[pyrnet] French vs. American Heads in the Great Pyrenees

[Andréa deCarlo <staad03@moravian.edu>]

Hi, all!

So I'm trying to decide where I should get my first Pyr to show, and 
what I'm looking for in a dog, and I'm definitely having a lot of 
trouble.  I'm located in the US, and will compete in the AKC.

I've included in this ( http://i54.tinypic.com/jubqle.jpg ) image shots 
of a few Pyrs I really like.  I am in no way intending to open a public 
discussion of any of these dogs' perceived faults!  I admire all these 
dogs, and have great respect for their breeders and owners.  Though I 
suppose they are still recognizable, I have labeled the dogs with 
letters rather than names.

Let me make a few initial comments (which you can disagree with) on 
each.... and please remember that although I have seen dozens of photos 
(and it some cases, video footage) of these dogs at various angles, I 
have yet to see any in person.

R - R is a beautiful dog, and has ranked incredibly well in the AKC.  I 
have owned a dog from R's breeder before, and loved everything about 
her.  R's breeder produced many dogs who I think look a lot like R.

M - M is from the same breeder as R, but I think is a bit different from 
most of the dogs there.  M's head is, from what I've been told, more of 
a "French style" head.  Other dogs I will discuss have this to a greater 
degree, but M has an incredible and lovely balance between the "French" 
and "American"  type Pyrs.  I would be so proud to own a dog like this, 
but I have not seen him--or others like him--in the ring very often.

P - I would say that P fits more into the "American" type category than 
M.  One gripe I have with a lot of the dogs I see here in the US is how 
loose-lipped they can be--though it seems as though this has improved 
over the past 20 years or so.  P does not have this problem, and I 
cannot find a single thing about this dog's head or expression that I do 
not like.  P has been, and continues to be, successful in the ring.

H - H is not from the United States, and certainly looks different from 
many of the Pyrs here in the US. One gripe I have with a lot of US dogs 
is how loose-lipped they can be... though it seems as though this has 
improved over the past 20 years or so?  H's head does not remind me of 
the dogs that have been most successful in the US as of lately, but 
reminds me SO much of photos I have seen of the early American Pyrs.

T - T is very similar to H, I think.  Cutie.

I cannot tell how much of the perceived difference in these dogs is due 
to their coat, but I have heard enough others confirm that there is a 
distinct "French" and "American" type that I know there must be some 
structural differences.


So, to the question(s) and such!  I am incredibly impressed with P, and 
would love to have a pup resembling P.  But I can't decide.  I also 
think H is a beautiful dog, but find myself nervous that getting a dog 
like her as my first show dog would not go well in the AKC?  I would 
love to hear your opinions and experiences/thoughts on whether more of a 
French-type dog would be able to be successful in the US... I think the 
smartest thing for me to do would be to search for a dog like P, and 
then if I am still so inclined, to incorporate dogs like H, T, and M 
into my lines when the perfect opportunity/dog arises.

I'd really really like to hear your opinions.


Andréa