Other names: Rafeiro de l’Alentejo, Rafeiro do Alentejo, Alentejo Mastiff
The Alentejo Mastiff is a large dog, of both powerful and sober construction, with well-developed musculature, rustic appearance and whose body is inscribed in a rectangle, the height at the withers being slightly less than the length. The gait of the Alentejo Mastiff is characterized by fairly heavy, slow and undulating movements.
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 Hair type |
Half-long |
|---|---|
 Origin |
Portugal |
 Template |
Big |
 Head shape |
Long |
 Weight and size |
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| Sex | Weight | Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Female | From 35 kg to 45 kg | From 64 cm to 71 cm |
| Male | From 40 kg to 50 kg | From 66 cm to 75 cm |
History of the breed
According to various sources, the Alentejo Mastiff descends from the mastiffs originating in the Middle East . This massive, robust and courageous dog has always been used by shepherds for the care and protection of their flocks , as well as farms. It is especially in the plains of the region of Alentejo, located in the south of present-day Portugal, that it became known for its innumerable qualities.
Photos of Alentejo Mastiff
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Physical features
His hair: short to mid-length, thick, dense and smooth in texture.
Its color: black, wolf gray, fawn or yellow with white markings, or white with markings of the colors mentioned. Brindle or not.
His head: slightly convex in profile, massive, but well proportioned in relation to the whole. The forehead is narrower, the skull broad and rounded, the superciliary arches not protruding, the frontal furrow not very pronounced, the occipital protuberance not very marked, the stop not pronounced, the nose of oval shape, the muzzle broad at its base and going in tapering towards its extremity, the lips black and well split, the jaws powerful and articulated in scissors, even in pincers.
Its ears: of medium high attachment, quite small, drooping, narrow at their base, triangular in shape and rounded at their end.
His eyes: elliptical, small in size, brown in color and displaying a look that is both calm and assured.
His body: massive, built with strength and well muscled. The topline is straight, the withers well attached to the neck, the back very slightly sloping, the loins moderately long and well muscled, the croup wide and of medium length, the chest well let down to the elbows, or even slightly below. , the chest wide but not very marked, the ribs well sprung, the sternum almost horizontal and the belly not raised.
Its tail: moderately high attachment, in line with the line of the rump, strong in its attachment, drooping at rest and raised when the dog is in action.
Behavior and character
| Affectionate | |
|---|---|
| Calm | |
| Protective | |
| Independent | |
| Hunter | |
| Barks / howls |
Behavior with others
| Cohabitation with children | |
|---|---|
| Sociable with other animals | |
| Love strangers |
the Alentejo mastiff is a self-confident dog , with a strong sense of territory and a natural distrust of people he doesn’t know. All these qualities make him an excellent guardian , protecting both the herds and the property of his master, to whom he devotes an unlimited attachment . The Alentejo Mastiff is alert and protective , but not aggressive.
The Alentejo Mastiff
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Education
| Clever | |
|---|---|
| Obedient |
The Alentejo Mastiff is educated with firmness and gentleness at the same time . Intelligent and courageous dog, he learns very quickly and with great pleasure when encouraged and rewarded. Resorting to brutality is pointless. A quality education and socialization make it possible to make a balanced and pleasant dog of it to live.
Living conditions
| Suitable for apartment living | |
|---|---|
| Good for new masters | |
| Love it hot | |
| Love the cold |
the Alentejo Mastiff is not made to live in an apartment . A house with a large fenced garden, ideally in or near the countryside, would be the ideal living environment for this dog.
Health
| Solid | |
|---|---|
| Ease of gaining weight |
the Alentejo mastiff is a rustic and resistant dog . Her dress gives her fairly good protection against cold and bad weather, but not extreme weather conditions. There is no predisposition to a particular disease in this breed, but as with any large dog, the risk of hip dysplasia should be monitored.
Hypoallergenic breed
No
Litter size
Between 3 and 5 puppies
| Major concerns |
|
| Suggested tests |
|
To protect yourself from these risks and insure your companion in the event of health problems, Woopets recommends insurance for Alentejo Mastiff dogs .
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Life expectancy
Minimum: 11 years old
Maximum: 13 years
The life expectancy of an Alentejo Mastiff is, on average, between 11 years and 13 years.
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Maintenance and hygiene
| Ease of maintenance | |
|---|---|
| Cost of maintenance | |
| Hair loss |
| Drool level | |
|---|---|
| Ease of grooming |
The Alentejo Mastiff is an easy to maintain dog . His care is not particularly restrictive, but it must be provided on a regular basis.
It is recommended to brush the dog on a weekly basis . During the moult, brushing should be done more frequently, at least every other day, in order to effectively remove dead hairs. He can take a bath occasionally.
Its hair, ears, eyes and pads should be examined after each outing in the wild to detect and remove any debris or external parasites. His teeth need to be brushed frequently to remove tartar build-up and the proliferation of bacteria. Finally, if they do not wear out naturally, its claws need to be cut. If you are new to this, it is recommended that you seek advice from a veterinarian or groomer.
Price and budget
Purchase price
The purchase price of an Alentejo Mastiff is between NC and NC.
Annual maintenance cost
The annual maintenance cost of an Alentejo Mastiff is between 700 € and 900 €.
No name is currently proposed. Use our tool to find the name of your Alentejo Mastiff!
Food
The Alentejo Mastiff needs a quality and balanced diet , adapted to his level of physical exercise, his size and his age.
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Physical activity
| Athletic | |
|---|---|
| Energy level | |
| Potential to play |
the Alentejo mastiff needs long daily outings to exercise, breathe and be stimulated.
Competitions
| Classifications & Standards |
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Others
| Master character <span class="btnTooltip qTip2" title="- Calm: the master must be gentle and know how to show patience. – Active: the owner must be energetic and dynamic to live in harmony with his dog. – Hyperactive: the owner must be stimulating and very restless to suit the temperament of his dog.”> |
Active |
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FCI Information
FCI No.
96
FCI Group
Group 2: Pinscher and Schnauzer – Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs and other breeds
Recognized by FCI
Since 1954
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