While the Pyrenean Shepherd is a healthy breed, as with all breeds of dogs, they are prone to a variety of health and genetic challenges. Some health issues for Pyrenean Shepherds are hip dysplasia, heart abnormalities, epilepsy, eye defects, and subluxated patellas. It is important for all owners and breeders to educate themselves on these issues.

The parent club of the breed in the USA (PSCA) has recommended that all Pyrenean Shepherds have the following genetic screenings done BEFORE being bred.

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» Hips certified free of hip dysplasia (OFA, OVC or PennHip)
» Eyes certified free of inherited eye defects (CERF)
» Patellas certified free of subluxation (OFA)
» CHIC DNA (see below)
» Heart certified free of hereditary heart defects (OFA) [This test is recommended but not mandatory.]

All puppies should additionally have an eye exam done by a certified canine opthamologist between 5-8 weeks, as there are some eye defects in Pyr Sheps that may not show up when checked at a later age. These dogs may check out as normal at a later age, but may still be affected, resulting in their offspring being affected or being carriers. Because of this all breeders should do eye exams before puppies go to their new homes.

When searching for a dog, ask the breeder for certifications for all of the above tests on the sire and dam, as well as CERF exam results on the puppies. Responsible breeders will provide this information to prospective puppy buyers.

Be sure to verify the results that are listed on kennel websites or that are given to you by breeders, by checking with the organizations certifying the health screenings. Unfortunately all information advertised is not always true or accurate. Please check the facts before buying!

Breeders and owners are also encouraged to do CHIC DNA samples on all dogs - both those that will be bred and those that will not. This important DNA collection will be used by researchers to study health issues in the breed. (This test is not the same as the AKC DNA, which is used to identify parentage.)

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It is also important for breeders and owners to understand that care needs to be taken in breeding merle dogs of any color: blue merle, fawn merle, or brindle merle. As in all other breeds that have the merle gene, in the Pyrenean Shepherd, one copy of the gene creates the unique merling pattern, but two copies of the gene (homozygous merles) are associated with severe health defects. Homozygous merle puppies from a merle to merle cross will be identifiable by excessive white markings, and will usually have the associated eye defects and hearing defects. To avoid this, breeders should choose not to do merle to merle breedings, unless they are prepared to euthanize these homozygous merles at birth.

Merles bred to solid colored dogs will not produce homozygous merles and the related health defects. (Please note that merles in this breed may be visually difficult to identify as adults due to the graying gene, especially in the fawn merles.)

The merling gene in Pyrenean Shepherds is the same gene found in other breeds with merling, and comes with the same associated health defects in homozygous merles. (Of course as in any breed, there are occasionally homozygous merles without the associated health defects.) Please be aware that any information to the contrary is false, and is not supported by current science and data. (See: Merle Patterning. In addition to this study there are CERF exams verifying that the associated eye defects do indeed occur in homozygous merle Pyrenean Shepherds.)

To date no Pyrenean Shepherds have tested positive for the MDR1 gene, and therefore it is likely unnecessary to test them for this.

* The Optigen CEA test is not affective in identifying carriers or affected Pyrenean Shepherds.