Information provided by Rafael Malo
Story translated and edited by Karin S.Graefe
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I closed yesterday’s post with these words:
Further research on this breed has turned up some very interesting information. Come back tomorrow to read that and what we discovered when we spoke to the breeder.
Well you have had the interesting information and later I had a wonderful conversation with Karin Graefe of that breeder; De La Tierra Alta Kennels in Oakdale, California. (See footnote.)
In a web search for other PM breeders I came across Pyrenean Mastiffs de Monte Sano based in Alabama. Here’s what you read on their website home page:
Pyrenean Mastiffs de Monte Sano owner, Victoria Betterton, is an active member of the Pyrenean Mastiff Club of Spain (Club Del Mastín Del Pirineo De España (C.M.P.E)) and is the US representative for the club.
Located in Huntsville Alabama, we have done a lot of research into the Pyrenean Mastiff breed and have worked hard to bring wonderful specimens to the USA. Our dogs are the result of the vision of breeders that are among the best in Italy and Spain. These breeders have become good friends as these dogs are now a loving part of our family.
The Pyrenean Mastiff has recently been added to the American Kennel Club’s (AKC’s) Foundation Stock Service (FSS). Our breeding dogs are registered with FSS as well as with both the Federación Canófila de Puerto Rico (FCPR) for Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) approved registry purposes, and the United Kennel Club (UKC) for show purposes. All our dogs and their offspring can also be registered with all of the smaller clubs that accept FCI approved or UKC registrations such as the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA).
I called them and it was Victoria who took the call. I explained the circumstances of Brandy coming into our lives and then sent her an email with some photographs of Brandy. This was her reply:
Hi Paul,
It could be that Brandy has Pyrenean Mastiff in him, but I doubt he is purebred. The jowls, and especially the coloring is not characteristic. He doesn’t have near the droop in the lip of typical PMs, and he is missing way too much white, especially on the nose. While there are PMs with darker muzzles, they always have some white or they are not considered correct for the breed. I’d say he is definitely a mix of something and PM or GP. If you could trace the owner by microchip, you may be able to find out.
He is a beautiful dog. I wonder why they clipped him. I never clip mine. The hair protects from cold and heat both.
Best Regards, Vicki Betterton
Clearly more to find out!
Footnote:
Later in the afternoon I had a most delightful conversation with Karin Graefe of De la Tierra Alta Kennels in California who came up with another possible explanation of Brandy’s roots. More of that another day. But can’t resist telling you that in my call with Karin it was very quickly established that she joins me and Jean in being another Londoner as she was born in Kensington. Small world at times!
Back on the 11th April, I published a post A loving welcome to Brandy. I explained, with regard to a garage sale that Jean and friends had gone to that Saturday morning:
It turned out to be a couple and their daughter that were selling off stuff in advance of having to move to a much smaller house including needing to re-home their dog.
There in the garage was the dog, a beautiful tan coloured Great Pyrenees, as they are known in North America.
At that time, when Jean had been speaking to the mother of the house, Jean thought she heard the dog being described as: “He’s a Pyrenean with some Mastiff in him.” In other words, a Great Pyrenees crossed with a Mastiff.
Having never before come across either a Great Pyranees or a Pyrenean Mastiff, when I first laid eyes on Brandy a couple of hours later it never occured to me to query his breed. To the extent that just last Thursday I published a post where the sub-title explained: Looking into the history of the Great Pyrenees dog.
Then, quite by chance, we came across some photographs of other Great Pyrenees.
Such as this one:
and this one:
Then the penny dropped! Our Brandy didn’t even come close to looking like these dogs so he can’t be a Great Pyrenees (Pyrenean Mountain Dog in UK ‘speak’.).
No question about it: Brandy is not a Great Pyrenees.
It then didn’t take us long to realise that most likely the woman had described Brandy as a Pyrenean Mastiff but hadn’t spoken sufficiently clearly for Jean to hear that.
So here are some pictures of the Pyrenean Mastiff from the web.
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The resemblance of our Brandy with these ‘web’ pictures is spot on: our Brandy is a Pyrenean Mastiff. Plus there is only one breeder in the USA located in Southern California. We will be speaking with them today (Monday).
Our Brandy is a Pyrenean Mastiff!
Further research on this breed has turned up some very interesting information. Come back tomorrow to read that and what we discovered when we spoke to the breeder.
Looking into the history of the Great Pyrenees dog.
This coming Saturday will be one month since Brandy entered our lives and to say he has been a gorgeous addition to our family is an understatement!
I was looking at him yesterday afternoon at feeding time (usually 3pm) and just saw his size in comparison to the window ledge and the chair next to him: he is a large dog!
Two things raced through my mind, the first being to grab a camera and take the following shot,
and the second to research the history of this breed. (But I should immediately say that Brandy is not purebred Pyrenean and has a little Bull Mastiff within him.)
That second item was but a quick web search away for top of the list of returns was an article on the website of the Great Pyrenees Club of America. The article was appropriately headed: History of the Great Pyrenees.It is fully linked to the source website so, fingers crossed, it is OK to republish here. I hope you find it as interesting as we did.
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History of the Great Pyrenees
Dog of the Mountains
These dogs take their name from the mountain range in southwestern Europe, where they long have been used as guardians of the flocks. In the United States they are called Great Pyrenees. In the United Kingdom and on the continent of Europe, they are known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog. In their native France, they are Le Chien de Montagne des Pyrenees or Le Chien des Pyrenees. Whatever the name, it is a beautiful, primarily white dog with a “certain elegance” which for centuries has been the working associate of peasant shepherds high on the mountain slopes.
The breed likely evolved from a group of principally white mountain flock guard dogs that originated ten or eleven thousand years ago in Asia Minor. It is very plausible that these large white dogs arrived in the Pyrenees Mountains with their shepherds and domestic sheep about 3000 BC. There they encountered the indigenous people of the area, one of which were the Basques, descendants of Cro-Magnon Man. In the isolation of the Pyrenees Mountains over these millenniums, the breed developed the characteristics that make it unique to the group of flock guardian dogs in general and the primarily white members of that group.
The Great Pyrenees is a lupomolossoid as opposed to a molossoid. While there has surely been some cross-breeding over the many centuries, the Great Pyrenees is not a mastiff nor are its lupomolossoid ancestors principally from the mastiff family. There are other dogs of the region, such as the Pyrenean Mastiff, and the Spanish Mastiff that fill that description. It is no coincidence that the Great Pyrenees is approximately the same size as the European Grey Wolf.
A Peasant’s Dog
The Great Pyrenees is a mountain shepherd’s dog. Over this long period of time the Great Pyrenees developed a special relationship with the shepherd, its family, and the flock.
In 1407, French writings tell of the usefulness of these “Great Dogs of the Mountains” as guardians of the Chateau of Lourdes. In 1675, they were adopted as the Royal Dog of France by the Dauphin in the court of King Louis XIV, and subsequently became much sought after by nobility. Having a precocious sense of smell and exceptionally keen eyesight, each dog was counted equal to two men, be it as guard of the chateaux, or as invaluable companion of shepherds. While their royal adoption is interesting, the dogs main fame was from their ageless devotion to their mountain flocks, shepherds, and shepherds’ family. When not working the flocks, you would find “Patou,” as he is lovingly called, laying on the mat in the front doorway of the shepherds’ humble dwellings.
Across the Ocean
In 1662, dogs were carried to Newfoundland by Basque fishermen as companions and guardians of the new Settlement. Here it was they became mated with the black curly coated retriever, favorite of the English settlers. This cross resulted in the formation of the Landseer (black and white) Newfoundland. In 1824, General Lafayette introduced the first pair to America by bringing over two males to his friend, J.S. Skinner, author of “The Dog and the Sportsman”.
In 1850, Britain’s Queen Victoria owned a Pyrenean Mountain Dog, and in 1885-86, the first Pyrenean Mountain Dogs were registered with the Kennel Club in London and shown at the Crystal Palace.
In 1870, Pyrenean blood was used with that of other large breeds to help bring back the St. Bernard after that noble dog’s numbers had been so greatly depleted by avalanches and distemper at the hospice in Switzerland. It was not until 1909 that the first Pyrenean Mountain Dogs were introduced into England for breeding purposes by Lady Sybil Grant, daughter of Lord Roseberry. It was twenty-six years later (1935) that Pyreneans were again bred in a kennel in England. At that time, Mme. Jeanne Harper Trois Fontaines started her de Fontenay Kennel at Hyde Heath, Amersham, later becoming well known the world over and accounting for many exports to distant lands.
Reconstitution
By the late 1800’s and early 1900’s the state of the breed had deteriorated due to the vanishing of the natural predator foes in the mountains and the practices of many unscrupulous breeders selling to naive tourists through the region.
In 1907 Monsieur Dretzen from Paris, along with Count de Bylandt of Holland and Monsieur Byasson of Argeles Gazost, formed the Club du Chien des Pyrenées (CCP) a.k.a. Argeles Club in Argeles Gazost. They combed the mountains for a group of “faultlessly typical” specimens. Monsieur Dretzen took these dogs back to his kennel in Paris. Also in 1907, the Pastoure Club at Lourdes, Hautes Pyrenées, France, was organized to perpetuate interest in the breed. Each club wrote a breed standard.
After the decimating effects of World War I, the breed’s numbers and quality had been severely compromised. A few dedicated breeders, headed by Monsieur Senac Lagrange, worked to restore the breed to its former glory. They joined together the remnants of the two former clubs and formed the Reunion des Amateurs de Chiens Pyreneans which still exists today. It was this club that was responsible for the breed standard being published in 1927. This standard has served as a basis for all current standards for the breed. After World War II, it was again Monsieur Senac-Lagrange who took the lead in getting the breed back on its feet from the devastating effects of the German occupation.
First Kennel in the U.S.A.
In 1931, Mr. and Mrs. Francis V. Crane imported several specimens to seriously launch the breed in North America with the founding of the Basquaerie Kennels at Needham, Massachusetts. Their lifelong efforts on behalf of the breed provided the breed with an atmosphere in which it could thrive and prosper. They imported important breeding stock out of Europe just before the Continent was closed by World War II. The American Kennel Club accorded the Great Pyrenees official recognition in February, 1933, and beginning April, 1933, separate classification began for the breed at licensed shows.
Today the Great Pyrenees is a working dog as well as a companion and family dog. Most of our dogs never see a show ring, but they are trusted and beloved members in homes and may function as livestock guardian dogs on farms and ranches. The Great Pyrenees is proving itself very versatile, gaining fame as therapy dogs, rescue dogs, and many activities with its human companions. They are very social dogs in the family and get along extremely well with other animals that belong to the shepherd, farmer, or family. They are wary of strangers in the work environment (this includes the home). They adapt easily to other situations such as dog shows, and make extraordinary ambassadors for the breed in many settings such as hospitals, old age homes, with children, etc. They have a special ability to identify and distinguish predators or unwelcome intruders. They are nurturing of small, young, or sick animals.
A publication of the Great Pyrenees Club of America, Inc. revised 1991, 2005
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I must repeat a couple of sentences from that last paragraph (my highlighting):
The Great Pyrenees is proving itself very versatile, gaining fame as therapy dogs, rescue dogs, and many activities with its human companions. They are very social dogs in the family and get along extremely well with other animals that belong to the shepherd, farmer, or family.
Frankly, I don’t know how we would have coped with what Hazel has been suffering with if Jean and I hadn’t had the bountiful, unconditional love from Brandy.
Oh, and speaking of Hazel …..
…. here she is tucking into her second meal of the day alongside Mr. Big!
Fingers tightly crossed dear, sweet Hazel may be beating the infection! (You see, I did say all your loving wishes were making a difference!)
Last Wednesday, dear friend Dan Gomez sent me an email that was headed Going to be controversial. It simply contained a link to a recent ScienceAlert item: You need to stop hugging your dog, study finds. I have to admit that my response was a rather rude one! Here’s how that article opened:
With their sweet faces, soft fur, and huge dumb grins, dogs were basically born to be hugged. As a species, they evolved over thousands of years with one clear path – to garner our attention and affection, and profit from all the benefits awarded to ‘Man’s best friend’. But along the way, they’ve had to make some serious trade-offs.
A family dog will never be the leader of the pack. It will be closed in, told when and where to pee, and now, preliminary data from a new study suggests that in return for room and board, our dogs suffer through our hugs.
I know, I know, it’s tough to hear, but bear with us, because it’s not all terrible news. Maybe your dog is cool with hugs. Maybe it finds your hugs annoying, but affection is affection, so it’ll take what it can get. Or maybe it freaking hates hugs and you’re stressing the crap out of it. All dogs are different, you just need to know how to read them.
Anyway, I was delighted to see the Care2 blogsite put out a slightly different assessment. I have great pleasure in republishing that Care2 article in full.
On the feel-good scale of one to 10, tenderly wrapping your arms around your dog and giving your pooch a gentle squeeze rates a solid 10, am I right?
But for dogs, the feeling apparently isn’t mutual, at least according to research by dog-training expert Dr. Stanley Coren, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia.
Coren examined 250 images on Google and Flickr of people hugging dogs. In his blog “The Data Says ‘Don’t Hug the Dog!’” on Psychology Today, he noted that 81.6 percent of the dogs showed some symptoms of stress, anxiety or discomfort.
“I can summarize the data quite simply by saying that the results indicated that the Internet contains many pictures of happy people hugging what appear to be unhappy dogs,” Coren wrote.
The reason dogs dislike hugs, Coren explained, is because when they are threatened or otherwise under stress, their natural instinct is to run away, so being wrapped in our arms prevents them from doing what comes naturally. This can raise their stress levels.
“Save your hugs for your two-footed family members and lovers,” Coren wrote. “It is clearly better from the dog’s point of view if you express your fondness for your pet with a pat, a kind word and maybe a treat.”
I think it’s important to note that Coren’s study was not peer reviewed (i.e., it has not been approved by other scientists as being legit), nor was it published in any scientific journal, but only on PsychologyToday.com. “This is a set of casual observations,” Coren told the Washington Post in regard to all the recent media attention to his findings.
With this in mind, I decided to conduct my own non-peer-reviewed study for Care2.com. (I’ve been writing professionally about dogs for years and have had them as pets for most of my life, so that makes me kinda-sorta an expert, in my humble opinion.)
For my research, instead of passively Googling photos, I actively hugged two very willing study participants: my dogs, Leroy and Ella.
Leroy (that’s him getting hugged in my profile picture) seemed to enjoy the hug; he wagged his tail and the corners of his mouth curled up in what could be interpreted as a smile. Although Ella, who is a nervous dog, tensed her body at first, she relaxed after a few seconds and calmly rested her chin on my shoulder.
My conclusion: Dogs don’t hate hugs. While I wouldn’t recommend walking up to a strange dog and giving him a big ol’ bear hug, I don’t think there’s any need to stop hugging our own dogs based on Coren’s casual observations.
Neither does Corey Cohen, a companion animal behavior therapist. He told the New York Times the dogs in the photos Coren studied may have appeared anxious because they didn’t like having their pictures taken, or perhaps they were being forced to pose.
“My dogs love being hugged,” Cohen said, probably speaking on behalf of many of us dog owners. “I can definitely tell. Their facial expression changes: ‘Oh, give me more!’”
How to Tell if Your Dog Enjoys Hugs
If you’re not quite sure whether your dog likes to be hugged, here are some of the signs that he’s not into it, according to Coren and Erica Lieberman, a New York City dog trainer and behavior consultant.
Your dog turns his head away as you hug him.
He closes or half-closes his eyes. “Alternatively, dogs will often show what is commonly called a ‘half-moon eye’ or ‘whale eye,’ which is where you can see the white portion of the eyes at the corner or the rim,” Coren wrote.
He lowers his ears.
He licks his lips.
He yawns.
Lieberman told the New York Times that people should look for what she called “cutoff signals” when hugging their dogs. If dogs “shake off” after the hug, just as they shake off water after a bath, it means they didn’t enjoy it.
If your dog shows none of these warning signals, I say go ahead – hug it out.
A fabulous example of how we reach out to others across the internet!
A week-and-a-half ago in came an email to me:
Hi Paul,
Just came across a post of yours for Earth Day 2014.
Absolutely love the fact that you’ve written about a “Green” topic!
In fact, I wanted to reach out and let you know that in honor of this year’s Earth Day (April 22), I just finished designing an infographic about 14 easy ways dog owners can become more environmentally friendly people.
Would it be okay with you if I passed it along? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!
Best,
Mike
Mike was Mike Shannon, about which more at the bottom of this guest post. Of course, I was delighted to receive his lovely guest post and infographic. Over to Mike.
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In its 46th anniversary to date, Earth Day is bound to continue to do what it has always succeeded in doing, help raise awareness among† individuals from all across the globe about environmentally-friendly topics so they work together to make this† world a better place to live in for the future generations to come.
In honor of this year’s Earth Day, which happens to be on Friday, April the 22nd, Ultimate Home Life have designed an info-graphic† that explains the most important 14 steps you can take as of today to go green with your dog.
This topic is certainly nothing to be taken lightly, and most certainly nothing of the impossible. Just look at the statistic provided at the beginning of the info-graphic – nearly 50% of families in the United States alone have a dog at home, which makes for more than 70 million dogs!
Let’s kick off our “going green” mission this year by making our dogs greener, one dog at a time.
If you have any tips for going green with your dog, make yourself heard in the comments!
Bio: Michael is the creator, editor, webmaster – alright, let’s just say he runs the show over at UltimateHomeLife.Com! He regularly blogs about anything and everything dog related, with an emphasis on trying to cover all questions that dog owners tend to worry about. So, hop over and give him a bark!
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What a fabulous and highly pertinent post for these times.
Happy Earth Day to all of us and our wonderful dogs right across this magnificent planet.
CAUTION: The following is offered by way of information reaching out to other loving dog owners. Please do not assume I have any specialist veterinarian knowledge and please do not take the following as a replacement for seeing your own vet.
About three or four weeks ago we noticed that Hazel’s bark was changing, almost as though she had a sore throat. In every other way she continued being the happy, lively dog that she is.
Then very suddenly last Thursday she started sicking up white, foamy bile and went off her food. Hazel rapidly became lethargic and lacking any vigour. Last Friday we took Hazel to our local Lincoln Road Vet Clinic and she was seen by Dr. Russ Codd, DVM. He took xrays that showed that Hazel’s lungs were far from being as clear as they should be. Potentially, Dr. Codd said that we could be looking at one of three things:
Some form of bronchial pnemonia,
A fungal infection of the lungs,
Cancer.
In view of the fact that Hazel hadn’t been coughing that ruled out 1.
Dr. Codd forwarded the xray pictures to a specialist. Later came the information that the spherules in her lungs, as seen on the xray pictures, were not as would be expected with a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Codd concluded that Hazel was indicating a fungal lung infection. Especially as this is commonly found in hot, drier parts of the USA and Mexico. Hazel was an ex-rescue from Mexico and for a couple of years we lived in Payson, Arizona.
The medical term for the disease is Coccidioidomycosis and I republish a little of what may be read over on the Pet MD website:
Coccidioidomycosis in Dogs
Mycosis is the medical term for any disorder caused by a fungus. Coccidioidomycosis comes from inhalation of a soil-borne fungus which normally affects the dog’s respiratory system. However, it is known (even likely) to spread out into other body systems.
The fungus spores begin in the lungs as round spherules, and live in a parasitic stage in the lungs until they grow large enough to rupture, releasing hundreds of endospores, which then begin a parasitic stage in the tissues, growing and rupturing, spreading out (disseminating) into the body perpetually. Endospores can also take a faster route through the body by way of the lymphatic and blood vessel systems, resulting in systemic infection — meaning the entire body will be affected. Coccidioidomycosis sets in from 7 to 20 days after exposure, though some dogs can develop immunity and never show any symptoms, especially younger dogs.
Dogs that are susceptible to the infection can become ill from only a small amount of the Coccidioides fungus, and fewer than 10 fungus spores are needed to cause the disorder. And though uncommon, Coccidioidomycosis is a deadly disease that originates mainly in the arid, hot regions of the western and southwestern regions of the U.S., and in several Central and South American countries. Coccidioidomycosis affects many different types of mammals, but tends to occur more commonly in dogs than cats. This infection is also known as valley fever, California fever, Cocci, and desert fever.
The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit this page in the PetMD health library.
Dr. Codd recommended getting Hazel on a course of antibiotics with Fluconazole being his first choice. That commenced on Friday afternoon.
Early today (Monday) Dr. Codd will be seeking to narrow down the diagnosis with further analysis of Hazel’s blood being undertaken because while he was confident that it is a fungal infection he wanted to confirm precisely the nature of the infection.
I will publish more information as it comes to hand and close with these photographs taken yesterday afternoon.
Hazel taking a very slow walk outside.
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But most of the time she just wanted to be left on her own in our bedroom.
We are holding Hazel very close to our hearts just now.
I can’t close without thanking once again Larry and Janell from next door who sent all these wonderful photographs to be shared with you. How on earth can one follow those up?
Learning from Dogs 