Pugnaces Britanniae vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison

Pugnaces Britanniae is originated from United Kingdom but Great Pyrenees is originated from France. Pugnaces Britanniae may grow 7 cm / 2 inches shorter than Great Pyrenees. Pugnaces Britanniae may weigh 56 kg / 124 pounds more than Great Pyrenees. Pugnaces Britanniae may live 3 years more than Great Pyrenees. Pugnaces Britanniae may have more litter size than Great Pyrenees. Pugnaces Britanniae requires Low maintenance. But Great Pyrenees requires Moderate maintenance

History

Pugnaces Britanniae is a dog which is now extinct. There isn't certainty surrounding the origins of the dog but it is thought they descended from dogs brought to Britain way back in the 6th century BC already.

These are ancient dogs, and when you do research you find references dating back to centuries ago. In fact when you read of the Roman conquest of Britain you read of huge dogs, which the Romans referred to as Pugnaces Britanniae.

It is believed that the English Mastiff descended from the ancient Alaunt and Pugnaces Britanniae and that the dog was used as a war dog.

great pyrenees - historyThe Great Pyrenees could be from Spain or France because the dog hails from the Pyrenees Mountains, which spans both France and Spain.

The dog was used to defend flocks from predators but its lineage goes a long way back, thousands of years in fact. It is thought that they only arrived in Europe about 5,000 years ago. The dog was adopted into the court of Louis the XIV as a royal dog.

During the mid 1600s, the dog's numbers dwindled but the French developed kennel clubs where the dog could be bred and its numbers restored. It was in 1933 that the Great Pyrenees received American Kennel Club recognition.

Description

The Pugnaces Britanniae was a huge dog standing at roughly 67 to 75cm and weighing 52 to 110kg.

He was a heavily built dog, a Mastiff type dog that had a large head, broad muzzle with fairly loose skin around the mouth, brown eyes, a broad back and rump, muscular legs and floppy ears with a long tail. In fact the Mastiff, thought to have descended from the ancient Alaunt and Pugnaces Britanniae, gives you an idea of what the dog looked like. He no doubt has a short, smooth coat available in fawn, tan or brindle and with the black mask.

Temperament:

The Pugnaces Britannia was a naturally aggressive dog so it is to be expected that he wouldn’t automatically have been a good family dog, possibly being aggressive around children and other dogs. They were intelligent and were no doubt taught some simple commands.

They were also very territorial dogs, wanting to instinctively chase and attack unknown people and animals. They were strong minded, confident, loyal ad loving dogs towards their owners, being protective of them, wanting to please them.

great pyrenees puppy - descriptionThis is a beautiful dog, noticeable by the essentially white coat and his overall size, standing at 70 to 82cm and weighing between 40 to 54 kg.

The double coat is medium to long, coarse and straight or wavy and and it can be solid white, cream or white with patches of light tan or grey.

The nose is black, the eyes brown, the ears of medium length and floppy and the tail long and plumed.

Temperament:

The Great Pyrenees is an intelligent, strong willed dog with a mind of his own so he will be able to be trained and socialized successfully.

His huge size will require that he be trained because when he is indoors he can knock things over and he must be able to respond to you telling him to lie down.

As a large dog, he isn’t suited for tiny homes, as he requires lots of space even though he doesn’t require a lot of exercise. Not only that, he takes his watchdog duties seriously and he is inclined to bark a lot, and in a small place, you’ll be getting constant complaints from the neighbors.

When trained and socialized, your big dog is social, active and loving. He gets on well with children, the elderly and with pets in the home. He isn’t that overly active and will happily make himself at home on your couch and bed.

Characteristics

The Pugnaces Britanniae may well have been a large dog and quite imposing to look at but he was in all likelihood a good-natured pet who got on well with his family members, being loyal and loving if brought up correctly.

Long ago dog training and socialization didn’t exist but a large dog like this would have to be socialized and trained to become obedient and an amicable all-rounder.

great pyrenees dog - characteristicsThe Great Pyrenees is such a calm, independent, serious, well-mannered dog who loves to be around his human family and to please them. He is gentle and knows how to behave well around children, the elderly as well as with any pets in the home.

He makes a wonderful companion and although he loves indoor life as much as outdoor life, he is much happier settling into life in the country or the suburbs as opposed to life in the city and a tiny property.

Give your big white coated pet all the love he thrives on, and you'll enjoy a wonderful relationship with this large, amicable dog.

Health Problems

The Pugnaces Britanniae could live to 10, 11 or 12 years of age with good care. Large Mastiff type dogs like this would have had to watch out for common canine diseases such as hip dysplasia, cancer and bloat.

In those days, no screening tests were available for health problems like this. Gastric dilatation volvulus or bloat is a common health issue with large, deep chested dogs where the stomach fills with gas and the stomach twists. Its a life threatening disease.

Canine heart disease is another serious health issue with these mastiff type dogs. Early stages with heart disease show there may well be no symptoms at all. However, as the heart disease progresses towards congestive heart failure, the dog will have symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty with breathing, weight loss, a distended abdomen and coughing.

A dog with symptoms like this would have to see a vet immediately.

great pyrenees puppies - health problemsYour Great Pyrenees is a big dog with an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years. His large size means you will need to look out for typical 'big dog' ailments such as hip dysplasia.

This problem can cause your pet to be in pain and he can also become lame, battling to walk and play and battling to get up after lying down.

Also, look out for bone cancer with your pet and as mentioned previously, bloat, which is a life threatening disease where the stomach of the dog swells up.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

The diets of ancient dogs were different to what they are today, as in those days there were no commercially manufactured dog foods. Dog owners in all likelihood tossed scraps to them which included starch.

Today a large dog such as the extinct Pugnaces Britannia would have no doubt been fed a high quality kibble from a leading brand and packed with minerals and vitamins specially formulated for a large dog breed.

Homemade food is also important, but not any kind of food – it has to be food which doesn’t upset the dog’s digestive system. Simple but nutritious food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach is ideal for a dog, and when it is chopped up can be added twice a week to the dry kibble for a tasty, healthy treat.

Raw meat added in occasionally is also hugely beneficial. No dog should ever be without fresh, cool water constantly available.

Grooming:

As a short haired dog, the Pugnaces Britanniae would have required a brushing twice a week to rid the dog of loose hairs. Maybe in those days they didn’t check their dogs over to see that all was well, but today you would need to check the inside of the ears. If the insides were red, it could be a sign of an ear infection brought on by dampness, excess wax and dirt.

The eyes would need to be checked for discharge and the teeth checked a well. One rotten tooth can cause a lot of havoc. The nails of the dog would have had to be checked and clipped as well.

Exercise:

As a war dog, the Pugnaces Britanniae would have been fit. He is a big dog and while they require exercise such as walks and hide-and-seek type of games, he isn’t the kind of dog that would go running with you on a jog, as large, heavy dogs can overheat easily.

Exercise:

great pyrenees dogs - caringYour Great Pyrenees isn't going to be a dog leaping around you demanding a game or walk like what you get from some energetic dogs. He certainly doesn't require strenuous exercise but will require a nice, brisk walk every day. Give him some ball or rope games too. He's territorial and likes large grounds to walk around and guard and this constant guarding is a good form of exercise too.

Grooming:

With two layers, the coat of the Great Pyrenees will need to be brushed twice a week to prevent burrs attaching to the fur and to prevent it from matting, It also gets rid of loose hair during shedding.

He tends to drool so it's handy keeping a damp cloth close by just to give his face area a wipe down. Your dog's ears will need to be cleaned with special ear-cleaning lotion and his nails will also need to be trimmed.

Socialization and Training:

Socialize your Great Pyrenees with other dogs and people from a young age. Without proper socialization, this breed can become territorial and possessive of his family, which could lead to aggression. He bonds with his family but tends to be wary of strangers.

Diet:

It is far better to feed your Great Pyrenees smaller meals throughout the day as opposed to 2 large meals a day. A large dog like him can develop bloat from gulping down a large amount of food too quickly.

If you feed your Great Pyrenees commercially manufactured food, make sure it is high in omega 3 and 6 to keep his thick white coat luxurious.

Your dog will need a dog food targeted at a large breed. Remember to include some raw meat as well as cooked chicken, vegetables and brown rice into his kibble and always ensure fresh, cool water is available.

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Working dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
France
Height Male:
67 - 75 cm
26 - 30 inches
70 - 82 cm
27 - 33 inches
Height Female:
67 - 75 cm
26 - 30 inches
65 - 78 cm
25 - 31 inches
Weight Male:
52 - 110 kg
114 - 243 pounds
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
Weight Female:
52 - 110 kg
114 - 243 pounds
44 - 54 kg
97 - 120 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
10 - 15
7 - 12
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
War Dog of Britannia
Pyrenean Mountain Dog
Colors Available:
brindle, tan, Fawn
cream, White, white with patches of light tan or grey
Coat:
Short and smooth
Medium to long, coarse, straight or wavy
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Northern Inuit Dog - Breed Comparison
  2. Sindh Mastiff vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  3. Tamaskan vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  4. Tosa vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  5. Wolfdog vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  6. Samoyed vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  7. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  8. Saluki vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  9. Rough Collie vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  10. Rajapalayam vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  11. Schnauzerdor vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  12. Pyredoodle vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  13. Saarlooswolfhond vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  14. Sarplaninac vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  15. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  16. Rampur Greyhound vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  17. Sage Koochee vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  18. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  19. Pugnaces Britanniae vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  20. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  21. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  22. Pugnaces Britanniae vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  23. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  24. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  25. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  26. Samoyed vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  27. Great Pyrenees vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  28. Great Pyrenees vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  29. Great Pyrenees vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  30. Great Pyrenees vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  31. Great Pyrenees vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  32. Great Pyrenees vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  33. Great Pyrenees vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  34. Great Pyrenees vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  35. Great Pyrenees vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  36. Great Pyrenees vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  37. Great Pyrenees vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  38. Great Pyrenees vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  39. Great Pyrenees vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  40. Great Pyrenees vs Goldador - Breed Comparison
  41. Great Pyrenees vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  42. Great Pyrenees vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  43. Great Pyrenees vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  44. Great Pyrenees vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison
  45. Great Pyrenees vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  46. Great Pyrenees vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  47. Great Pyrenees vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Great Pyrenees vs German Longhaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  49. Great Pyrenees vs Alano Espanol - Breed Comparison
  50. Great Pyrenees vs Entlebucher Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds