I never heard the word “sheepdog” used in this context until I watched American Sniper: The Story of Chris Kyle. I didn’t understand what it truly meant until a hunting trip with my Dad in 2016. Because of Dad’s mobility issues at seventy-four years of age we spent a lot of time driving. In a desolate region of Wyoming, eight miles from the closest ranch house, I saw it.
Watching over a thousand head of mindless sheep was a sheepdog. I later learned that this lone protector was a Great Pyrenees Sheepdog. It grows to 85–140 pounds and stands at nearly three feet tall. Its weather-resistant double coat consists of a long, flat, thick, outer coat of coarse hair, lying over a dense, fine, wooly undercoat.
In the wilderness, the Great Pyrenees is extremely territorial and protective of its flock or family. It’s strong willed, independent and reserved. It's fearless and loyalty to duty, which makes it an imposing guardian.
This great guardian protects its flock with its natural guardian instinct, nocturnal nature, and aggressiveness when predators threaten. It willingly to gives its life to protect its flock. But here’s the interesting part. When I observed this imposing sheepdog I couldn’t spot the shepherd.
He was nowhere to be found. It was then I learned that there is no shepherd! The Great Pyrenees lives in the wilderness alone—just it and the unsuspecting sheep.
Alone.
Alone, it protects the weak and powerless. Alone, it is watching as the last line of defense. Alone, it is standing in the gap. It receives no paycheck, recognition, or “Thank You.” This sheepdog's sole purpose is to protect the sheep at all costs.
Totally selfless, it leads a life of solitude, sacrifice, and service. The Great Pyrenees is a wonderful illustration of a man.
