Portuguese Sheepdog, Cão da Serra de Aires

The Portuguese Sheepdog, or Cão da Serra de Aires, as it is called in its native Portugal, is a medium-sized dog with a fairly long body. Exceptionally intelligent and lively, hardy and very devoted to the shepherd and flock, the breed is wary of strangers and is an excellent guard dog. These dogs are mostly used for guarding and driving flocks and herds in the Alentejo region in southern Portugal.

By 1970s, the breed was almost extinct, but thanks to the beauty of its coat and its pliant disposition, it came to the notice of breeders, and today its appeal to Potuguese dog owners assures its survival.

The Portuguese Sheepdog is good with children, easy to train, gets along with other dogs. Although it is virtually unknown outside its native country, it is a classic dog worthy of international acclaim.

Size
16-22 inches at shoulders.

Coat
The coat is very long, smooth or slightly wavy, forming long beards, moustache and eyebrows, but not covering the eyes.

Color
Yellow, chestnut, gray, fawn and wolf gray, with shadings from light to dark, and black, marked with tan with or without mixed white hairs. Hair is of medium thickness and of goat like texture; dense and evenly distributed all over the body; there is no undercoat.

Photo courtesy of hundund.de

Adapted from:
1. FCI-Standard # 93/27.02.1996/GB
2. Bruce Fogle. The New Encyclopedia of The Dog