Cao de Castro Laboreiro

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

Named for a small village in the mountains of Portugal, the Cao De Castro Laboreiro is an ancient breed of the Iberian Peninsula. The breed is common only in a limited range at variable altitudes in the northern part of the country. This rare dog is a live stock guardian dog with a strong, mastiff type breed. It is a pleasant dog with a rectangular body and striking coat. The dog has a noble carriage and is very hardy. This large dog stands between 21.5 to 23.5 inches and weighs up to 88lbs.

It has slightly long and rectangular head with a broad skull. The muzzle is long, strong and tapering in width from eyes to nose. Nose is large and always black with wide nostrils. Eyes are medium size, almond shaped and obliquely set with varying shades of brown, from hazel to black. Expression is severe and hard. Medium size ears are triangular in shape with rounded tips and set rather high. They hang naturally close and flat to the head. Neck is short and straight. Forelegs are strong and straight while hind legs are moderately angular. Body is rectangular with straight back, strong and short loin and deep, oval chest. Tail is set very high and is thick at the base. The dog has short, coarse and weather-resistant coat that comes in all wolf colors.

This breed is NOT recognized by AKC but it is recognized by FCI and UKC.

Color

The dog sports all wolf colors in varying shades; from very light to medium to very dark. The dog can have all shades of a color at the same time. Most preferred is a coat of mixed shades of grey interspersed with brown or reddish hairs on parts or all of the body.

Coat

Short, thick, coarse and weather resistant, the coat is shorter and finer on the head and ears and on the front of the legs. It is thicker and longer on the underside of the tail and the thighs. There is no undercoat.

Personality

Care

Short coat does not require much of grooming and should be brushed once a week.

Training

The dog is docile and obedient to its owner. It will follow its master's command. It should be trained with firm yet gentle training sessions by a firm and experienced owner.

Activity

This breed needs lots of physical and mental stimulation and will be most happy with an owner who gives this dog jobs to do and utilize its energy and love for work. The dog is not suitable for apartment or small house living and is best suited to rural or suburban setting where it has lots of space to run and play.