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

[Lisa <eventidepyr@aol.com>]

R has a prettier head than that pic shows.  

Bea Stephens <beastephens@gmail.com> wrote:

>I'm partial to M. Beautiful.
>On Mar 28, 2011 4:09 AM, "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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