Portuguese Herding Dog

The Alentejo is a gigantic ocean of plains with low-altitude hills. The climate there is harsh, freezing and windy in winter, torrid and dusty in summer. At the end of the nineteenth century, in the district of Portalegre, in Upper Alentejo, lived a local breed of herding dog. It was part of the large family of continental European herding dogs such as the Pyrenean Shepherd, the Catalan Shepherd, the Polski Ozwarek Ninzinny, the Bergamasco, the Dutch Schapendoes, etc. The Count of Castro Guimaraes, owner of a large estate in the Serra de Aire, sought to improve the local herding dogs. He attempted crosses, probably with the Briard. These crosses gave rise to the present type of Serra de Aires. The breed takes its name from the Monte da Serra de Aire, near the Serra de Aire, located in the municipality of Monforte.

The Serra de Aires is basically mistrustful and shy like many herding breeds; it must be properly socialized, first by the breeder from its youngest age, then by its owner. It then becomes a very pleasant dog to live with. It loves its family, it is a great playmate for children with whom it will have natural complicity. It is also a very good house guard dog, day and night. It shares daily life but also knows how to be alone at home.

Medium-sized dog (males: 45 to 55 cm; females: 42 to 52 cm). For comparison with our long-haired herding dogs, it is between the Briard and the Pyrenean Shepherd, with a strong and wide head, dark-colored eyes with a gentle expression, and drooping ears. His back is straight with a croup of medium length and width. He has well-muscled thighs; his tail at rest falls between the buttocks and should touch the hocks. His coat is long, forming long beards, mustaches, and eyebrows allowing the eyes to be seen. He has simian attitudes and appearances, which is why in his native region the Portuguese call him "Cão Macaco, the monkey dog." It has no undercoat. Its gait is light and suspended, typical of this breed. It is a dog of very great endurance.