About this breed
The Pyrenean Sheepdog (Smooth Faced), known in French as the face rase (“shaved face”), shares its origins with the long-haired variety. Historically, the two types were used in different terrains: the lighter, more agile long-haired dogs in the high mountains, and the slightly larger, heavier face rase for herding horses and cattle in the lower foothills. Both can be traced back to the late 18th and 19th centuries.
The long-haired type has always been more numerous. When the first French Kennel Club breed standard appeared in 1926, an appendix outlined the distinctions between the two varieties. This later formed the basis of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) standard for the face rase.
After both world wars, numbers of each type - especially the face rase - fell sharply, prompting a period of planned interbreeding to strengthen the gene pool.
Beyond coat type, the face rase differs in its slightly more compact, square outline; a muzzle shorter than the skull; heavier bone; tighter feet; and more moderate angulation that produces a shorter stride. Both types share intelligence, strong herding instinct, energy and stamina. The face rase, however, is generally a little more settled and biddable while retaining the same independent, sensitive nature.
Smooth-faced Pyrenean Sheepdogs form strong bonds with their owners and readily join in their activities. Not a dog for a novice, they thrive on training, variety, and an active life, often excelling in competitive work.
Images for this breed
The Pastoral breed group
The Pastoral Group consists of herding dogs that are associated with working cattle, sheep, reindeer and other cloven footed animals.
Usually this type of dog has a weatherproof double coat to protect it from the elements when working in severe conditions. Breeds such as the Collie family, Old English Sheepdogs and Samoyeds who have been herding reindeer for centuries are but a few included in this group.
Colour Watch
Category 0: Breeds with no NBS colour registration options.
Read more about Colour Watch.
Breed Standard colours
Breed standard colour means that the colour is accepted within the breed standard and is a traditional and well-known colour in this breed.
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
- Black
- Brindle
- Blue merle
- Dark grey
- Fawn
- Fawn black overlay
- Grey with white patches/markings
- Light grey
Other colour/s
'Other' means you consider your puppy to be a colour not currently known within the breed and one that does not appear on either the breed standard or non-breed standard list. In this instance you would be directed through our registrations process to contact a breed club and/or council to support you on identifying and correctly listing the new colour.
Non-breed-standard colours
Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.
Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog, health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.
Health
Whether you're considering buying a Pyrenean Sheepdog (Smooth Faced) (Imp) puppy or breeding from your dog, it's important to understand the health issues that may affect the breed and how they can be managed or avoided.
Pre-breeding Health Screening
Good Practice schemes and tests
We strongly recommend that breeders, at a minimum, conduct these tests before breeding, as evidence indicates these conditions are a significant concern in the breed.
This breed also has a breed club health scheme, with further information available here.
Click here to find out more about The Kennel Club's health standard
Find out about a particular dog's results
Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed or Activity Register.
You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.
DNA Testing Services
We don’t currently offer a breed-specific DNA testing package for this breed, but we have a wide selection of individual DNA tests available. To find out more and view our full selection, click here.
Breed Health & Conservation Plan
The Breed Health and Conservation Plans
Our breed health and conservations plans (BHCPs) use evidence and data to help us understand the health issues found in each pedigree dog breed. These plans help breeders and owners identify health and welfare problems and use information, health tests and health schemes to avoid passing on those problems to future puppies. They also support and provide breeders with tools and specialist expertise to help manage genetic diversity, understand the impacts of close breeding, and find the best ways to preserve the population of their breed.
Working together for the breed
We’ve worked with breed clubs and breed representatives to gather all available evidence to help us determine the priority concerns for the breed and decide how we can work together to manage and reduce these problems.
The full evidence base is available at the discretion of the breed clubs, however if you would like to seek access to the full report, please contact our health team.
More about health
If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.
Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.
To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email
Health and Breeding Support Team (The Kennel Club)
Breed watch
Category 1
Currently no points of concern specific to this breed have been identified for special attention by judges, other than those covered routinely by The Kennel Club's breed standard.
Breeding restrictions
There are a number of The Kennel Club's rules and regulations that may prevent a litter from being registered, find out about our general and breed specific breeding restrictions below.
More about breeding
With effect from 1 January 2013, The Kennel Club will not register puppies whelped from a merle to merle mating born on or after this date. This is due to associated health risks of impaired vision and hearing associated with the merle gene in this breed.
Looking for a puppy?
Looking for a Pyrenean Sheepdog (Smooth Faced)? Explore our list of puppies and rescue dogs for sale near you.
More information
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