Pyrenean Dogs - A Complete Anthology of the Dog

By Read Books Ltd.

Pyrenean Dogs - A Complete Anthology of the Dog gathers together all the best early writing on the breed from our library of scarce, out-of-print antiquarian books and documents and reprints it in a quality, modern edition. This anthology includes chapters taken from a comprehensive range of books, many of them now rare and much sought-after works, all of them written by renowned breed experts of their day. These books are treasure troves of information about the breed - The physical points, temperaments, and special abilities are given; celebrated dogs are discussed and pictured; and the history of the breed and pedigrees of famous champions are also provided. The contents were well illustrated with numerous photographs of leading and famous dogs of that era and these are all reproduced to the highest quality. Books used include: The Kennel Encyclopaedia by J. Sidney Turner (1910), Dogs Of The World by Arthur Craven (1931) and many others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Oct 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9781447490715

Book preview

1935

THE PYRENEAN WOLFHOUND

UNDER various names, such as Pyrenean Sheepdogs, Pyrenean Mastiffs, etc., dogs of the Wolfhound type are sometimes met with at our shows. These are of stronger build, and shorter, in proportion to height, than the Borzoi, and shaggy. The whole head is thicker, and the skull rounder, although the muzzle is fairly elongated, and not approaching to the truncated Mastiff type. The ears are small, pointed, and dropping. From an English point of view, so far as general conformation goes, the dog suggests a cross between a Collie and a Deerhound, and about 65lb. to 70lb. in weight. It is not of very prepossessing appearance, and is evidently a dog built rather for use than for ornament. The shoulders are oblique.

The Pyrenean Wolfhounds look well fitted to tend mountain sheep, and to defend them from the attacks of such predatory animals as wolves and foxes. Their coats are thick and shaggy, especially in the vicinity of the neck, and very wiry, frequently of a rufous colour, slightly tawny, and of a lighter shade on throat, chest, and lower parts. The height appears to range from about 28in. to 30in. The tail is rather long and tufted.

It is thought by many that the Pyrenean Wolfhound was resorted to to resuscitate the St. Bernard, at a time when that breed of dog was nearly extinct; and many St. Bernards, of good pedigree, that have attained to some notoriety here, by their general conformation and length of skull and muzzle, give substantial support to that view.

The Pyrenean Wolfhound appears at our shows in the class for any breed of foreign dog not specially classified in the schedule, which many foreign breeds, from their great popularity, now are. From the