Pyrenean Shepherd breed standards compared

Each column is one club's published standard. An empty cell means the club says nothing on that point in our records.

Clubs compared: FCI, AKC, KC.

Conformation

Conformation
Form	FCI	AKC	KC
BiteScissors bite	Standard (“Scissor bite (upper incisors covering lower incisors”)	Standard (“A scissors bite is strongly preferred”)	Standard (“Strong teeth, scissor bite”)
BiteLevel bite	Alternate (“Pincer bite (edge to edge) is tolerated.”)	Alternate (“an even bite is admissible”)	No ruling
BiteUndershot	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Disqualification - Overshot or undershot bite.”)	No ruling
BiteOvershot	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Disqualification - Overshot or undershot bite.”)	No ruling
DentitionFull dentition	Standard (“Complete dentition. Strong canines.”)	Standard (“Complete dentition is preferred.”)	No ruling
Ear carriageDrop (pendant)	Standard (“dropped, flat and very mobile”)	No ruling	No ruling
Ear carriageSemi-erect	Alternate (“They may also be half-pricked”)	Standard (“Natural ears are semi-prick with one-third to one-half of the leather falling”)	No ruling
Ear carriageRose	No ruling	Alternate (“or to the side in the case of a rose ear”)	No ruling
Ear carriageErect (prick)	No ruling	Alternate (“Ears are traditionally cropped straight across and stand erect.”)	No ruling
Eye shapeAlmond	Standard (“Expressive, slightly almond-shaped and dark brown.”)	Standard (“The eyes are almond-shaped, open, and very expressive.”)	Standard (“Expressive, almond to oval in shape, wide open”)
Eye shapeOval	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“Expressive, almond to oval in shape, wide open”)
Head shapeTriangular	Standard (“HEAD: Triangular in shape.”)	Standard (“The head is generally triangular in shape”)	Standard (“Head almost triangular when viewed from above.”)
Tail setLow	Standard (“not very long, set rather low and with a hooked tip”)	No ruling	Standard (“Set low, reaching to the hock with upward hook at end.”)
Tail lengthStumpy	Alternate (“A rudimentary tail is permitted.”)	No ruling	Alternate (“Sometimes born with a short or stump tail.”)
Tail lengthNatural bobtail	No ruling	Alternate (“The tail may be docked, natural bob”)	No ruling
FeetOval	Standard (“Lean, fairly flat, of a definite oval shape.”)	Standard (“Feet - Oval shaped.”)	Standard (“Lean, rather flat, oval shape.”)
Front dewclawsPresent	No ruling	Standard (“The front legs should carry single dewclaws, not to be removed.”)	Standard (“Forelegs lean, sinewy and straight when seen from front with single dewclaws.”)
Rear dewclawsSingle	Alternate (“Single or double dewclaws are acceptable on hind legs as is their absence.”)	Alternate (“Double dewclaws, single dewclaws, or lack of dewclaws in the rear are all acceptable”)	Alternate (“Single or double dewclaws are acceptable as is their absence.”)
Rear dewclawsDouble	Alternate (“Single or double dewclaws are acceptable on hind legs as is their absence.”)	Alternate (“Double dewclaws, single dewclaws, or lack of dewclaws in the rear are all acceptable”)	Alternate (“Single or double dewclaws are acceptable as is their absence.”)
Rear dewclawsNone	Alternate (“Single or double dewclaws are acceptable on hind legs as is their absence.”)	Alternate (“Double dewclaws, single dewclaws, or lack of dewclaws in the rear are all acceptable”)	Alternate (“Single or double dewclaws are acceptable as is their absence.”)
Neck lengthLong	Standard (“NECK: Rather long and muscled”)	Standard (“Neck - Rather long, well-arched”)	Standard (“Rather long, muscular, and set well into shoulder.”)
Neck shapeArched	No ruling	Standard (“Rather long, well-arched flowing smoothly into the shoulders”)	No ruling

Markings

Markings
Marking	FCI	AKC	KC
White markings	Alternate (“sometimes with a little white on the chest and on the limbs”)	Alternate (“with white markings not exceeding 30 percent of the body surface”)	Alternate (“There may be a little white on the chest and feet”)
Tan points	Fault (“Black coat with tan on head and on limbs”)	Fault (“black with tan points”)	Fault (“black and tan highly undesirable”)

Cropping, docking and other procedures

Cropping, docking and other procedures
Procedure	FCI	AKC	KC
Ear cropping	No ruling	Alternate (“Both cropped and uncropped ears are equally acceptable.”)	No ruling
Tail docking	Alternate (“some dogs are docked. A rudimentary tail is permitted.”)	Alternate (“The tail may be docked, natural bob”)	Alternate (“Previously customarily docked.”)
Dewclaw removal	No ruling	Not recognized (“The front legs should carry single dewclaws, not to be removed.”)	No ruling

The law on these procedures differs by country. A listing here says nothing about whether one is legal where you live.

Pyrenean Shepherd colors and patterns

What each club's breed standard says about every Pyrenean Shepherd color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.

Breed standards describe the Pyrenean Shepherd in Black, White, Gray, Blue, Slate, and Fawn. Standard patterns: Solid, Bicolor, Brindle, Merle, Sable, and Reverse brindle.

Eyes: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	KC	KUSA
Blue	Standard (“wall eyes are accepted in dogs having blue with black mottling”)	Standard (“partially or completely blue eyes are acceptable only in merles”)	Standard (“one or both may be blue or flecked blue in merle coloured dogs”)	Standard (“wall eyes are accepted in dogs having blue with black mottling”)
Dark brown	Standard (“dark brown”)	Standard (“dark brown in color”)	Standard (“dark brown”)	Standard (“dark brown”)
Light brown	Fault (“light ... eyes”)	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“light ... eyes”)
Yellow	Disqualifying (“light yellow eyes”)	No ruling	No ruling	Disqualifying (“light yellow eyes”)
Patterns
Odd-eyed	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“one or both may be blue ... in merle coloured dogs”)	No ruling
Sectoral	No ruling	Standard (“partially ... blue eyes are acceptable only in merles”)	Standard (“flecked blue in merle coloured dogs”)	No ruling

Nose: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“black”)	Standard (“black”)	Standard (“nose black”)	Standard (“black”)
Pink	Fault (“lack of pigmentation on nose”)	Disqualifying	No ruling	Fault (“lack of pigmentation on nose”)

Smooth-Faced

Coat: rulings by club
Color or pattern	AKC	KC
Black	Standard (“Black”)	Standard (“black”)
White	Standard (“Black & White”)	Standard (“Grey with white patches/markings”)
Gray	Standard (“Gray”)	Standard (“light to dark grey”)
Blue	Standard (“Blue Merle”)	Standard (“blue merle”)
Slate	Standard (“Slate Gray”)	Not recognized
Fawn	Standard (“Fawn”)	Standard (“variations of fawn”)
Tan	Fault (“black with tan points”)	Fault (“black and tan highly undesirable”)

What the rulings mean

Standard: Described by the club's breed standard.
Fault: Named by the club's breed standard as a fault: the animal can be shown but is penalized.
Disqualifying: The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this color or pattern.
Not recognized: The club does not accept this color or pattern for the breed.

Color changes

How a Pyrenean Shepherd's colors can change over its life.

Blackchanges toRust
Coat · With body condition · can change back
Blackchanges toGray
Coat · Progressive
Blackchanges toBrown
Coat · In the sun · can change back
Whitechanges toRoan
Coat · With age · from 2 weeks
Tan pointchanges toSaddle
Coat · With age · from 6 to 156 weeks
Bluechanges toDark brown
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toBrown
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toLight brown
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toAmber
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toHazel
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toYellow
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Blackchanges toSnow nose
Nose · With the season · can change back
Blackchanges toPink
Nose · With the season · can change back

Sources

Each ruling comes from the club's published breed standard or color list.

Published standards

Back to the Pyrenean Shepherd guide Grooming styles for the Pyrenean Shepherd

Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“black coats”)	Standard (“Black”)	Standard (“black”)	Standard (“black coats”)
White	Standard (“black with white markings (limited spotting)”)	Standard (“Black & White”)	Standard (“black and white”)	Standard (“black with white markings (limited spotting)”)
Gray	Standard (“grey, lighter or darker”)	Standard (“Gray”)	Standard (“light to dark grey”)	Standard (“grey, lighter or darker”)
Blue	Standard (“blue with black mottling (harlequin or slate blue)”)	Standard (“Blue Merle”)	Standard (“blue merle”)	Standard (“blue with black mottling (harlequin or slate blue)”)
Slate	Standard (“blue with black mottling (harlequin or slate blue)”)	Standard (“Slate Gray”)	Standard (“Slate Blue (long-haired)”)	Standard (“blue with black mottling (harlequin or slate blue)”)
Fawn	Standard (“fawn, lighter or darker”)	Standard (“Fawn”)	Standard (“various shades of fawn”)	Standard (“fawn, lighter or darker”)
Tan	Fault (“black coat with tan on head and on limbs (black marked with fawn)”)	Fault (“black with tan points”)	Fault (“black and tan highly undesirable”)	Fault (“black coat with tan on head and on limbs (black marked with fawn)”)
Patterns
Solid	Standard (“solid colours are preferred”)	Standard (“Black”)	Standard (“solid colours preferable”)	Standard (“solid colours are preferred”)
Bicolor	Standard (“black with white markings (limited spotting)”)	Standard (“Black & White”)	Standard (“black and white”)	Standard (“black with white markings (limited spotting)”)
Brindle	Standard (“brindle”)	Standard (“Brindle”)	Standard (“brindle”)	Standard (“brindle”)
Merle	Standard (“blue with black mottling (harlequin or slate blue)”)	Standard (“Blue Merle”)	Standard (“blue merle”)	Standard (“blue with black mottling (harlequin or slate blue)”)
Sable	Standard (“fawn ... overlaid with black”)	Standard (“with or without a mixture of black hairs”)	Standard (“various shades of fawn may be overlaid with black”)	Standard (“fawn ... overlaid with black”)
Reverse brindle	Standard (“brindle”)	Standard (“Brindle”)	Standard (“brindle”)	Standard (“brindle”)
Tan point	Fault (“black coat with tan on head and on limbs (black marked with fawn)”)	Fault (“black with tan points”)	Fault (“black and tan highly undesirable”)	Fault (“black coat with tan on head and on limbs (black marked with fawn)”)
Double merle	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling