The Patou is part of group 2: Pinscher and Schnauzer type dogs, Molossoids, mountain dogs and Swiss cattle dogs. This group brings together guard and defense dogs. They are physically powerful, muscular, dissuasive and have a strong temperament.

The ancestor of the Pyrenees mountain dog would be the Tibetan Mastiff, introduced to Europe by the people of Central Asia who, since Antiquity, emigrated to mountainous regions with their herds and their dogs. In the 14th century, we noted in our regions the first description of a dog resembling the Pyrenees mountain dog. But it was in the 17th century and thanks to the popularity of cures in the Pyrenees that it became known. This hound then had the mission, alongside the little Pyrenees Shepherd, to protect the shepherd and his flock against attacks by wolves and bears, but also to stand guard in the houses and castles of the region by punctuating his surveillance rounds with a powerful and dull bark. Mission perfectly accomplished since it earned him honors at the court of Louis XIV. Its success has not weakened over the centuries, as evidenced by 19th century travel stories frequently integrating this mountain dog into the decor of the Pyrenean region. The ultimate recognition of the Montagne des Pyrénées was offered to it in 1907 during the founding of the Argelès and Cauterets clubs which also introduced the first standard of the breed. Today, the Pyrenees mountain dog joins the few French breeds enjoying international notoriety, particularly in the United States and Japan.

The Patou is a strongly built dog with a majestic appearance. It is one of the giant breeds. Indeed, the male measures between 70 and 80 cm for a weight of approximately 60 kg and the female measures between 65 and 72 cm for a weight of approximately 45 kg. The Pyrenees mountain dog is very well proportioned . Its skull is slightly domed, its eyes rather small and amber brown in color, its ears small, triangular, rounded at the ends and falling flat against its head. Its back and chest are broad, its limbs strong with the particularity of having a double dewclaw on the hind limbs. Its tail is quite long and plumed. But the elegance of this breed lies above all in this magnificent white coat with or without gray or yellow to orange spots on the head, ears and at the base of the tail. However, gray spots or badger hair will be preferred. The hair is long (even more so on the tail, thighs and neck where it can wave), flat, supple and well furnished. The undercoat is thick and woolly.

You will need to be careful about overeating because excess weight is a factor favoring the development of hip osteoarthritis. A food not too rich in fats and starchy foods is recommended as well as a life in the open air accompanied by plenty of daily exercise. Growth should be monitored from the age of three months in order to prevent possible growth problems. bone deformities later. This breed may have an eyelid defect. Entropion means that the upper eyelid falls over the eye and the eyelashes risk coming into contact with the cornea. Ectropion concerns the lower eyelid which hangs below the eye revealing the red mucous membrane. Other problems related to the eyelids are often combined with the phenomenon of entropion/ectropion in this breed (eversion of the nictitating membrane or euryblepharon for example) most often leading to unusual tearing of the animal and chronic conjunctivitis. The Pyrenees mountain dog is subject to certain hereditary genetic pathologies such as Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, multifocal retinopathy and degenerative myelopathy. In order to protect puppies from these three diseases, a DNA test must be carried out on breeding individuals. Glanzmann thrombasthenia results from a dysfunction of platelets preventing normal coagulation. It generally appears between 3 and 6 months. Symptoms are: excessive gingival bleeding during loss of baby teeth, nosebleeds, bruising, prolonged bleeding after surgery or trauma and during heat. Multifocal retinopathy leads to a progressive detachment of the retina in several places, a source of degeneration of the retina which can spread by grouping of lesions. The first signs appear before 4 months. In less serious forms, the dog does not seem to have vision problems despite the abnormal appearance of the retina. In the most serious forms, the lesions can lead to blindness. Degenerative myelopathy, for its part, constitutes a form of degeneration in the spinal cord leading to progressive paralysis. Myelopathy generally appears between the ages of 8 and 14. The symptoms are: loss of coordination of the hind limbs leading to paraplegia, urinary and fecal incontinence, or even in extreme cases quadriplegia. Other pathologies may be associated with certain individuals of the breed and must be monitored. genetics of the parents such as polyneuropathy complex with laryngeal paralysis and caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy.

The Pyrenees Mountain Dog is independent, proud and dominant in nature. His education must therefore be early and firm in order to remain the master. He is also calm, affectionate, protective and very gentle with children, making him an excellent companion. Its original and innate function, that of a working dog intended to guard herds and estates, makes it quite reserved towards strangers, dissuasive, and sometimes even formidable. That said, this function also gives it qualities; intelligent, courageous, vigilant and faithful, it barks little except when it is watching over its territory. The Pyrenees is not a dog adapted to city life; Having trouble coping with confinement, he needs space and exercise if we want to avoid the appearance of behavioral problems. Finally, its abundant fur requires regular maintenance: brushing three times a week and bathing several times a year.