Great Pyrenees and Their Unexpected Roles Throughout History
One of the oldest breeds known to man, the Great Pyrenees can be traced back to the Pyrenean Mountains over 5,000 years ago, where they were likely used as livestock guardians. Today, the Great Pyrenees has become one of the most popular and desirable dog breeds available, with many purebred Great Pyrenees costing more than $4000 dollars. Charles Zsebik, a longtime owner of Great Pyrenees and lover of dog breed history, has long been fascinated by the rich background of the working Great Pyrenees and hopes to share his knowledge with other fans of the breed. Below, Charles “Chuck” Zsebik will discuss the Great Pyrenees breed and its many jobs throughout history.
Artillery Haulers in WW2
Throughout World War 2 the Great Pyrenees was used by the Allied forces to bring artillery supplies over the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France. The breed was not only selected to traverse the Pyrenees Mountains because of their past history with the mountain range, but also for their sure footing and great stamina. The route taken by the allies and Great Pyrenees called the Freedom Trail or chemin de la Liberte, was used by hundreds of Frenchmen, Jews, and Americans throughout the war to evade German soldiers and bring supplies to troops throughout France.
Guards of French Castles
For hundreds of years, the Great Pyrenees was considered the “working man’s dog” and was primarily used to guard pheasant and other livestock. However, during the Renaissance, the Great Pyrenees gained popularity with French royals. According to documents from the early 1400s, the “Great Dogs of the Mountains” were used as guardians of the Chateau fort de Lourdes in southwestern France. In 1675, the breed was the favorite of the Grand Dauphin and later that year was named the royal dog of France by King Louis XIV.
Milk Deliverers
Until fairly recently, Great Pyrenees were often used to deliver milk and pull small carts in small towns in Belgium. Belgium has long been the world’s leading exporter of milk chocolate, making dairy a key component of the national economy. Originally, Great Pyrenees were used in Belgium as livestock guardians and protectors of cattle. However, for the past 300 years, the Great Pyrenees has been known to aid dairy farmers in multiple ways, including delivering milk.
