ESTRÉLSKY PASTIERSKY PES (CAO DA SERRA DA ESTRELA
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Štandard (Standard of the breed)...
Osrstenie Vlastnosti srsti: Silná, trochu hrubá srsť, ale bez prehnanej tvrdosti, podobá sa kozej srsti. Je hladká alebo ľahko zvlnená, temer na celom tele dobre priliehajúca. Veľmi bohaté osrstenie dlhosrstej a krátkosrstej variety. Za normálnych okolností je srsť na rôznych miestach tela rôzne dlhá, na končatinách, pod lakťami a pod holennou kosťou a tiež na hlave je srsť kratšia a hustejšia, na ušiach sa od nasadenia ucha k jeho špičke skracuje. Súčasne je tiež jemnejšia a mäkšia. Na chvoste je srsť dlhšia - u dlhosrstej variety je chvost podrastený hustou a silnou srsťou a tvorí zástavu. Srsť je dlhšia tiež okolo krku a na hrdle je huňatá, obzvlášť u dlhosrstej variety sú stehná a zadná časť hrudných končatín s bohatými zástavami. Podsada je jemná, hustá a odstávajúca, pri korienkoch je podsada prepletená s hrubšími vlasmi v srsti. Za normálnych okolností je podsada, ktorá sa vyskytuje v hojnom množstve, predovšetkým u dlhosrstej variety, svetlejšia než krycia srsť. Farba srsti: Jediné prípustné farby sú: všetky odtiene plavej, vlkošedej a žltej, jednofarebné alebo s bielymi znakmi. Výška: Kohútiková výška psy: 65 až 72 cm, Kohútiková výška suky: 62 až 68 cm Rozmery a hmotnosť psa: Hlava: Dĺžka mozgovej časti:13,5 až 14,5 cm, Šírka mozgovej časti:12,5 až 14 cm, Dĺžka papule:12 až 13 cm Hrudník: Obvod hrudníka:75 až 80 cm, Šírka hrudníka: 18 až 20 cm, Hĺbka hrudníka: 28 až 29 cm Horná línia: Dĺžka hornej línie:63 až 65 cm, Šírka trupu:12 až 15 cm Dĺžka: Trupu: 68 až 73 cm, Chvosta:40 až 45 cm Výška: Kohútiková výška: 62 až 72 cm, Dĺžka prednej nohy: 34 až 37 cm, Výška zadku: 67 až 69 cm Hmotnosť: Psy:40 až 50 kg, Sučky: 30 až 40 kg, Chyby: Všetky odchýlky od vyššie uvedených bodov sa považujú za vadu a ich hodnotenie by malo byť v prísnom pomere so stupňom odchýlky. Hlava: Príliš štíhla, príliš dlhá alebo špicatá Ňucháč: Veľmi svetlo zafarbený alebo viditeľne škvrnitý Skus: Predkus alebo podkus Oči: Sklenené, oči rôznej veľkosti Uši: zle nasadené, veľmi veľké, mäsové alebo okrúhle Chvost: kupírovaný, vrodenej deformácie, vrodená strata chvosta Osrstenie: albinizmus vlastnosti srsti nezodpovedajúce štandardu Nadváha: akákoľvek nadmerná hmotnosť Veľkosť: nadmerná veľkosť (gigantizmus) alebo nedostatočná veľkosť (nanizmus), tolerancia 4 cm je prípustná. Pozn.: Psy musia mať očividne normálne vyvinuté semenníky úplne uložené v miešku.
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Pictures by Elsa Bernardo, Portugal, taken in the Estrela Mountains.
The Cão da Serra da Estrela have been developed in two varieties; the long hair (that can be found in the south of the mountain), and the short hair (from the north part of the mountain).
Isolated in the Estrela Mountains the Cão da Serra da Estrela have developed a homogenity and ethnical purity, and this breed is considered as the oldest dog breed of the Iberian Peninsula.
The Cão da Serra da Estrela is a very rustic dog that loves the camp and outdoor freedom. The Serra does not mind living outdoors the whole year, since it is very esistant to diseases and to bad weather.
The Estrela Mountain Dog is a excellent guard dog, one of the best in the world; extremely alert, walking around in order to guard and inspect. The breed does not tolerate any intruders which it is extremely aggressive against. It never forgets a provocation or any intruder, and will if necessary give its life while guarding and protecting its property.
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Soneca do Cântaro Magro, owned by Nanci Pereira, Portugal.
Outside of its own territory the Serra is a very calm dog, displaying a sense of dignity, but always alert.
This breed can adapt very well to live in the city, if it has a good backyard. In such conditions it also enjoy the comfort of the living room. However it is not a dog that can live its life between four walls, because it needs exercise. Usually the Serra sleeps a couple of hours in the living room and after the nap the guarding of the house begins.
With its own family the Serra is very loyal, devoted and extremely docile, but also very protective. With the children of the family the Serra is excellent, supporting their games and acting like an "older brother" when playing with them, but if necessary it is also very protective, protecting them against any threat.
Even if the Cäo da Serra da Estrela is a large dog it do not eat much, and it accept almost any kind of food.
When young the Serra can be a quite turbulent dog, but when adult it is very calm, but always ready to play and it always stay alert. It is a very agile dog, even for his size.
The serra needs an experienced owner, since it can be a very dominant and obstinate dog. When young it needs to be socialized.
The Serra have been used by the police, the mountain police and by the marines from Portugal, doing policework with very good results.
It has also been used in searching for lost people, which it has a natural skill for. Where other breeds has problems because of mountain terrain or because of snow, the Serra has its speciality.
It also has a natural skill for pulling small milk carts.
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Picture by Elsa Bernardo, Portugal, taken in the Estrela Mountains.
Nowadays the Serra is a very popular dog in Portugal. It is represented in almost every dogshow.
There is a very good genetic base in the Portuguese kennels, and there is a lot of quality dogs, and some World Winners, all from Portuguese breeders.
Many Portuguese families have adopted this breed as a guarddog, family dog or as guarddog for farms and country estates. And of course, it is still used by the farmers as a livestock guardian for their sheep.
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Picture by Elsa Bernardo, Portugal, taken in the Estrela Mountains.
There are good Cão da Serra da Estrela stock in England and in Holland, since there were a lot of exportations to these countries in the 1960's. However, the English Serra differs nowadays from the Portuguese Serra, but English breeders in collaboration with Portuguese breeders are trying to solve these problems.
It is necessary, in order to keep the wonderful temperament, that all dogs that have been declared Champions, pass a work test (defence, courage and farm work).
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Picture by Elsa Bernardo, Portugal, taken in the Estrela Mountains.
Important points of the Cão da Serra da Estrela:
A Mountain Dog with a calm attitude.
Strong, powerful head with light stop, small ears with round ends, brown eyes, black mask, strong short neck, long and deep chest, strong legs.
There are two varieties of the coat lenght; long and short. The two varities is equal, the unique difference is the hair.
Colour of the coat: Fawn, brindle, wolfgray and yellow, either self-coloured or with white markings.
The size for males varies between 68-74 cm. (26,7-29 in), and females 63-69 cm. (24,7-27,1 in). 4 cm. (1,5 in) more or less is accepted.
The weight for males is about 45-60 kg. (99-132 lb). Females ranges from 35-50 kg. (77-110 lb).
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Picture by Elsa Bernardo, Portugal, taken in the Estrela Mountains
² CHARACTER ...
All the behaviour of a breed is a product of its initial uses
The Estrela Mountain Dog , has strong and typical character. It is a working dog that takes very seriously his job.
It have an admirable intelligence, with capacity to resolve complex problems, however, it is independent and it can be a quite stubborn dog.
It's a dog that takes the job of guarding ( either livestock, house/farm or family) very serious. It is highly aggressive to intruders, never forgiving any intrusion of his territory ( either by human or animal) or a threat to his family, attacking without mercy.
With guests that have been previously presented it tolerates them, but in general keeps a certain distance, always watching in case that something unexpected appears . With the other family dogs , the Estrela Mountain Dog tolerates them, but is possible that he try to dominate the others dog, or at least, he won't be dominated.
Outside of his territory is a calm dog, with sense of dignity and very self-secure . If some threat appears he attack, always having the mind the protection his owner. With others dogs outside of his territory, he will ignore them, having conscience of its strength, however if provoked he won't back down.
He patrol and guard all day long, however he is more alert during the night,, when the predators attack more.
With his family he just love them , admitting all the plays from the children's. It is loyal, sweet, ,loving the children of his family . He takes charge of the protection of his family. He can reveal dominant, so the owner should affirm and keep the leader position. It is a dog that loves the cold and the snow,. The short variety and the long variety of hair supports very well the cold temperatures ,and they even stay satisfied with the cold. In relation to the heat both support very well, even so the short one have more resistance.
Although Estrela Mountain Dog is a big, large dog, the biggest ones arrive to weigh 60kg with 74cm of height, nothing of his agility is harmed, being in fact very agile. The guard instinct starts to reveal at the age of 6 month, but he is only full mature at the age of 18 months.
But the most important thing in the Estrela character is the concern for the well-being and protection of its family, putting always the welfare of his family higher than his and if necessary will not hesitate to give his life protecting his family.
² LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN DOGS ....
Without a doubt one of the best jobs for the Estrela Mountain Dog
The Estrela Mountain Dog was especially created for this work and for centuries that he have done such task. It is a dog that does this job with extremely seriousness and responsibility, after all, the shepherd trusted on his dogs his most precious thing - the flock
The Estrela Mountain Dog is not a herding dog, he does not lead them or conduce the sheep's (as border collies do), but he protects them.
The Estrela Mountain Dog, can work as livestock guarding dog the entire time or as backing function
If it will be the entire time, the dog will have to be breed and grow (since young ) with the flock (living and sleeping with them) to create an extremely strong bow between the dog and the flock. In these cases the dog is with the flock all the time of day and of night, either if it is sun or rain. It will watch the flock, and the surrounding area, but its priority will be always the flock
If it will be as backing function, as for example, a dog that lives in a farm or in a ranch, besides protecting the flock, it also as to guard the farm , and protect his owner and family. This dog will not lie down next to the flock but in a point where he can watch everything, and will patrol the whole area frequently .
His guarding instincts appear at the age +- 6 month, but only full developed at 18month.
The behaviour of the Estrela Mountain Dog as a livestock guarding dog ( entire time) :
When a flock is leaved at the guard of a Estrela Mountain Dog, he will assume this responsibility with great seriousness.
It can work alone, but it also work functions very well in small groups. He patrol the flock frequently and patrols the surrounding territory. If it have more than a dog, they work in a group. In these cases of patrolling, in general they patrol in parallel bars, usually staying one with the flock.
After patrolling the territory (what they do frequently) they lain down in a place where they can observe the flock. From times to times they patrol and bark on a strong and serious manner warning all predators. Normally they do not lie down together, but they place themselves in strategically points. If there is some sick or injured sheep's, one of the dogs will be always be with them (protecting the weakest). When the sheep's are born they some dogs lick them (helping their mothers) and take care of them. Note that the sheep's trusts 100% in the dogs.
When the flock is in motion, the dogs assume strategically positions, they follow the flock in the flanks or at the front (if there are more than a dog, they distribute them all over the flock), preventing any attack of predators. If some sheep of the flock stops and stay back the dog stay with her protecting .
They become especially alerts at night.
When detecting anything anormal ( n general these dogs detect first something strange by smelling or/and for the hearing- both senses are very refined), they get up and inspect. If they detect an intruder they sets in threatening position launching strong barks. If there are only one dog protecting he goes closer to the intruder threatening him with strong barks, in the case that there are more than one dog protecting, one dogs stay always with the flock while the others goes in direction of the threat. In general, after this threatening approach and these strong barks the intruder goes away , if not, the dog will attack it without mercy (either intruder of 2 or 4 legs). The dog will attack without thinking about the damages for it, putting always its life in risk and it would not hesitate in giving its life to protect what is at his responsibility. .
We find that this dog would be a perfect guard of flocks in any part of the world, because it conjugates force with agility and with guard desire , unhappily few are the ones that are used, because there are little available information.
² HISTORY ...
The dog was the first animal to be domesticated.
From this point, the man started a selection of dogs for the diverse functions, ones for the hunting, others for protection, others for the guard of flocks, that is the case of the Estrela Mountain Dog.
The Estrela Mountain Dog such as the other mastiffs of the Iberian Peninsula is descending of the mastiffs of Central Asia. Note the similarity between all the mountain dogs, especially in the case of the Estrela Mountain Dog, the Caucasian Sheepdog and the Sparlinac.
The Estrela Mountain is highest point of Portugal with 1981metros, and was, and still is an excellent habitat for the Iberian wolf ( in that age was very frequent, nowadays unhappily much less), brown bears (nowadays extinct) and foxes. The Estrela mountain shepherds , poor people, who every day had to go with the flocks to higher pastures, frequently were attacked by packs of wolves. These shepherds needed a great dog of protection that protected the flock and the shepherd against such predators. This dog would have to have an imponent body who allowed it to fight and to win but being agile, allowing him to run freely , a great intelligence, a great physical endurance that allowed it to face the hard time of that Estrela Mountain and big health (there were no available medicines in that time). This dog was subject to two types of selection, the human : the shepherds crossed the dogs that it seemed better, and natural : only the strongest dogs could survive.
Two types of coat had been developed: the long and the short one. The long one was more common in the region of Manteigas, north side, while of for the short one it was more common of the north side in Seia and Gouveia.
The shepherds used to place in the dogs collars with form peaks to protect the neck of the attacks, and , also the ears were crooped to prevent future wounds, and for better income, they worked in groups of 2 up to 6 units. This dog could and was left in the morning by the shepherd in the pastures taking care of the flock alone. During this times, the dog was always watching and patrolling the surrounding territory, and lying down in a high place where we could observe the flock .
If the flock came home at the end of the day, the dog would always follow the flock protecting it from any danger. In house he could sleep with the flock or close to it watching it, and at the same time watching the house of his owner ( the shepherd) , and if necessary acting like a pure family dog . For times it also served to pull small cars with merchandises (milk, cheese...).
² FUNCTION....
The Estrela Mountain Dog was initially created and selected for the guard of livestock, however he shows other aptitudes:
» Farm guarding dog
Without any doubts this is one of the best jobs for this bree. He willl will take at his responsibility the farm and all the livings creature existing in this same place, protecting it with its life. He guards the farm as guards the livestock, patrolling frequent the limits, lying down where he can observe well, or in its vulnerable points. If it is a isolated farm ( only visited one time per week) , it will support very well the isolation, especially if he have a company (like another dog - working in group)
If it is a working farm besides guarding the farm, will help its owner in the daily tasks and will also take at his jobs the protection of its owner and its family, being also a family dog. In these cases it continues to protect the farm, patrolling it frequent, but in general he lain down in a place where can observe well its family. When it detects something out of t normal he place him in threatening position, giving some strong barks warning the intruders. The Estrela never back down, if the intruders don't go away we will attack.
» Guarding City Houses
If you buy a Estrela to guard a city house , he will do it with the same devotion that guards his flock or farm, but in this case it will be also a family dog.
» Family dog
The Estrela Mountain Dog is an excellent family dog , being at the same time a great companion for the family and also guarding the house (and humans). He loves children acting like the "older brother" - playing with them, but at the same time protecting them from any danger. Be warned that young dogs may play rough and hurt the children.
Don't forget that a Estrela need extra socialization and please never leave a young child alone with a dog !
» Pulling Cars
The Estrela Mountain Dog have always been used to pull small cars, to carrier small merchandises ,such as milk, cheese, for the market. Nowadays the Estrela Mountain Dog still makes this type of work and any dog will be able to make it without any extra training.
» Police dogs
The Portuguese Police and the Portuguese Marines use some of these dogs in its jobs where they had also shown great capacity of learning (even so the dog of Cao de Fila de São Miguel is much better). Nowadays is mostly used on guarding isolated military areas.
There are persons who defend the idea that these dogs may be used for tracking and finding lost people in the mountain, after all they seen to love in using their nose and possess a great smelling capacity.
» Hunting Dogs
Since some years that the Estrela Mountain Dogs have been used as dog of big hunting. Reason? Because the Estrela Mountain Dog shows great courage to face the hunting , great smelling capacity, great power in the jaws plus great agility and resistance. Especially it is used in the hunting of the wild boar, the wolf and the deer.
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