The Great Pyrenees were once used to herd livestock on steep mountain slopes of France and will eagerly embark on a tough, rugged hike. These dogs, which weigh in at 80 to 100 pounds, are elegant and calm—they were, after all, the Royal Dog of France. "They are the gentlest of the guarding breeds, the longest living on the whole of the giant breeds, and are easy to care for," says Carrie Stuart Parks, president of the Great Pyrenees Club of America. "They love winter. Their thick, double coat protects them from all but the most artic of temperatures."