The Pyrenean Mountain
Dog Club
Of Great Britain
The new Book on the Pyrenean Mountain Dog
How it all came about...
It would be true to say that the book, which was published as one of the efforts to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the Pyrenean Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain in 1996, may never have been written if it had not been for the dedication of the late Mrs Constance Prince to the breed. After writing her first handbook on the P.M.D. in 1956 and updating it many times, to keep up with public demand, Mrs Prince felt that a full scale book on the breed was badly needed in Great Britain. With the passing of time, "stories" of well-known personages, pictures and pedigrees of top daogs etc., was well as important parts of the breed's history, would be lost to current generations. So she felt something had to be done about it and decided to "make a start" and see what she could find.
Even though her enthusiasm for such a project really took off, and together we spent hours and hours pouring through old books, making telephone calls and visitings museums, by the time the Bergerie Kennels moved to Bramshow in the 1960's and became one of the largest Pyrenean kennels in the country, not only had Mrs Pince's devotion to the breed completely taken over her life-style, she had then set herself the task of trying to strengthen existing bloodlines, resulting in the importation of several dogs from leading breeders in France.
In 1973, for a variety of reasons, "Bergerie" closed its doors and all the dogs were found new homes. So now that her days were not taken up with running a busy kennel, Mrs Prince decided to really concentrate on writing the long-awaited book on the breed. Even though she had completed several chapters, ready for printing, and had collected hundreds of photographs of historical significance and had found a publisher, she again put it "on hold" when she was needed to supervise the changeover of their firm in Southampton.
Unfortunately, her time back in the throes of "business life" did not last long; her health began to deteriorate and in the middle of the 1980's Mrs Prince presented me with her 12 years work in the hope that one day such a book, as she had envisaged, would be completed and published. When plans were being made for the Diamond Jubilee of the PMDC of GB the Committee unanimously agreed that the Club should go ahead and publish a full-scale book on the breed, making use of Mrs Prince's research. She was, naturally, delighted when she was told and up to the time she entered a local Nursing Home she was kept up-to-date with how the work was progressing.
If it hadn't been for her enthusiasm, dedication for the breed and unsurpassed interests in history, who knows... this book might never have been written... we certainly would never have had the basis on which to build such a monumental work. Constance Prince certainly made her mark on the Pyrenean world. She was a one and only who will never be fogotten. With this in mind, the Club were proud to dedicate the completed book to her memory.
As this was the first time such a task had been contemplated by the Pyrenean Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain, it was decided it should be a complete a record as possible. It should not only include chapters on Origin and Development of the breed and its introduction into Great Britain, but show its establishment in the show world, the top dogs of various eras, as well as the various personalities in the breed. It should also include a picture and pedigree of every Pyrenean that had achieved Champion status; with special emphasis on the breed record holders and other top winners. As it was the intention that it should become the main work of reference for the breed in Great Britain, it was also decided to include chapters on Buying, Raising and Training a Pyrenean Puppy; Showing and Grooming; Breeding and Whelping and care of a litter, all these chapters being beautifully illustrated with 'pet' pictures supplied by supportive club members. The breed Standard is described in detail and with many illustrations, this important chapter has been commended, internationally, by many judges.
As it was hoped that the book would be of interest to Pyrenean owners in other countries chapters, written by enthusiasts and experts, were included from most of Europe as well as from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan.
Considerable interest has also been expressed on the chapter on the various breeds allied to the Pyrenean.
After its official launch at the Pyrenean Breed Stand at Crufts in 1996, it was reviewed in the Dog press and one can do no better than quoting the following. It is...
"Not just a book, but an encylopaedia on the breed."
Which says it all......!!
Joyce Stannard, President, Pyrenean Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain
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