Catalan sheep dog

Catalan sheep dog
Catalan sheep dog pictures
Catalan sheep dog suitability

In my own words

 

“I’ll be your best friend forever! I love my family more than anything.”

They say I look quite noble with my beard and moustache, do you agree? I think I could pass off as quite regal myself, I’m very well behaved even if I do say so myself! My kind are usually herding dogs but I make a good watchdog you know... And I make a really good family dog! I love nothing more than being with my family, even playing with the children is fun! Are they going to be home soon? I’d love to go out and play!

 

My ideal owner(s)

 

Active, outdoorsy types

Families with children

Shepherds

 

What they say about me

 

Protective

Intelligent

Trainable

Agile

Cheerful

Please read on, to find out more about me, and whether I will be someone you can be happy with for the next 12 years, or even longer!

 

Is this catalan sheepdog for you?

Test your knowledge about the catalan sheepdog

Information essential about the Catalan sheep dog

 

Kennel Club Group:

Pastoral

 

Size:

Medium: Weight 35 – 45 lb (15.9 – 20.5 kg)

Height: Male 19 – 22” (47 – 55 cm) Female 18 – 21” (45 – 53 cm)

 

 

Popularity:

 

The popularity of this breed began to dwindle in the 1970s but Catalonian Sheepdog enthusiasts have since tried to increase its popularity although it remains a fairly rare breed.

 

 

 

Breed History:

 

The Catalan Sheepdog originates from the Andorra region of Spain and was originally bred for herding and guarding flocks. It is believed that the ancestor, the Bergamasco, of this dog and many other Sheepdogs across Europe dates back to the time of the Roman Empire and each breed was created by crossbreeding the Bergamasco with other local breeds. They have served as guard dogs and messengers in several wars including the Spanish Civil War and are also used as search and rescue dogs in their native Spain.

 

Character:

 

This breed is quiet but cheerful and very intelligent. They are happy, energetic and obedient to their master and loyal to their family. They can become very attached to their family and are devoted to their family and work. They are active and intelligent with a noble expression.

 

Temperament:

 

This courageous breed has been used for herding, as a watchdog and makes a great companion. They are an ‘all round dog’ and are gentle, cheerful and good with children and other animals. They are calm and well balanced and creates a strong bond with their family as they are very loving. They are alert and sometimes weary of strangers but make an excellent family dog.

 

Conformation:

 

The Catalan Sheepdog is not a bulky breed with an athletic and solid physique. They are hardy and well balanced. The head is strong and well proportioned and the muzzle is straight, short and blunt. The eyes are round and dark amber or chestnut in colour and they have an alert, intelligent expression. The ears are high set and hang close to the head. The neck is moderately short, solid and muscular while the shoulders are well laid back. The double, boned dew claws set low are characteristic of this breed. The tail is low set although some can be born tailless.

 

Coat:

The coat is long, limp and slightly curly with a shaggy look to it with a denser undercoat. They have full beards and moustaches. When the coat sheds, they usually lose hair from the back first which can give the impression of two coat types until the coat has entirely shed. There is a shorthaired variety but it is now so rarely seen it is thought to be almost extinct.

 

Colour:

The coat comes in sable, fawn or grey with varying amounts of reddish brown, chestnut, black or white

Training:

 

The Catalan Sheepdog is an intelligent and trainable breed but early socialisation and training is a must to prevent shyness in this breed. They respond well to firm, positive and patient handling. This breed excels at dog sports such as agility, ‘doggy dancing’, competitive obedience and herding trials.

 

Care:

 

The coat is easy to maintain but does require a good daily brushing, particularly when shedding as the coat sheds oddly from the back which makes it appear to have two separate coats. Regular brushing during this period will help remove the loose fur. Their long beards and moustaches require regular cleaning.

 

Health:

 

The lifespan of a healthy individual is between 12 – 14 years, which is normal for a dog of this size. If you buy from a reputable, responsible breeder, health problems should not occur. This breed is prone to Hip Displasia so it is recommended that puppies are hip tested before purchase.

 

Exercise:

This is an active and energetic breed which requires a moderate amount of exercise. They excel at all types of dog sports such as agility, competitive obedience and herding. This breed benefits from long walks and a good amount of physical and mental stimulation to keep them fit and healthy.

 

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Advice on choosing your breed »

Find an animal shelter or rescue home where a Catalan sheep dog is waiting for a new home »

 

The following grid gives a fast track review which covers all breeds. You can apply it to help you decide if a Catalan sheepdog is suitable for you, the environment where you live, your personality and your lifestyle. On the grid, 1= strongly disagree, and 5= strongly agree. For example, if you are looking for a dog that likes to go for walks, look down the list under Activities, and you will see that Catalan Sheepdog love running and walking, scoring 5. If you want a friendly companion, look down at Behaviour, and you will see that Catalan Sheepdogs are friendly with strangers, and score 5. You might like to save or print off this section and keep it for reference while you check some other breeds before making your final choice.

 

Be the first to rate this breed »

Noahs Breed Rating | Community Breed Rating

Activities
Good jogging companion5/5
Good walking companion5/5
Likes water/swimming3/5
Likes learning new tricks4/5
Likes to hunt3/5
Likes to fetch3/5
Good gundog/retriever3/5
Behaviour
Barks a lot2/5
Gets easily jealous1/5
Protective2/5
Aggressive1/5
Timid4/5
Friendly with strangers5/5
Cost
Expensive to insure1/5
Expensive to feed1/5
Environment
Happy to sleep outside1/5
Prefers countryside5/5
Suits urban environment3/5
Prefers temperate climate5/5
Prefers hot climate3/5
Prefers cold climate4/5
Grooming
Moults a lot3/5
Hypoallergenic5/5
Requires lots of grooming4/5
Role and Suitability
Ideal for elderly3/5
Ideal for singles5/5
Ideal for couples with no children5/5
Ideal for family with children5/5
Good watch dog5/5
Good guard dog4/5
Sociability
Good with other pets5/5
Good with other dogs5/5
Time and Energy
Happy being left alone for 4hrs2/5
Happy being left alone for 2hrs3/5
Requires lots of exercise4/5
Training and Obedience
Good for first time owners5/5
Good for experienced owners5/5
Good recall5/5
Easy to train5/5
Activities
Good jogging companion0/5
Good walking companion0/5
Likes water/swimming0/5
Likes learning new tricks0/5
Likes to hunt0/5
Likes to fetch0/5
Good gundog/retriever0/5
Behaviour
Barks a lot0/5
Gets easily jealous0/5
Protective0/5
Aggressive0/5
Timid0/5
Friendly with strangers0/5
Cost
Expensive to insure0/5
Expensive to feed0/5
Environment
Happy to sleep outside0/5
Prefers countryside0/5
Suits urban environment0/5
Prefers temperate climate0/5
Prefers hot climate0/5
Prefers cold climate0/5
Grooming
Moults a lot0/5
Hypoallergenic0/5
Requires lots of grooming0/5
Role and Suitability
Ideal for elderly0/5
Ideal for singles0/5
Ideal for couples with no children0/5
Ideal for family with children0/5
Good watch dog0/5
Good guard dog0/5
Sociability
Good with other pets0/5
Good with other dogs0/5
Time and Energy
Happy being left alone for 4hrs0/5
Happy being left alone for 2hrs0/5
Requires lots of exercise0/5
Training and Obedience
Good for first time owners0/5
Good for experienced owners0/5
Good recall0/5
Easy to train0/5

*PLEASE NOTE: All our breed profiles are general, and all dogs are individuals. Always talk to the breeders and meet the owners you are buying from. Try to meet the dog and its parents if it is a puppy in their home environment.

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