FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE
SECRETARIAT GENERAL: 13, Place Albert I - B 6530 THUIN (Belg)
FCI-Standard N⁰ 93 / 27.02.1996 I GB

PORTUGUESE SHEEPDOG
(Cao da Serra de Aires)

TRANSLATION Mrs Peggy Davis

ORIGIN Portugal

DAIF OF PUBLICATION OF TIE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD 27.02.19%.

UTILIZATION : Sheepdog) guard- and farmdog

FCI'S CLASSIFICATION Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs
(except Swiss Cattle Dogs) Section 1 Sheepdogs Without Working Trial

We consider, sometimes, the actual dogs from the Serra de Aires descendants from a pair of dogs of the Briard Sheepdog breed, Imported by the County of Castro Guimaraes, at the beginning of this century. The existing dogs are in considerable number and with characteristics so firmly established and yet so different, they relate more to the Pyrenean Sheepdog, making U's think that they are therefore a branch of that breed which was wanted to Improve through the Briard Sheepdog. If it is not for that reason, we do not understand why one would have chosen, as a sheepdog for the Alentejo, a breed which would have difficulties in adapting to the climate of that region.

GENERAL APPEARANCE AND APTITUDES Medium size dog, fairly long body. Exceptionally intelligent and very lively, endowed with perceptible hardiness and prudence, very devoted to the shepherd and flock entrusted to him, avoids strangers and guards at night. ie has monkey-like attitudes and looks, which is why in his native region, he is called "monkey dog".

He Is used particularly in the Alentejo, for guarding and driving all the flocks and herds (sheep, goats, cattle, horses, pigs). lie is preferred for the skilful way he has with keeping the flocks in the pastures and bringing back the runaways and strays.

HEAD : Strong, broad, neither long nor globular.

NOSE Well detached, slightly raised, with large nostril's; cylindrical and almost vertically truncated; black Is preferable or otherwise darker than the coat.

MUZZLE Almost cylindrical, straight In profile or slightly hollowed; short, measuring about two thirds of the length of the skull; width in proportion to length and shape.

LIPS Tight, not overlapping; thin, firm, almost straight.

JAWS normally developed; in perfect opposition with white and solid teeth.

STOP Well defined; the upper longitudinal cranial-facial axes are divergent.

SKULL Slightly longer than wide; convex on the two axes, but more so laterally; the superciliary ridges are not prominent; the medial furrow Is pronounced up to the half of the forehead; skull between set-on of ears almost flat, occipital protuberance visible.

EYES Lively expression, intelligent and docile; set level with the head; preferably of a dark color; rounded, medium size and horizontal; eyelids black pigmented or always darker than the coat color.

EARS : Set high; hanging and without folds, when they are not cropped, and straight when they are cropped; triangular, medium length, fine and smooth.

NECK Harmoniously attached to head and body, straight and slightly rising; of regular size; without dewlap.

FOREQUARTERS Strong, evenly separated; vertical seen from the front and sides.

SHOULDER AND UPPERARM Strong, medium length; well muscled; angle of the shoulder straight.

FOREARM : Vertical and well muscled.

PASTERN JOINT : Lean and not prominent.

PASTERN Of even size; medium length, not very sloping from top to bottom and back to front.

FEET Round, not flat, toes long and tight, very well knuckled up; nails long, strong and black or darker than the color of the coat; pads thick and tough.

BODY Top line not much sloping, underline of the body tucked up.

FORECHEST : Prominent, descending backward and downwards; ample.

CHEST Well let down; of medium width and depth.

RIBS Lightly sprung, with oval ribcage; sloping front to back.

BACK Straight or slightly hollow and long.

LOINS Snort and rounded; wide and curved, well muscled and well joined to the back and the croup.

BELLY (ABDOMEN) AND FLANKS : Regularly voluminous; slightly rising.

CROUP Of medium length and width; slightly slanting.

HINDQUARTERS : Strong, regularly separated; In vertical position from the back and In profile.

UPPER-THIGH Of medium length and width; well muscled.

LOWER THIGH : Slightly inclined, long, well muscled.

HOCK-JOINT : Set rather lower than high; of normal width, strong and lean, angle of the hock well open.

METATARSAL : Of even thickness, but strong; medium length, not very sloping from top to bottom and front to back; single or double dewclaws are allowed.

FEET Round, not flat; toes long and tight, well knuckled up; nails long, strong and black or darker than the color of the coat; the pads are thick and tough.

TAIL : High set, pointed, tapering towards the base, touching the hocks; when relaxed carried between the legs, more or less arched or curved at the tip; in action spreads out a little curved and fans out or rolls up.

COAT Very long, smooth or slightly wavy, forming long beards, moustache and eyebrows, but not covering the eyes.

HAIR : The colors are yellow, chestnut, grey, fawn and wolf grey, with shading from light to ordinary and dark, and black, more or less marked with tan with or without mixed white hairs, but never with white patches, except a small patch on the chest; hair very long on the head, body and legs, including between the toes. Hair of medium thickness and of goat like texture; dense and evenly distributed all over the body; there Is no undercoat or wool.

SKIN : The internal and external mucous membranes preferably pigmented; skin does not fit too tightly.

SIZE : Males 45 to 55 cm, bitches 42 to 52 cm.

WEIGHT 12 to 18 kg.

GAIT Light and flowing, predominantly the trot; the gallop when work demands it, energetic.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Nose pointed. Lips overlapping or pendulous. Stop poorly defined. Eyes light, small, not round or slanting. Ears folded. Body: hollow or too sloping, underline too much tucked up. Croup : horizontal or too sloping. Tail : low set, short or rolled over on the bark when in repose. Nails white. Coat soft or white patch on the chest.

ELIMINATING FAULTS : Head : narrow and long. Muzzle convex. Jaws bad fit. Skull flat, globular or narrow. Ears low set. Tail docked or naturally tailless. Hair : not long enough, curled and looped, white on the extremities of the legs or pied. Size : dwarfism.

SCALE OF POINTS

General appearance 20
Head 15
Eyes 10
Ears 5
Body 10
Legs 10
Tail 10
Coat 15
Gait 5

Total 100

N.B. : Males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Printed with permission of the FCI