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The Estrela Mountain Dog is a breed of dog that has been used to guard herds in the Estrela mountains for centuries.
History: The earliest of the Estrela’s ancestors were
herd-guarding dogs in the Serra da Estrela, in what is now
Portugal. Since there are no written records, it is not known
for sure whether they were brought by the Romans when they
colonized the Iberian Peninsula, or later by the invading
Visigoths. Regardless, there is no disagreement that the
Estrela is one of the oldest breeds in Portugal.
Those early guardian dogs were not the distinct breed we
know today. Rather, the Estrela developed over a period of
hundreds of years. Shepherds would have chosen to breed the
dogs that had the characteristics necessary to survive in
their mountain environment and to do their job: large size,
strength, endurance, agility, a deep chest, ability to
tolerate a marginal diet, the set of the legs, a powerful
mouth, a tuft of hair around the neck, an easy, jog-like gait,
a warm coat, and a watchful, mistrustful, yet loyal
temperament. Since the region was isolated, there was little
breeding with non-native dogs, leading to the purity of the
breed.
Life changed little for the people and dogs of the region,
even into the 20th century. The isolation of the region meant
the breed was relatively unknown outside it until the early
1900’s, and even then, they were mostly ignored in early dog
shows. The Portuguese admired foreign breeds much more than
their own. Shepherds often castrated their dogs to prevent
them from leaving their flocks to mate. These factors were
having a negative effect on the Estrela.
So from 1908 to 1919, special shows were held to promote
and preserve the Estrela breed in the region. During this
period there was some attempt at a registry (of which there is
no surviving record). Special livestock guardian working
trials were included in these shows. The trial consisted of an
owner/shepherd bringing his dog into a large field with many
flocks of sheep. The dog was observed by judges for it’s
reactions coming into the field and as the shepherd was
ordered to move the flock, which inevitably produced
stragglers. The dog was expected to move from his spot of
guarding to bring the stragglers back, and then assume a
leadership position at the head of the flock.
Breed standards: The first, tentative, recorded
breed standard was published in 1922. This standard just
reflected the functional features naturally found in the best
dogs of the time, although it did mention the dew claws as
reflecting a “perfect” dog. The hooked tail and the
turned-back ears, which later became part of the official
standard, were not mentioned.
The first official breed standard was written in 1933. This
standard attempted to differentiate the Estrela as a distinct
breed. This led to the hooked tail and double dew claws
becoming a requirement. All colors were allowed. The standard
has undergone small refinements since then. For example, dew
claws became optional by 1955, and the allowed colors have
been limited a few times to achieve today’s current set.
Prior to World War II, the Estrela’s breeders were still
primarily the shepherds and farmers of the region. Since they
were mostly illiterate, they did not make any attempt to
follow the official breed standard, if they even knew one
existed. But by the early 1950’s, interest in the breed
returned, and annual shows were reinstated. Again the intent
was to stimulate interest among the Serra residents and to
encourage them to adhere to the official standard. During this
period, the long-haired variety was most popular at shows, but
“show dogs” represented (and still do) only a small
portion of the Estrela population in Portugal. Many of the
working dogs were (and are) short-haired.
Early in the 1970s, interest was steeply declining. There
was some concern about the degeneration and even possible
extinction of the breed. But the Portuguese revolution of 1974
helped save the Estrela. It led to changes both in dog shows
in Portugal and in Portuguese dog breeds. Prior to the
revolution, dog showing had largely been a pastime of the
wealthy, with their preference for non-Portuguese breeds as
status symbols. Now, working people could and did show the
native dogs they preferred. Also, with the revolution came an
increase in crime and thus more interest in guard dogs.
There is no record of Estrelas outside Portugal prior to
1972. While some undoubtedly did leave the country, they were
probably interbred with no effort to maintain the breed. In
1972 and 1973, pairs were imported to the U.S. Others were
probably imported into the U.S. since then, but it was not
until 1998 that the first EMDAA recognized dog was brought
over to the U.S. The United Kingdom was the first country to
establish the breed outside Portugal in 1972. Today the
Estrela can be found in many countries.
Today, the Estrela Mountain Dog remains true to its
guardian heritage. It is still a working dog, guarding flocks
in its native Portugal and elsewhere. The Portuguese use them
as police dogs. It is also an ideal family pet because of its
alertness, loyalty, intelligence, and it’s instinct to
nurture young; all features it needed in its earliest days.
Appearance: The breed exists in two forms, the long-
and the shorthaired one. They weigh between 66 and 110 pounds
and grow to a height of 24.5 to 28.5 inches.
Temperament: They are very protective of their
property and family, friendly with children, but suspicious of
any strangers, and can be stubborn.
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