Image: a Black Newfoundland Dog which can be mistaken for a Black Pyrenees Dog
If you have come across this page, you are probably wondering, is there such a thing as a Black Pyrenees Dog? In short, completely Black Pyrenees Dogs do not conform to many breed standards – and we’ll explain why.
What is a Great Pyrenees Dog?
The Great Pyrenees, or Pyr, as it is known in the United States and Canada, is called the Pyrenean Mountain Dog elsewhere. In France, it is known as the Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées or the Patou more commonly.
This is a breed originating from the country of France. They have been used for hundreds of years to guard the livestock of farmers, including cattle and sheep. Descriptions of this breed begin from at least the 1400s, when it was described to be ideally white, and strong and sturdy so as to guard cattle against wolves.
So do Black Pyrenees Dogs exist?
In the United States
According to the breed standard of the American Kennel Club (AKC), which sets the accepted standard for purebred dogs in the United States, the Great Pyrenees has:
“A white or principally white coat that may contain markings of badger, gray, or varying shades of tan”
The only mention of black for the breed are black rims for the eyelids and black nose and lips. As such, any deviation from this can be considered a fault in this breed. For instance:
“Fault – Outer coat markings covering more than one third of the body”
In Canada
The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) from Canada has a similar description of the color in its breed standard to that of the United States:
“White or white with markings of grey, badger, reddish brown, or varying shades of tan.”
Again, the only mention of black are for the eyelids, nose and lips.
In France
According to the breed standard of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), which is an international federation of many national kennel clubs – including France – the Pyrenean Mountain Dog’s coat should be:
“White or white with patches appearing grey (badger or wolf) or pale yellow or orange (arrouye) on the head, ears, base of the tail and sometimes on the body. The most appreciated are badger grey patches.”
Black and White Great Pyrenees
Another question you may ask is, what about Black and White Great Pyrenees, do they exist? You may have seen what is claimed to be a Black and White Great Pyrenees. It is possible that a white Great Pyrenees has been cross bred with another breed, such as the similar Pyrenean Mastiff. In the American Kennel Club (AKC)’s breed standard, black and white is acceptable for Pyrenean Mastiffs. Such cross breeding may explain why such Black and White Great Pyrenees exist. However, just like for Black Pyrenees dogs, the Black and White Great Pyrenees does not conform to the breed standard of the Great Pyrenees for many associations.
Black Lab Great Pyrenees Mix
Image of a Black Labrador Retriever
Great Pyrenees have also been cross bred with Black Labrador Retrievers. Labrador Retrievers are said to be the most popular dog in the United States, so it’s no wonder a Lab and Great Pyrenees mix exists. This type of mix is also called the Pyrador, Labranees, Labrenees, Labernees, Lapyrenees or PyreLab. The genes from a Black Labrador can show in a Black Lab Great Pyrenees mix puppy as a black coat. Thus this type of mix can look like a Black Great Pyrenees, if one were to actually exist!
Conclusion
The Great Pyrenees, also known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, is described as being white or white with markings in many breed standards. Some may argue that Black Pyrenees dogs, or even Black and White Great Pyrenees dogs, do exist – however they do not conform to the breed standards of associations from the United States, Canada, France and others.
