GROUP 6 - UTILITY

Brief History
The Estrela Mountain Dog is one of the oldest breeds in Portugal. They are a large breed of dog from the Estrela Mountains, bred to guard herds and homesteads. The Estrela Mountain Dog remains true to its heritage and is still a working dog, guarding flocks in its native Portugal.

Average Life Span
When considering a dog, please realise that you are taking it on for its lifetime. 

The average life span is 10 to 12 years.

Temperament
Strong protective instinct, strong willed and independent.

General Breed Description
The Estrela Mountain Dog is a large, powerful dog with strong guarding instincts. The colours are solid yellow fawn, grey, and various shades of brindle.

Coat and Care Requirements
The Estrela Mountain Dog have two coat types. Long hair and short hair. The hair is strong and slightly coarse, and the undercoat is fine. They will need a good brush and comb at least once a week.

Size
Height: Males: 63 to 75cms, Females 60 to 71cms.

Weight: Males 45 to 60kgs, Weight 35 to 45kgs.

Health
All breeds have individual health issues. When speaking to breeders it is recommended you enquire about the breed’s health and what health testing the breeder does. The Estrela Mountain Dog is generally a healthy breed, however health conditions do occur occasionally. These may include Hip Dysplasia (HD), Elbow Dysplasia, Gastric Torsion (Bloat).

Suitability
The Estrela Mountain Dog has a very strong protective instinct and is very independent. These characteristics can be problematic without a confident, experienced owner and they will need plenty of socialisation.

In Conclusion
Now you know a little more about this breed. If you have decided this is the dog for you and wish to investigate further, please contact the Breed Club or Dogs Victoria. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog events where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the breed and its needs. With any breed of dog, it is important to research and determine suitability for your lifestyle before committing to a puppy which will be a part of your family for many years to come.

Whilst many breeds are recommended for families, it is imperative that when children are with dogs they are supervised at all times. Basic obedience training is a vital part of dog ownership.

Dogs Victoria is about the responsible ownership of all dogs and in particular the preservation of pure breeds.

Link to Dogs Australia Breed Standard: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/breed/detail/207