Portuguese Sheepdog

Cao da Serra de Aires
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Face-On View
3/4 View
Sideways View
Standing View

Summary

  • The Portuguese Sheepdog, also known as Cao da Serra de Aires, is a medium-sized herding breed from Portugal with a long, coarse coat. They are intelligent, loyal, and protective dogs with high exercise needs.

Origin and Purpose

  • Developed in Portugal’s Serra de Aires region to herd livestock, primarily sheep and goats.
  • Still used for herding in Portugal and has become a popular companion dog.

Appearance

Dimensions

GenderHeightWeight
Female16-18 inches33-44 lbs
Male17-19 inches37-59 lbs

Coat

AttributeNotes
Color
  • Yellow
  • Gray
  • Fawn
  • Black
  • Wolf Gray
Type
  • Long, coarse, and dense
Length
  • Long

Care

AttributeNotes
Shedding
  • Moderate
Grooming
  • Regular brushing
Drooling
  • Low

Body

AttributeNotes
Head
  • Strong and well-proportioned
Skull
  • Convex with a pronounced stop
Ears
  • Small, triangular, and hanging close to the head
Eyes
  • Dark brown and expressive
Nose
  • Black
Muzzle
  • Straight
Teeth
  • Strong, with a scissors bite
Neck
  • Straight and muscular
Forequarters
  • Well-developed
Fore Legs
  • Straight
Hindquarters
  • Muscular and well-angulated
Hind Legs
  • Strong and straight
Feet
  • Round with strong, compact toes
Tail
  • Set high, carried slightly curved or down
Gait
  • Agile, light, and fluid

Temperament

  • Intelligent, loyal, and courageous
  • Active and needs mental and physical exercise

Social

AttributeNotes
Affectionate with Family
  • Very affectionate
Good with Children
  • Good with children
Good with Dogs
  • Generally good with other dogs
Good with Cats
  • May be good with cats if raised with them
Openness to Strangers
  • Reserved with strangers
Playfulness Level
  • Playful
Protective Nature
  • Protective of family
Adaptability Level
  • Adaptable

Working Roles

  • Herding
  • Companion Animal
  • Livestock Guardian

Exercise Needs

  • High exercise requirements, needs daily physical and mental stimulation

Health

  • Generally healthy
  • Some predispositions to hip and elbow dysplasia.

Additional Notes

  • They thrive with a job to do, and respond best to kind and consistent training.
  • Requires socialization and early training.
  • They can be wary of strangers and need to be supervised around children.

References