Estrela Moutain Dog
History
Originating in Portugal during the 1900s, the Estrela Moutain Dog were used for guarding herds of farm animals. Til this day they are used for the same duties as well as working with the Marines for guarding.
Appearance
A large breed with males and females measuring 26-28 inches in height and weighing 88-110 pounds in weight. This breed is available in a short coat or long coat. Both coats are thick and coarse to the touch. The Estrela Moutain Dog is available in fawn, tan and black, grey and yellow. All of this coat options typically involve a brindling or white and black markings throughout. All colors of this breed carry a black mask. The Estrela Moutain Dog carries a large, oval shaped head leading into a scissor bite, and pendant shaped ears that generally are folded and held back onto their head. Their tail is long, held low and outwards. On long hair varieties of this breed, there is feathering on their tail, ears and hind legs.
Temperament
The Estrela Moutain Dog is not recommended for any household with small children, non canine pets or other dogs and elderly. Meant for having a "job" on a farm, the Estrela Moutain Dog is a working breed that was born to guard herds of farm animals. Making a wonderful watchdog for any family that is well suited for this breed, however potential owners must keep in mind that this breed is not generally aggressive. Please note to socialize your pup well as this breed is prone to shyness and not accepting strangers including other dogs or pets as it matures in age and size. This breed requires a firm, confident, consistent owner who only uses positive reinforcement training methods. This breed is not suited for apartment living and requires a properly fenced in yard outdoors to roam within. The Estrela Moutain Dog requires a walk a day along with other outdoor activity to remain mentally and physically healthy.
Grooming
On both long and short hair varieties of this breed, daily brushing is required. Bathe when needed. It is recommended that long hair versions of this breed be professionally groomed at least twice a year.
Special Notes
Please note that the Estrela Moutain Dog is not a breed for everyone. Please fully educate yourself about this breed prior to adding one to your family to ensure you are able to make a life long commitment to your new pup and are able to meet his or her needs. A properly installed fence is highly recommended to allow your dog to roam freely and safely while outside. Do not add this breed to your home unless you are able to provide life long physical and financial care.
All dogs originate from wolves (Canis Lupus). Each breed of dog was originally created by mixing different breeds together in an effort to bring forth certain characteristics. Once a breeder has created acceptable “breed characteristics” within their bloodline and these “breed characteristics” have shown to be reliably reproduced in the offspring for three (3) generations, the bloodline may be upgraded from the category of “foundation stock” to “pure-bred”.
The same “pure-bred” breed standards vary from different continents, countries, territories, regions, breed clubs, and canine pure-breed registries depending on the goals of their breeders. Dog DNA testing companies can have accurate results for a specific bloodline of a small colony of dogs. However, there are tens of thousands of different bloodlines in the world which have not yet been tested for marker baseline results by Dog DNA testing companies as of 2017. For this reason Dog DNA testing companies do not guarantee the 100% accuracy of their breed lineage results and will also show different marker results for the same pure-bred breed in different continents, countries, territories, regions, breed clubs, and canine pure-breed registries depending on the goals of their breeders.