The Great Pyrenees is, as its name suggest, a very large dog. It ranges in size from around 25-32 inches at the shoulder. In weight it ranges from 85-140 pounds. It is primarily markings of badger, gray, or varying shade of tan and has a long, flat, harsh protective coat.

The Great Pyrenees originated in the Pyrenees Mountains of Europe which form the border between France and Spain. They were developed by the Basque people to protect their flocks from predation by bears and wolves. The dogs have been used for this purpose for over a thousand years. Since a lot of the bears and wolves have disappeared from the mountains, the dogs today are still guarding homes and property. Historically, the dogs have also been used in France to guard large estates. The ability of these dogs to work was achieved by selective breeding in which only the most successful workers were allowed to reproduce themselves, and therefore, a great deal of this inbred instinct remains strong. It is upon this thousand-year selection that we draw when we breed modern dogs for working purposes.

This Dog is a worker; the Great Pyrenees is a territorial guard by nature, which means that she works to keep her territory free from predatory danger. Because of this, there may be times when the shepherd does not see the dog for long periods of time. He knows that the job is being done because the losses decrease. If the dog is working effectively, the stockman may never see a predator, and the flock will never be disturbed.

A good working dog has been selected for hostility toward all possible predators. This is why Great Pyrenees, although bred to work on bears and wolves, are equally effective on wild and feral dogs which are an increasing problem to stockman. By nature, the Great Pyrenees is nocturnal. It has no tolerance for other dogs except the herding dogs that it works with, and very small dogs. It can be trusted with small, young and helpless animals of any kind, but it has to be watched as a young pup with some supervision as it usually takes a pup 18 months to become a livestock guardian dog. It is one of the most interesting qualities of a Great Pyrenees-the absolute intolerance of all predators, coupled with extraordinary patience and kindness to stock.

For anyone who keeps livestock in a predator prone area, a Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) is a must. These dogs have been used for centuries to protect herds and flocks throughout the world and continue to be paramount to the success of both large and small scale agricultural operations in the twenty first century. 

We chose the Great Pyrenees for Jane’s Saddlebag Big Bone Lick because they are territorial by nature; the Great Pyrenees is a working dog who closely guards this range from predators--both four legged and two legged. Often called "gentle giants", the Great Pyrenees can be trusted with small and young animals as well as children. 

There are two categories of livestock guardian dogs

·          The all-purpose farm dog and the working LGDs. The first is a dog that has been well socialized with humans and tends to stay in close proximity to the home/barn area. He is comfortable with assorted types of livestock and people. 

·          The second is a dog that has been raised exclusively with stock and can be left alone, sometimes for months at a time, to guard flocks from predators. This dog is not a pet. Great Pyrenees do well in both environments. 

Xena the Great Pyrenees of Jane’s Saddlebag is a working farm dog. Xena Warrior Princess lives with our goats, Dolly Llama, Zoë the Watusi and horses. She was born among sheep, however at 8 weeks of age Xena Warrior Princess was placed in the barn with Dolly Llama Too, Boer does and their kids. Currently Xena is being introduced to rest of the animals on the farm.