Put all of the previously mentioned com-
ponents together to determine which head
most closely meets “The Look” criteria.
The next component for judging Great
Pyrenees is the front assembly. The front
assembly consists of the neck, chest-depth
and spring of rib, and the front legs as they
attach to the side of the ribs and the degree
of layback of the scapula (shoulder blade).
Over the past 20 years or so, Great Pyr-
enees fanciers have markedly improved the
physical appearance of the Great Pyrenees
rear assembly. The front assembly has not
fared as well.
We want Great Pyrenees to have legs
that are straight columns to the ground
and be of medium substance and width
between the legs. The front leg assembly
consists of the shoulder blade, the upper
arm, and lower arm and toes. The shoul-
der blade should be laid back to a signifi-
cant angle and the shoulder blade should
be laid on to the side of the ribs behind
the prosternum. That laid on position will
insure that the front reach gaiting will be
maximal.
The Great Pyrenees neck is of medium
length so as to elegantly support the head
that we have previously described. Two
situations can shorten the appearance of
the neck length. If the dog has a very short
back, it usually translates to a short tail
and a short, dumpy neck. This is due to
the shortened size of all of the vertebrae in
the body. A Pyr can also appear to have a
short neck if the scapula (shoulder blade) is
not laid back and is laid on upright. This
arrangement also eliminates any presence
of fore chest that would normally pro-
trude slightly ahead of the junction of the
shoulder blade and upper arm.
The shape and depth of the chest are
important for working function. The chest
is moderately well sprung and egg shaped.
It is not barrel shaped which causes the
dog to be out at the elbows or slab-sided
which gives the appearance of both front
legs emerging from the same socket. The
chest level should reach the elbows.
The afore described set of anatomi-
cal relationships make a well constructed
Great Pyrenees forward assembly. It exists
in the breed, but is not commonly found.
The third component of judging Great
Pyrenees relates to the breed temperament.
This is a large breed that is accustomed to
protecting flocks of sheep from predators.
They are accustomed to working without
much human interaction. Therefore, they
can and do think for themselves.
They are exceeding good judges of char-
acter and intent. The previous describes
what is expected from a Great Pyrenees.
Under no circumstances should a shy,
excessively nervous, or Pyr exhibiting
human aggression be allowed to remain
in the show ring. If you read the current
Great Pyrenees standard for the breed,
you will see the section on temperament
bolded.
When the Standard Committee consid-
ered temperament, we felt this was worth
noting. Coupled with temperament are the
breed’s attitude in the dog show ring. They
are not animated and most do not respond
to bait. If the Pyr is alert, he will carry his
tail raised in a wheel; if he is relaxed he will
carry his tail low, but not tucked between
his legs.
Two brief judging helps. Get your hands
into the coat. The coat should have texture
and body and not be soft and cottony. A
slight wave is acceptable, but not sought.
Check rear angulation at the hock by feel-
ing; groomers can provide optical illu-
sions of adequate hock angulation. Check
dewclaws. One is mentioned on each front
leg. Rarely, there are two- no penalty.
Two rear dewclaws are located higher up
on the metatarsal than are on European
bred Pyrs. U.S. Pyrs dewclaws are not as
functional. Two rear dewclaws can emerge
from one digit, be fused together or have
one atrophied and one developed. As long
as there are two, it’s good to go!
When I use the three major determin-
ing factors in judging the breed, this is
how I weigh them. Unacceptable tempera-
ment keeps me from rewarding a perfect
“
The Look” and a correct front assembly.
Since the Great Pyrenees can “make do”
with most of a good front assembly while
the true essence of the breed is manifested
in the combination of characteristics that
make up “The Look”.
BIO
Robert M. Brown has owned a Great
Pyrenees since 1965. During the period
through the early 1990s, he has owned or
bred fifty-five Great Pyrenees champions.
Being approved to judge Great Pyrenees in
1978,
he is the senior Great Pyrenees judge
in the Western Hemisphere and currently
judges two AKC groups and Best In Show.
Robert has judged 4 United States Great
Pyrenees National Specialties, 2 Swed-
ish National Specialties and 1 Canadian
National Specialty.
In 1983, he judged the breed at the
AKC Centennial Show in Philadelphia.
He served as chairman of the standard
revision committee that created the cur-
rent breed standard in 1990, resulting in
the only revision since the original stan-
dard of 1935.
282 •
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how
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ight
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agazine
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ovember
2012