Serra da Estrela Dog

The Serra da Estrela dog, originating from the Serra da Estrela, is one of the oldest breeds of the Iberian Peninsula. It is traditionally used for guarding flocks against wolves and prowlers. Still uncommon in France, the Serra da Estrela dog is the most popular breed, in number of births, in Portugal. In 2012, with 21 registrations in the French book of origins (LOF), the Serra Estrela dog is one of the least registered breeds of group 2 "Dogs of Pinscher and Schnauzer type - Molossoids - Mountain and Swiss Cattle Dogs." The breed became established in France from Portuguese strains and offers good prospects for expansion according to the Club of Lovers of Iberian and Latin American Molossoids.

The Serra da Estrela dog is described in the breed standard as a dog gifted for guarding, docile with its owner and suspicious of strangers. Strangers are often impressed by its firm and sometimes threatening temperament. Training must be carried out gently from an early age. It is a very energetic dog that needs space; it is strongly advised against having it live in the city.

The Serra da Estrela dog is a large-sized dog, of molossoid type and mastiff type, of rustic and imposing aspect, well-proportioned. The body is longilinear to mediollinear. The height at the withers is 62 to 69 cm for females and 65 to 73 cm for males. Attached at mid-height, the long and thick tail is carried below the horizontal at rest, slightly above in action. It is sickle-shaped, with a hook at its extremity and reaches at least the tip of the hock. The muzzle and skull are approximately of the same length. The strong head is long and slightly convex when viewed in profile. The stop is slightly pronounced. Medium-sized to small, the oval-shaped eyes are arranged horizontally, they are amber-dark in color. Attached at medium height, the ears fall laterally and toward the back of the head with the inner edge visible. They are triangular in shape, rounded at the end and small in size. This breed comes in two coat varieties: long coat, the most widespread, and short coat, extremely rare. The coat is strong, very abundant, slightly coarse. The FCI standard describes the texture as "similar to that of goat hair." The undercoat is short, abundant and matted, lighter in color than the coat. The long coat variety carries a smooth or slightly wavy coat, shorter on the limbs and head, longer on the tail, thick and fringed, on the neck, throat, thighs, abundantly fringed, and on the back of the front legs. The short coat variety carries a coat of equal length throughout the body, except on the head and limbs, shorter. The coat allows solid yellow, solid fawn, solid gray, gray-wolf, brindle fawn, yellow or gray with charring. White markings are allowed in very small quantities on the feet, neck and chest. The head carries a dark mask on the face.