MURTOI'S
	PYRENEAN MASTIFF

 

 

THE TEMPER OF PYRENEAN MASTIFF

A STAINLESS AND FEARLESS "HIDALGO"

By Giovanni D'Urso

Being used for generation to work with his fellow dogs: the Pyrenees mastiff has developed a wonderful temper. He peacefully lives with other dogs, he is not aggressive, nor quarrelsome with them, even if he is aware of his big strength. Spanish breeders use a very simple method so that their develop e balanced temper and get a high level of sociability: they let them live together and feed them with the technique of "free feeding", that is the dogs eat when they are hungry from one or more dispensers of dry food, which are at their disposal. It can seem a rhetoric statement, but they are very protective with children. They reminding their ancient job as guardians, when they watched with great care the lambs in the flock thay looked after. I myself have seen how a young male took my son's wrist in his teeth with great delicacy to take him, while he was coming back from school, from the gate at the entrance of my estate to the door of the house. He is a very intelligent dog, with a natural instinct as a guardian, and a strong ability to distinguish a malicious person from a family friend. He's always watchful and vigilant, and his powerful barking does not annoy, because you can hear it only when it is really necessary. His capacity to adjust himself is remarkable. It is a strong, healthy and rustic dog. To let him grow strong and healthy it is necessary to allow him complete freedom to move. Spanish breeders do not force their dogs inside small spaces or, even worst, inside boxes few square metres wide, but let them move freely in the estate. So a piece of advice to follow in case you decide to take home a puppy of this breed is to let him move as he likes. This way he will develop his sense of property and consequently a strong attitude as a guardian. And don't worry about the damages the little Mastiff can make in your garden. Even when he is very young, among the other qualities of the Pyrenean Mastiff, there's the respect for the property he must look after. The Pyrenean Mastiff shows since his youth to be a strong dog, without health problems. He's a rustic dog, living in a natural way is greatly good for his psycho-physical development. To keep him clean, it is enough to brush him once a day. The puppy, as well as the adult dog, can certainly be fed with good dry food and with the technique of "free feeding", already used by most Spanish breeders. The dog will eat when he feels like it, developing a good self-control. This technique, that will certainly meet opposite opinions, has anyway given good results with this breed. He is a dog that does not suffer in cold climate, and stands well enough the warm ones. Of course you have to grant him, both in winter and summer, a sheltered and dry place. He loves the contact with human beings, and it doesn't' have to be denied in order to obtain a good socialisation. In spite being a Molossian, the Pyrenean Mastiff is a very active and lively dog. His physic development will not be complete before he is two years old and he will reach his complete maturity when he is about three years. In the end the criteria to be kept in mind when selecting this bred are a good head, a correct construction, in order to avoid a structural degeneration so easily found in large-sized dogs in general, and of corse a balanced temper. A D.O.C. Pirenean Mastiff won't certainly disappoint his owner.