Country of origin: France

Height: Males: 69–81 cm, Females: 64–74 cm

Weight: Males: approximately 45 kg, Females: approximately 39 kg

The history of the Great Pyrenees is quite ancient, and they are thought to descend from dogs such as the Tibetan Mastiff brought by nomads thousands of years ago. These dogs were used to protect sheep from wild animals such as bears and wolves in the Pyrenees Mountains along the French and Spanish border.

By the 17th century, due to their obedient nature and elegant appearance, the Great Pyrenees were favored by the French royalty and became the official guard dogs of the royal court. Notably, Queen Victoria of England also kept a Great Pyrenees.

However, as the upper class gradually needed fewer guard dogs, the breed's popularity plummeted in France, to the point where they were nearly extinct.

To counter this decline, enthusiasts and breeders of the Great Pyrenees took action. They found a few surviving individuals in the mountains and began a breeding program to revive the breed.

Efforts were made to make them suitable as household pets by reducing their overly vigilant nature. Initially, only white-haired dogs were bred, but recently, individuals with yellow or orange markings have also been included in breeding programs.