Overview
The Pyrenean Shepherd is a small to medium herding dog from the Pyrenees in France, often called the Petit Berger. It works alongside the much larger Pyrenean Mountain Dog, which guards flocks while this dog herds them.
It comes in long-haired, goat-haired and smooth-faced coat types, and is still used as a working dog today.
History
The breed has long been kept by shepherds along the French Pyrenees, herding flocks on mountain pastures through summer. It belongs to a wider family of rough-coated European herding dogs.
The Société Centrale Canine first recognised it in 1926, and today treats the long-haired and smooth-faced types as two separate breeds.
Appearance
Lean and athletic, the Pyrenean Shepherd is built for speed and stamina and can cover over 30 km a day. Long-haired dogs stand about 40 to 50 cm and weigh 8 to 15 kg, with smooth-faced dogs slightly taller.
The coat is medium or long and weatherproof, and may be fawn, grey, blue, brindle or black, sometimes with a little white on the chest and legs.
Temperament
This is an extremely active, intelligent and mischievous dog with quick reactions and abundant nervous energy. It is wary of strangers, though the smooth-faced type tends to be less so.
Care and exercise
Needs plenty of daily exercise and mental work such as herding, agility or training games. The rough coat should be brushed regularly to prevent tangles. Early socialisation helps with its wariness of strangers.
