Re: [pyrnet] Tell me about my Pyr

["Chrissy McConnell" <chrissy_mcconnell@hotmail.com>]

Below is the section of the Standard for coat and color in Pyrs.

>>>>
>>>>COAT:
The weather resistant double coat consists of a long, flat, thick, outer 
coat of coarse hair, straight or slightly undulating, and lying over a 
dense, fine, woolly undercoat. The coat is more profuse about the neck and 
shoulders where it forms a ruff or mane which is more pronounced in males. 
Longer hair on the tail forms a plume. There is feathering along the back of 
the front legs and along the back of the thighs, giving a "pantaloon" 
effect. The hair on the face and ears is shorter and of finer texture. 
Correctness of coat is more important than abundance of coat.

Faults: Curly coat. Stand-off coat (Samoyed type).

COLOR:
White or white with markings of gray, badger, reddish brown, or varying 
shades of tan. Markings of varying size may appear on the ears, head 
(including a full face mask), tail, and as a few body spots. The undercoat 
may be white or shaded. All of the above described colorings and locations 
are characteristic of the breed and equally correct.

Fault: Outer coat markings covering more than one third of the body.<<<<
<<<<

Ideal coat will have a coarse outer coat which sheds dirt more 
easily....whatever the color.  Many, if not most show dogs have markings or 
at least did when they were born.  If one breeds generations of all white 
dogs, pigment breaks down, then albanism, deafness, etc. can occure.

Below is the link to the Great Pyrenees Club of America site, then the Breed 
Information section....click on the Official Standard button on the left.

The link after that is to the Illustrated Standard which shows examples of 
correctness and incorrectness.  Understand this is the Standard of 
Excellance....what is considered the ideal Pyr....no dog is perfect but this 
is what we all strive for.  Correct conformation, temperament and type are 
required for working livestock guardian ability and to distinguish the Pyr 
as a seperate breed....it just so happens a very nice, correct Pyr is also 
very beautiful.  :)

http://clubs.akc.org/gpca/

http://clubs.akc.org/gpca/gpcabreed.html

http://clubs.akc.org/gpca/gpcaistd.html

I know your girl is adopted so you do not have a breeder to help you.  The 
GPCA site and members of this list should be able to help you.  :)  Where 
are you located, maybe there is a regional club near you.

Someone else asked about coat as well, do you have a breeder?  It's always 
nice to have a wonderful mentor you can turn to for whatever may come up.  
:)

Hope this helps.

Chrissy  :)


>I would like to know more about my Pyr.
>
>I was walking her in the park and another Pyr owner
>came up to me and said "Oh, she has the fully marked
>coat".  She is not full white like the show dogs, but
>in talking with him he said that there are three coat
>types: full white, white with dark markings on the
>head, and a fully marked coat.  He also said that this
>last type coat was a bit more coarse than the white
>coats.  He also said that his Pyr sheds year 'round,
>where as my Pyr sheds only during spring.
>
>As she has adopted us, we did not have opportunity to
>meet with the breeder.  For the longest time, we had
>just assumed she was not pure bred (maybe some
>shepherd), but now I think she may be all Pyr.  Not
>that I would love her any less either way 'cause she
>is just perfect for our family.
>
>I am interested in any information offered.
>
>Thanks
>Dennis and Snowflake

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