Portuguese Shepherd

Other name: Dog of the Serra de Aires

Navigation

<!–

–>

Hair type	Long
Origin	Portugal
Template	Average
Head shape	Square

Weight and size
Sex	Weight	Cut
Female	From 17 kg to 27 kg	From 42 cm to 52 cm
Male	From 17 kg to 27 kg	From 45 cm to 55 cm

History of the breed

The Portuguese Shepherd or Shepherd of the Serra de aires originates from the Alentejo region (southern half of Portugal), where his ancestors were already famous among local shepherds, especially on the Serra Aires mountains to which he owes his name. The climate of this place, harsh, icy and windy in winter, dusty in summer, gives the Portuguese Shepherd an incredible resistance to temperature changes.

It has always been used for the management and guarding of all kinds of herds : sheep, but also cattle, horses and pigs. He is appreciated for his intelligence and resistance. The breed was definitively recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale on November 16, 1954.

Photos of Portuguese Shepherd

See all Portuguese Shepherd photos of Woopets members

Physical features

His hair: long, dense, evenly distributed over the whole body, smooth to slightly wavy, rough in texture, longer on the head, trunk and limbs, forming a beard, mustaches and eyebrows. No undercoat.
Its color: gray, fawn, charred fawn, brown, yellow, in various light to dark shades, up to black.
Its head: strong and broad without being massive, of medium size. The skull, slightly less in width than in length, has an almost square shape. The frontal groove is pronounced, the stop is well marked.
His ears: triangular in shape, medium in size, as long as they are wide, set high, hanging down, not very thick and smooth.
His eyes: medium, rounded, hazel or amber to dark in color, displaying an expression of intelligence and docility.
His body: slightly longer than the height at the withers (about 10%). The topline is flat or slightly sloping, the withers strong, the back straight or slightly sloping, the kidney is short and arched, the croup sloping gently, the chest well let down and the belly of medium volume.
Its tail: strong at its attachment, its thickness tapering off towards its end. Set on high, of good length (reaching the hock), with a dense and long coat. Falling between the thighs at rest, carried a little above the back when the dog is in action.

Behavior and character

Behavior with others

The Portuguese Shepherd is an extremely loyal dog towards his master, very protective of his flock and naturally suspicious of strangers , whether they are people or possible predators. Very intelligent, attentive and skillful , he shows great enthusiasm at work. The Portuguese Shepherd is nonetheless a pleasant companion and a great athlete, who particularly appreciates agility and obedience tests.

The Portuguese Shepherd
is it right for you? Take the test!

Education

Education must be firm . This kind of active and energetic dog needs to be framed from a young age. His aptitude for work and play is an excellent vector for his education. Indeed, the Portuguese Shepherd has an intelligence and a thirst for learning which make him attentive, understanding and docile . He likes to please his master. He should be socialized as soon as possible .

Living conditions

The Portuguese Shepherd prefers to roam freely over large areas than to live in an apartment. The ideal would be for it to have a large fenced garden. It is aimed at active people, who can be available and offer enough activities. Its ability to withstand harsh climates , heat and cold, its sporty side and its thirst for large spaces are incompatible with living in an apartment. Daily outings must be numerous to allow this canine to run and feel good.

Health

The Portuguese Shepherd is a rustic and robust dog. It has good resistance to the harsh climate that characterizes its region of origin. It does not present any particular health problems.

To protect yourself from these risks and insure your companion in the event of health problems, Woopets recommends a Portuguese Shepherd dog insurance .

function showAssuranceForm () {var siteReferer = var id_race_association = ’53’; //console.log(id_race_association);success: function (html) {}});}document.addEventListener (‘DOMContentLoaded’, () => {$ (‘# assuranceModalBanner’). on (‘show.bs.modal’, function (event) {showAssuranceForm ();});});

Life expectancy

Maintenance and hygiene

The Portuguese Shepherd being a rustic dog, it only requires a simple regular maintenance , in particular at the level of its coat, so that it is always beautiful and without dead hair.

It is recommended to brush the dog once a week . Grooming is not necessary except in subjects intended for display.

Price and budget

No name is currently proposed. Use our tool to find the name of your Portuguese Shepherd!

Food

The Portuguese Shepherd is fully satisfied with high quality kibble . The diet must be adapted to the activity of this dog, which has a habit of exercising daily.

Physical activity

He needs to stay active to maintain his physical and mental balance. He asks for almost permanent activity and work , always showing himself ready to please his master. Thus, even domesticated and at the bedside of his master, he must be regularly taken out. He can practice a dog sport such as agility , in which he will excel.

Others

We talk on the forum

Shetland Shepherd or Australian Shepherd

Guest message

Australian Shepherd, “SHEPHERD” / genetic problem

Message from Cindy & Oreo

Weight and measurements: Malinois Shepherd and Dutch Shepherd

Message from Fouad Bouregba

The white shepherd, a sensitive dog?

Message from alison

why people are afraid of the german shepherd

Message from djo27

Do you have a question about the Portuguese Shepherd?
Do not hesitate to ask Woopets visitors for advice on the forum!