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

[Lisa <eventidepyr@aol.com>]

Hi
They all are beautiful dogs.  All would finish quickly.  Make sure they move correctly.
Lisa

AndrÃa deCarlo <staad03@moravian.edu> wrote:

>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.
>
>
>AndrÃa
>
>
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