Great pyrenean dogs affectionately called Patou in France. The most long suffering of all guard dogs. Jörg Krämer tells their eventful story; used for centuries to protect herds, a brief episode as a guard dog in palaces and castles, as a "lap dog" at the french royal court, become almost extinct due to the disappearance of bears and wolves. Their original role as guard dogs increased as the wolves returned. Today they are spread all over the world due to their journey from the pyrenees to the ruhr district to Marion and Stefan Ruhl, the breeders from Gelsenkirchen. The author explains the characteristics of the great pyrenees and gives advice on how to keep and train these gentle giants.