The Estrela Mountain Dog is a large breed of dog from the Estrela Mountains of Portugal where it was developed to guard herds and homesteads against wolves and bears.
These are large, imposing dogs, which are well-built and athletic, with a striking appearance including a dark face, folded back ears and a bushy tail which is hooked at the end. This breed comes in long and short-haired varieties. The long-coated dogs have a thick, slightly coarse coat of flat or slightly waved outer hairs and a dense lighter coloured undercoat. The short coat is thick and slightly coarse with a shorter dense undercoat. The coat is brindle, fawn or grey and typically accompanied by a black facial mask. These are large, strong dogs which have a tendency to be domineering. They need experienced owners who can cope with the breeds size, intelligence and independent nature and provide consistent and ongoing training. This is a breed where proper socialisation and training as a puppy is crucial. With this in place, the Estrela can make a wonderful and devoted companion. They will be devoted to their family and loving with children and will need early and continued socialisation to be trustworthy around small pets and other dogs. Estrelas are naturally protective of their family and territory which can make them suspicious of strangers. They also have a tendency to bark, especially when protecting their territory. Docile and loving with their owners, the Estrela can make a wonderful companion for an experienced owner who can nurture this striking breed.
History
The Estrela Mountain Dog is an ancient breed of dog from the mountain range known as the Serra da Estrela, in central Portugal. They were developed to work at high altitudes, guarding livestock from predators. They are most probably descended from the Mastiff-type dogs the Romans had with them when they arrived on the Iberian Peninsula. There are also similarities with other mountain livestock guarding breeds such as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog and Kuvasz.
