Estrela Mountain dog

Nicknamed as ‘Estrela’, this pure breed which is a native of Portugal, Its exact origin is difficult to track down. While some think that these dogs were brought into the Estrela mountain region by invaders from central Asia. These dogs were then used by farmers and other herdsmen to chase intruders or trouble makers. An ideal watch dog, this breed is a rare spectacle around the world except for places with extremely high altitudes. Magnanimous, in both size and nature, this dog varies from a fawn to brown and dark gray. Several markings of white are seen on the dog during its older years.

There are two types of this breed. One is a long haired variety and the other is of a shorter length of hair. This humungous dog is quite an agile dog that is immune to almost all diseases and bad weather. With a hairy, protective fur, it can easily walk through meters of snow and blisters. Extremely loyal and protective in nature, they will go to any extent to save their master or his property. On of the best guard dogs seen, these dogs are very helpful and have a highly developed brain. Easy to train and a fast learner, the Estrela makes an ideal pet for an adventurous and outgoing family. Very dignified and poised, the Estrela is a well behaved, social dog that’s gets along great with children. Its inquisitive nature keeps it attentive and active throughout the day. If not adequately trained, it might turn into a lazy and stubborn dog that would make it very hard to manage.

There are two types of this breed. One is a long haired variety and the other is of a shorter length of hair. The long hair variety has long, undulated hair ranging from slightly wavy to bouncy and curly. Long strands of hair are observed in the tail, outer hind legs and under the neck region. On the other hand, the short haired variety has small but proportioned length of hair throughout its body with a bulky undercoat. Males are between 26-29 inches in height and weigh approximately 88-110 pounds. On the other hand, a fully grown female would be between 25-27 inches and would weigh an average of 66-88 pounds. This extremely smart breed has been used by the mountain police several times. As this dog is immune to the harsh climate, it can assist police in finding missing persons by tracing their scent. As it is easy to train an Estrela, police find their work lighter when assisted by a smart and intelligent dog like them.

Represented in almost every dog show, this popular breed of dog is one of the favorites of almost all the residents of Portugal and areas around it. From being a simple house pet to assisting the police and carrying out farm work, this breed is used for too many purposes and appears to be a good multitasking canine. Announced as ‘Champions’, in everything from farm work to police assistance, this breed is far spreading. Places like the U.K and Holland have proud owners of this breed. Though are given the same name, they differ slightly in temperament. This problem is being researched on to find a solution to retain the good nature and composition of the Estrela.