Rafeiro do Alentejo
Temperament:
The Rafeiro do Alentejo is an old Portuguese dog breed. The FCI has recognized the Rafeiro do Alentejo as an independent breed. The classification was made with standard no. 96 in group 2, section 2 and can be found under 2.2 "Mountain Dogs". This Portuguese shepherd dog has a pronounced guarding and protective instinct.
Characteristics
The Rafeiro do Alentejo has a massive build. The height at the withers of males is between 66 and 74 cm. The weight is between 45 and 60 kg. Females are somewhat smaller. But with a height at the withers of 64 to 70 cm and a weight of 35 to 50 kg, they are also an imposing appearance.
The large head with medium-sized folded ears sits on a muscular body. The back is straight and ends in a low-set tail. Its stocky, ponderous gait rounds off the overall impression.
The coat is short to medium length with a lot of undercoat. The coat color varies from black, wolf-grey, fawn to yellow. Sometimes these colors are interspersed with white patches. Some representatives of this breed are white with colored patches or pied.
The Rafeiro do Alentejo is a working dog. We do not recommend keeping him in the city without a garden and without activity. Its training requires consistency and experience. Its loyalty to the family does not make it a family dog.
The Rafeiro do Alentejo is intelligent, self-confident and independent. It also has an innate keenness. This is difficult to control despite good training. It absolutely needs a typical breed task and plenty of space.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
When choosing food, make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients, is balanced and meets your dog's requirements. Age, size or weight, activity and health status play an important role. You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of food.
Treats should only be fed in moderation and deducted from the basic diet to avoid obesity.
Puppies can be fed 4-6 times a day. The number of meals should be gradually reduced to 2 per day until the dog is fully grown. A rest period should be observed after meals.
Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.
Health & Care
The short to medium-length coat is easy to care for. Regular brushing of the smooth coat is sufficient. The coat is changed twice a year. As the Rafeiro do Alentejo has a very dense undercoat, a special undercoat brush makes it easier to change the coat.
Checking and cleaning the ears is standard and is not time-consuming.
Regular grooming also includes checking the claws and paws. The Rafeiro do Alentejo can injure itself in these areas, especially when herding. If the claws do not wear off by themselves, they must be trimmed.
Otherwise the breed is robust. Typical breed diseases are not known. Possible joint problems due to the weight and size can be counteracted in advance.
Suitable accessories
The Rafeiro do Alentejo also needs basic equipment. A collar and/or harness and a strong lead. The lead should be available in different lengths.
Food and water bowls of sufficient size and, if possible, height-adjustable so that he doesn't have to bend down too far.
This dog breed is robust and has a thick coat. It therefore prefers to sleep outside rather than in the house. A suitable dog kennel with a dog bed offers a certain level of comfort.
Each Rafeiro do Alentejo has its own preferences. Even though they are primarily guard dogs, some may be interested in intelligence and search games.
A dog staircase or a dog ramp could be useful for going to the vet. A suitable muzzle as a safety precaution and a transportation device in the car would also be useful.
Your Rafeiro do Alentejo will also need tick tweezers, claw clippers, a toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs and a first aid kit. It's best to ask your vet what should be in the first aid kit.
Origin & History
The ancestry of the Rafeiro do Alentejo is not exactly known. This rare breed of dog could be descended from the molossoid breeds of the Middle East.
One possibility would be the involvement of the Cao da Serra da Estrela (Estrela mountain dog). This shepherd dog also originates from Portugal.
In any case, the Rafeiro do Alentejo was used as a shepherd dog for a long time. It originates from the Alentejo. This region stretches south of the River Tagus as far as the Algarve.
Shepherds used it to protect their herds from cattle thieves and wild animals. The herds were especially safe at night with this dog. It was also well suited to herding and driving herds. Large landowners used this dog breed as a status symbol.
At the beginning of the 20th century, this rare breed of dog was almost extinct. The reasons for this were industrialization and the decline of large estates. In 1940, a breed standard for the Rafeiro do Alentejo was established for the first time.
14 years later, the breed was finally recognized by the FCI. Even today, the population of this breed is still small. Lovers of this breed ensure that the Rafeiro do Alentejo is preserved.
