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Estrela Mountain Dog

alert / intelligent / brave

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

24.5-29 inches

Weight

77-132 pounds

Life Expectancy

10-14 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    100% 100%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    80% 80%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    40% 40%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    100% 100%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    60% 60%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    60% 60%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    100% 100%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    80% 80%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    40% 40%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    100% 100%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    60% 60%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    60% 60%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The Estrela Mountain Dog is well renowned for its affection for kids and families in addition to being a great guardian of cattle. It is crucial to socialize and train puppies properly to prevent the dominance in Estrela’s disposition from developing into aggression. The Estrela Mountain Dog is thought to be the oldest breed in the area, taking its name from the Estrela Mountains in Portugal. Rosed ears, a black mask, and a hook at the end of the tail are just a few of the breed’s notable physical traits. He is the shepherd’s constant companion and the heroic keeper of the flock, defending it from robbers and predators. He makes a great farm and home guard; he is wary of strangers but normally submissive to his master. Estrela will form a lifelong relationship with their housemate. He will cherish and care for his entire family, but he will give that one particular family member of his choice a piece of his soul. As one owner of an Estrela puts it, “There is nothing compared to the love of an Estrela.”

 

What To Expect When Caring For a Estrela Mountain Dog

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

There can be certain health problems, like with any breed. The majority of Estrela Mountain Dogs are healthy dogs, while some may experience these problems in their lifetimes. By working with a reputable breeder, anyone looking to buy an Estrela Mountain Dog can gain the knowledge they need to understand the breed's particular health difficulties. To lessen the probability of sickness in their puppies, good breeders genetically screen their breeding material.

Grooming

The Estrela is available in longhair and shorthair versions, and both have a thick outer coat that resembles goat hair in texture. A bath every now and then will keep them clean and looking their best in addition to weekly grooming. For you and your pet, grooming can be a great way to strengthen your relationship. Regular trimming with a nail clipper or grinder is advised to prevent overgrowth, splitting, and cracking of their robust, quickly developing nails. To prevent a buildup of wax and debris that could cause an infection, examine their ears frequently. You should brush your teeth frequently.

Exercise

The Estrela is available in longhair and shorthair versions, and both have a thick outer coat that resembles goat hair in texture. A bath every now and then will keep them clean and looking their best in addition to weekly grooming. For you and your pet, grooming can be a great way to strengthen your relationship. Regular trimming with a nail clipper or grinder is advised to prevent overgrowth, splitting, and cracking of their robust, quickly developing nails. To prevent a buildup of wax and debris that could cause an infection, examine their ears frequently. You should brush your teeth frequently.

Training

Nutrition

You should give your Estrela Mountain Dog a special diet designed to meet his specific digestive requirements as he goes through different stages of development. Breed-specific recipes are available from several dog food manufacturers for small, medium, big, and extra-large breeds. The longevity of the huge breed Estrela Mountain Dog can range from 8 to 10 years. Choosing what to feed your dog is a personal decision, but the best method to choose how frequently to feed him as a puppy and the best adult diet to lengthen his life is to consult your vet and/or breeder. Fresh water that is clean should always be accessible.

History

In the Serra da Estrela, in what is now Portugal, the earliest known descendants of the Estrela were herd-guarding dogs. It is unclear if the progenitors that gave rise to this breed were introduced by the Romans during their colonization of the Iberian Peninsula or later by the invading Visigoths because there are no written records. Whatever the case, there is no denying that the Estrela is one of Portugal’s oldest breeds.

The Estrela evolved over many centuries rather than becoming the separate breed we know today as the early guard dogs. Large-sized, strong, having endurance, agile, deep-chested, able to tolerate a marginal diet, a proper set of legs, a powerful mouth, a tuft of hair around its neck, an easy, jogging gait, a warm coat, and a watchful, mistrustful, yet loyal temperament are the qualities that shepherds would have chosen to breed in their dogs.

Even into the 20th century, little had changed for the local canines and humans. Due to the area’s seclusion, the breed wasn’t well-known outside of it until the early 1900s, and even then, they were largely disregarded at the first dog shows. The Portuguese much preferred foreign breeds to their own, and shepherds frequently castrated their dogs to keep them from wandering off to mate. Because of these causes, the Estrela Mountain Dog suffered, thus from 1908 to 1919, specialized competitions known as concursos were held to support and protect the breed in the area. These exhibitions also featured unique working challenges for livestock guardians. A dog’s owner entered a big field filled with numerous flocks of sheep for the trial. Judges watched the dog’s actions as it entered the field and when the shepherd was instructed to relocate the flock, which inevitability resulted in stragglers. In order to bring the lonesome sheep back, the dog was supposed to leave his post of guarding and move to the head of the herd. There may have been some attempt at a registry during this time, but there is no trace of it left behind.

In 1922, the first provisional breed standard was issued. Although it did identify dew claws as indicative of a “perfect” dog, this criteria simply reflected the practical characteristics naturally present in the greatest dogs of the period. There was no mention of the hooked tail or the turned-back ears, which later formed part of the official standard. In 1933, the first breed standard was published. This standard made an effort to identify Estrela as a unique breed. Due to this, the multiple dew claws and hooked tail became necessary. All shades were acceptable.

Breeders of the Estrela were still mostly local farmers and shepherds prior to World War II. They made no attempt to adhere to the official breed standard because they were largely illiterate, assuming they even knew one existed. But by the start of the 1950s, enthusiasm for the breed had revived, and the concursos were once again held annually. Once more, the goal was to pique the citizens of Serra’s curiosity and persuade them to follow the law. The long-haired variation was the most common at shows during this time, but only a tiny percentage of Estrelas lived in Portugal as show dogs and still do today. Many of the working canines had short hair and still do.

The Estrela Mountain Dog still honors its guarding legacy today. It continues to be a working dog, protecting flocks both domestically and abroad. It serves as a police dog for the Portuguese as well. Its vigilance, devotion, intelligence, and instinct to care for young—all qualities it required in its formative years—make it the perfect family companion at home.