Content
- Catalan Shepherd: origin
- Catalan Shepherd: Characteristics
- Catalan Shepherd: personality
- Catalan Shepherd: care
- Catalan pastor: education
- Catalan pastor: health
O catalan shepherd he is one of the most appreciated and valued dogs by those who have enjoyed his company and presence. This furry companion is very loyal and, without a doubt, one of the best sheepdogs out there, not only for his intelligence and ability, but also for his stable and faithful character.
If you are thinking of adopting a Catalan Shepherd Dog, it is very important that you read this PeritoAnimal sheet to know its characteristics, its personality and to know what care is needed to make it happy. Among them, hair care and daily exercise stand out, which are fundamental for this breed.
Source- Europe
- Spain
- Group I
- Rustic
- muscular
- provided
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Balanced
- Shy
- Sociable
- very faithful
- Intelligent
- Active
- Tender
- Docile
- Kids
- Houses
- hiking
- Shepherd
- Surveillance
- Sport
- harness
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Long
- Smooth
- Hard
- thick
Catalan Shepherd: origin
Much of the history surrounding the Catalan Shepherd Dog is unknown. it is known that it is a very old race and it is estimated to be descended from dogs brought by Roman conquerors from the Iberian Peninsula around 150 BC
Local dogs from the region would have crossed with faster dogs carried by the Roman army (not with the large molossos they used for war) and would have given rise to different European breeds.
For centuries, the Catalan shepherd had great popularity in Catalonia thanks to his great virtues as a shepherd and as a guardian. However, the breed lost many of its admirers after World War II, coming to the brink of extinction. Fortunately, in the 1970s, a group of breeders started a program to recover the breed. Today, this is a rare dog in most parts of the world, but the population of Catalan shepherds is increasing slowly but gradually.
Catalan Shepherd: Characteristics
This dog's body is slightly longer than it is tall, in a length:height to cross ratio of 9:8. he is also strong and muscular, but it's not heavy. The overall impression he gives is one of strength and agility. The legs are strong and muscular, able to travel great distances.
The head is strong and has a broad base, although it is slightly longer than it is wide. The nose is black and straight. The eyes are round and dark. They are very expressive and look cheerful and intelligent, although it is sometimes difficult to see them behind the thick fur that falls over them. Ears are set high, triangular, thin and tipped.
The Catalan Shepherd Dog Tail can come in two varieties. In some it is long, surpassing the hock. In other dogs it is short, with a length of less than 10 centimeters.
The beautiful fur of these dogs is long and rough and can be straight or slightly wavy. Catalan Shepherd Dogs have abundant undercoat all over the body, but especially in the posterior third. On their heads they have abundant hair that forms a beard, mustache, topknot and eyebrows.
The fur of these dogs looks one color when viewed from a distance, but if you look at them closely, you can see that the color is defined by a combination of different shades. The basic colors resulting from these combinations are yellowish, sand and gray. Occasionally, the combination of these colors, from a distance, appear to be black and brown.
Hair change is very curious in this breed, as it takes place in two stages. The Catalan Shepherd first changes the hair on the front half of the body and then the hair on the back half. So, for some time, it looks like it was a dog with two different hairs or two puppies united in the same body.
Catalan Shepherds are medium-sized dogs. The height at the withers for males varies between 47 and 55 centimeters and for females from 45 to 53 centimeters. The ideal weight is not stated in the FCI breed standard, but these dogs generally weigh between 20 and 27 pounds.
Catalan Shepherd: personality
This is a very faithful and loving dog, but a little reserved with strangers. Like most sheepdogs, the Catalan Shepherd is very intelligent, courageous, stable, vigilant and hardworking. Also, your herding instincts they are so strong that they tend to lead the flock even without any guidance from the shepherd.
Inside the house, the catalan sheep dog it is very calm and peaceful: he will love that you brush him, pay attention and spend long hours in serene tranquility. He is a very grateful, sweet and understanding dog, very skillful and empathetic. However, when we go for walks with him he is active and with an overwhelming personality, he is really very agile. although generally create a special bond with a single family member, he tends to behave very well with adults and children. Especially with the smaller ones, this dog is extremely careful, protective and faithful.
Although many people use this magnificent dog as a work tool, the Catalan shepherd really needs one. active family that offers a lot of fun and practice of exercises and physical activities. As we mentioned before, the Australian Shepherd is a dog suspicious of strangers and, even without training, it is an excellent alarm dog that will warn us before the arrival of any intruder. It has a powerful bark.
Catalan Shepherd: care
The hair care of the Catalan shepherd they must be frequent and rigorous, otherwise accumulated knots and dirt may appear. Ideally, brush between 4 and 5 times a week carefully, trying to reach all areas. We recommend looking for a brush with thick, separate metal pins.
Bathing should not be frequent, as it removes the natural protective fat from your skin. For this, a bath every two months or when it's really dirty is best suited. During the bath we can cut the hair in some areas (eyes, for example) with extreme care and delicacy. This will help keep your good looking splendid. Don't forget that if you don't know how to do it exactly, the ideal is to go to a professional.
If you don't live in a rural environment in which this dog can develop the skill he inherited from nature, herding, we must provide different and varied activities so that he can burn off the accumulated energy. For starters, it will be basic to allow him to have at least three long walks in which where 10 minutes a day be no collar.
It is also very helpful to practice active exercise at least once or twice a week. Agility, canicross or other exercises for adult dogs are an excellent way to maintain this dog's muscles and stimulate him mentally and physically. We must never forget that sport is fundamental for this breed, if you find that you cannot give it all these activities, better opt for a more relaxed and calm dog.
Despite their exercise needs, these dogs can adapt well to apartment life as long as they get enough exercise. They are perfect pets for dynamic people who prefer to exercise frequently.
Catalan pastor: education
Being naturally reserved with strangers, the Catalan Shepherd Dog needs to be socialized from an early age, as much. with people as with dogs and other animals. Otherwise, the Catalan pastor may start to develop fearful, antisocial, and even aggressive behavior because of fear. That's why socialization and training are so important.
On the other hand, his ability to learn new things allows him to easily understand the orders of obedience. Your intelligence and skill make it perfect for those who love to work on dog education and training that should always be based on positive reinforcement or clicker use. We should never use punishment or mistreatment with this breed as they are sensitive dogs.
Catalan pastor: health
the race not particularly prone to disease hereditary but must receive the necessary veterinary care. Vaccines and frequent tests are important. Also, it's good to train the dog so he can be checked out, because his thick coat can hide some wounds.