ORIGIN : Portugal
UTILIZATION : Sheepdog, guard- and farmdog
FCI'S CLASSIFICATION : Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs)
Section 1 Sheepdogs
Without Working Trial
We consider, sometimes, the actual dogs from the Serra de Aires descendants from a pair of dogs of the Briard Sheepdog breed, imported by the County of Castro Guimaraes, at the beginning of this century.
The existing dogs are in considerable number and with characteristics so firmly established and yet so different, they relate more to the Pyrenean Sheepdog, making us think that they are therefore a branch of that breed which was wanted to improve through the Briard Sheepdog.
If it is not for that reason, we do not understand why one would have chosen, as a sheepdog for the Alentejo, a breed which would have difficulties in adapting to the climate of that region.
GENERAL APPEARANCE AND APTITUDES : Medium size dog, fairly long body. Exceptionnally intelligent and very lively, endowed with perceptible hardiness and prudence, very devoted to the shepherd and flock entrusted to him, avoids strangers and guards at night. He has monkey-like attitudes and looks, which is why in his native region, he is called "monkey dog".
He is used particularly in the Alentejo, for guarding and driving all the flocks and herds (sheep, goats, cattle, horses, pigs). He is preferred for the skilful way he has with keeping the flocks in the pastures and bringing back the runaways and strays.
HEAD : Strong, broad, neither long nor globular.
NOSE : Well detached, slightly raised, with large nostrils; cylindrical and almost vertically truncated; black is preferable or otherwise darker than the coat.
MUZZLE : Almost cylindrical, straight in profile or slightly hollowed; short, measuring about two thirds of the length of the skull; width in proportion to length and shape.
LIPS : Tight, not overlapping; thin, firm, almost straight.
JAWS : normally developed; in perfect opposition with white and solid teeth.
STOP : Well defined; the upper longitudinal cranial-facial axes are divergent.
SKULL : Slightly longer than wide; convex on the two axes, but more so laterally; the superciliary ridges are not prominent; the medial furrow is pronounced up to the half of the forehead; skull between set-on of ears almost flat, occipital protuberance visible.
EYES : Lively expression, intelligent and docile; set level with the head; preferably of a dark colour; rounded, medium size and horizontal; eyelids black pigmented or always darker than the coat colour.
EARS : Set high; hanging and without folds, when they are not cropped, and straight when they are cropped; triangular, medium length, fine and smooth.
NECK : Harmoniously attached to head and body, straight and slightly rising; of regular size; without dewlap.
FOREQUARTERS : Strong, evenly separated; vertical seen from the front and sides.
SHOULDER AND UPPERARM : Strong, medium length; well muscled; angle of the shoulder straight.
FOREARM : Vertical and well muscled.
PASTERN JOINT : Lean and not prominent.
PASTERN : Of even size; medium length, not very sloping from top to bottom and back to front.
FEET : Round, not flat, toes long and tight, very well knuckled up; nails long, strong and black or darker than the colour of the coat; pads thick and tough.
BODY : Top line not much sloping, underline of the body tucked up.
FORECHEST : Prominent, descending backward and downwards; ample.
CHEST : Well let down; of medium width and depth.
RIBS : Lightly sprung, with oval ribcage; sloping front to back.
BACK :Straight or slightly hollow and long.
LOINS : Short and rounded; wide and curved, well muscled and well joined to the back and the croup.
BELLY (ABDOMEN) AND FLANKS : Regularly voluminous; slightly rising.
CROUP : Of medium length and width; slightly slanting.
HINDQUARTERS : Strong, regularly separated; in vertical position from the back and in profile.
UPPER-THIGH : Of medium length and width; well muscled.
LOWER THIGH : Slightly inclined, long, well muscled.
HOCK-JOINT : Set rather lower than high; of normal width, strong and lean, angle of the hock well open.
METATARSAL : Of even thickness, but strong; medium length, not very sloping from top to bottom and front to back; single or double dewclaws are allowed.
FEET : Round, not flat; toes long and tight, well knuckled up; nails long, strong and black or darker than the colour of the coat; the pads are thick and tough.
TAIL : High set, pointed, tapering towards the base, touching the hocks; when relaxed carried between the legs, more or less arched or curved at the tip; in action spreads out a little curved and fans out or rolls up.
COAT : Very long, smooth or slightly wavy, forming long beards, moustache and eyebrows, but not covering the eyes.
HAIR : The colours are yellow, chestnut, grey, fawn and wolf grey, with shadings from light to ordinary and dark, and black, more or less marked with tan with or without mixed white hairs, but never with white patches, except a small patch on the chest; hair very long on the head, body and legs, including between the toes. Hair of medium thickness and of goat like texture; dense and evenly distributed all over the body; there is no undercoat or wool.
SKIN : The internal and external mucous membranes preferably pigmented; skin does not fit too tightly.
SIZE : Males 45 to 55 cm, bitches 42 to 52 cm.
WEIGHT : 12 to 18 kg.
GAIT : Light and flowing, predominantly the trot; the gallop when work demands it, energetic.
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Nose pointed. Lips overlapping or pendulous. Stop poorly defined. Eyes light, small, not round or slanting. Ears folded. Body: hollow back or too sloping, underline too much tucked up. Croup : horizontal or too sloping. Tail : low set, short or rolled over on the back when in repose. Nails white. Coat soft or white patch on the chest.
ELIMINATING FAULTS : Head : narrow and long. Muzzle convex. Jaws bad fit. Skull flat, globular or narrow. Ears low set. Tail docked or naturally tailless. Hair : not long enough, curled and looped, white on the extremities of the legs or pied. Size : dwarfism.
SCALE OF POINTS :
General appearance - 20
Head - 15
Eyes - 10
Ears - 5
Body - 10
Legs - 10
Tail - 10
Coat - 15
Gait - 5
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Total - 100
N.B. : Males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.