Ava Williams
Shoulder height: 45 – 55 cm
Weight: 16 – 22 kg
Age: 12 – 14 years
Color: tan, sandy yellow, grey, white or black
Use: working dog, the family dog, sports dog
The Catalan Sheepdog is a very active, intelligent herding dog from Spain. It needs a lot of work and exercise and loves to be outdoors – no matter the weather. Therefore, it is best kept by sporty, nature-loving people.
Origin and history
Hailing from the Pyrenees, the Catalan Sheepdog is a traditional Spanish herding dog. Gos is the Catalan term for the dog, and Catalan Sheepdog means that the dog is used with the herd and helps with herding. The Catalan Sheepdog is a relatively rare breed of dog. Outside of her Catalan homeland, it only became known at the end of the 20th century.
Appearance
The Catalan Sheepdog is a medium-sized dog with a tousled coat that appears solid when viewed from a distance. The different nuances of the fur color can only be recognized when you are close by. The primary colors are tan, sandy yellow, and grey, with gray ranging from light silver-grey to black-grey.
The eyes of the Catalan Sheepdog are expressive, rounded, and dark amber. The ears are set high, triangular, and hanging. The tail is usually long and turning, a congenital bobtail can occur.
The coat is long, rough, smooth to slightly wavy, and has a lot of undercoats. It forms a beard on the snout, a mop of hair on the head, and longer eyebrows. The Catalan Sheepdog sheds its coat in two phases: first, the hair on the front half of the body changes, and in the second phase the hair on the back half changes. In between, it looks like there are two halves of a dog with different fur.
Nature
The Catalan Sheepdog is an old shepherd breed that is used to working very independently and persistently. True to this original destiny, Catalan Sheepdogs are extremely intelligent, exceedingly lively and active, and extremely wary of strangers. They are also docile and docile and can also be trained well with loving consistency and a lot of patience. With careful training and sufficient activity, the Catalan Sheepdog is also a pleasant companion dog.
The sporty nature boy – who tolerates heat and cold well – loves to be outdoors and needs a lot of exercise and activity. Lazy people won’t be happy with the always-action-ready Catalan. Not suitable for city life. Sporty, nature-loving people who enjoy cycling, jogging, or hiking with their dog will find a loyal, tireless companion in them. The robust and agile Catalan Sheepdog is also easy to inspire for dog sports such as agility, tracking work, or team sports.
A rough coat with a lot of undercoats requires regular care. Especially in the first two years of life, the Catalan Sheepdog needs to be brushed and combed often.