Smooth Faced Pyrenean Sheepdog: regional coat lengths and care
The Smooth Faced Pyrenean Sheepdog has short hair on the face and fronts of the limbs, with longer hair elsewhere. Its body is more nearly square than the Long Haired variety. This profile keeps those differences visible rather than applying a long-coat cording routine to every Pyrenean Shepherd.
Height and the body
FCI gives 40–54 cm for males and 40–52 cm for females. The earlier UK guide uses the same main ranges but adds a tolerance of 2 cm either way; that tolerance is not stated in the FCI standard’s size clause. Neither supplies a numerical weight here. FCI describes body length almost equal to height, with lighter fringes on the front legs and breeches on the hind legs.
Measure the hair by location
FCI describes the longest hair at the neck and withers as 6–7 cm and along the middle of the back as 4–5 cm. The UK account instead describes body hair of 6–8 cm, sometimes shorter at 4–6 cm on the back. Those locations and figures should remain with their sources. Smooth hair on the face and fronts of the limbs is an important part of this variety’s outline.
Regular care without a cord recipe
The AKC Pyrenean Shepherd page gives general weekly brushing, ear cleaning and nail-trimming guidance for its breed account. That shared page also discusses corded coats; the UK and FCI descriptions for the Smooth Faced variety do not prescribe that finish. Plan brushing and checking the actual coat with knowledgeable help. The UK grooming category is more than weekly, without a fixed bath or clipping schedule supplied here.
Outings and comparison
The earlier UK exercise category is up to an hour daily. AKC describes considerable activity and shared challenges without giving an hourly minimum. Choose outings and play for the individual dog alongside the regular handling commitment. Compare the Long Haired profile’s different texture and possible strands, or the Catalan Sheepdog’s rough coat and two-stage moult, rather than assuming that neighbouring herding breeds all need the same grooming method.
Sources and further reading
Pyrenean Sheepdog (Smooth Faced) (Imp) at a glance
These earlier UK breed guides are starting points for comparison. Details may have changed, and individual dogs vary.
- Breed group
- Pastoral
- Size
- Medium
- Daily exercise
- Up to 1 hour per day
- Grooming frequency
- More than once a week
- Coat length
- Medium
- Sheds
- Yes
- Suggested home size
- Small house
- Town or country
- Town or country
- Garden recommendation
- Small / medium garden
- Lifespan
- Under 10 years
FCI breed standard
Standard guidance describes the breed ideal; individual dogs vary.
- Origin
- France
- Group
- 1 - Sheep and cattle dogs (excluding mountain dogs and Swiss cattle-dogs)
- Section
- 1 - Sheepdogs
- Height
- Males: 40–54 cm; Females: 40–52 cm
- Weight
- Not specified in this standard
This is the smooth-faced Pyrenean Sheepdog standard. It does not state the 2 cm allowance found in the earlier UK snapshot; long-haired measurements are not used here.
Official FCI standard (PDF)
Standard effective from 2001-03-13; checked 2026-10-15
