Estrela Mountain Dog

Cão da Serra da Estrela (Serra da estrela Mountain Dog) ORIGIN : Portugal. UTILIZATION : An inseparable friend of the shepherd and a faithful watch-dog of the herds which he protects fiercely fighting against wolves or thieves. A wonderful guardian of farms and dwellings, also a good escort to people, he can occasionally be trained as draught-dog. BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : Living from the remotest time in the Serra da Estrela (high mountains in the North of Portugal), despite of its obscure origin, the Estrela Mountain Dog may be considered as one of the oldest beeds of the Iberian Peninsula. He can be found from the foot of the mountains to the top, mainly in summer, when, alert the snow has disappeared, the green pastures are much sought after by the herds, which he accompanies from the lower regions where the grass is totally dried up by the excessive heat. As a sheep-and watch-dog, he protects the flocks against the wild animals still existant in these regions. These dogs may also be found scattered in other parts of the country, mainly in the Center, but all these dogs have their origin in the Estrela mountains; either they have been brought as puppies to this area or they have been bred by breeders originally from the Serra regions. BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Alert and dignified, his expression is calm, but keen and vivid. Imposing and remarkable for his sometimes threatening distrust against strangers; on the other hand, he excels in his dedication and his obedience to the shepherd, his master. GENERAL APPEARANCE : A mastiff type molossoid dog with slightly convex lines, compact and rustic. Well proportioned, of a perfect morphology, the harmonious unity revealing a long tradition of ethnic purity.