Atlas Shepherd Dog

Atlas Shepherd Dog (Aidi) - Chien de l'Atlas (Aïdi) ORIGIN : Morocco. UTILIZATION : Guarding and protecting his master’s flocks and belongings. BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The Atlas dog has existed since time immemorial in the mountains and on the plateaux of North Africa. At present it can be found in large numbers in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, the country which holds the breed standard. The Atlas Mountain Dog is closely linked to the semi-nomadic pastoral populations of the mountaneous regions and has the clear role of defending its masters’ tent and belongings as well as protecting the flocks from wild beasts which might attack them. There are no sheepdogs in the Atlas region. The Moroccan dog which lives in our mountains has never guarded flocks in the European sense of the world (herding flocks). GENERAL APPEARANCE : Solid, very hardy dog, noted for its power and mobility; it is well-muscled, sinewy, strongly built but not cumbersome and possessing a thick bushy coat which protects it equally from the sun and from the cold of its native mountains. This fleece provides a protective armour in the fights which the Atlas dog has to undertake against jackals and other predators. It has a lively, direct and decided gaze as befits an alert dog always ready to fulfil its guarding role. In some regions of Marocco it is customary to crop the ears and even dock the tail of working dogs. BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Very faithful, affectionate and docile with its owner and family members, the Atlas Dog displays inherent guarding and remarkable protective behaviour. Always alert, it instinctively measures the gravity and proximity of any danger and fearlessly provides an appropriate and efficient response.