The gos d'atura català or Catalan shepherd is one of the most appreciated and valued dogs by those who have ever enjoyed his company and presence. This furry and loyal companion is without a doubt one of the best herding dogs out there, not only because of his intelligence and ability, but also because of his stable and faithful character.
If you are thinking of adopting a Catalan Sheepdog, it is very important that you first find out about its characteristics, its character and the care it requires to be happy. Among them, we highlight hair care and daily exercise, essential for this cheerful and active breed.
This sheepdog is one of the most valued in Catalonia so don't hesitate to read on to get to know him and see his beautiful photographs:
Historia del gos d'atura català
Much of the history surrounding the Catalan Sheepdog is unknown. It is known to be a very ancient breed and it is estimated that it descends from dogs brought by the Roman conquerors to the Iberian Peninsula, around 150 BC
Local dogs of the region would have crossed with the lighter dogs carried by the Roman army (not with the large Molossians that they used for war) and would have given rise to different European breeds. In the Catalan Pyrenees, the type of dog that gave rise to the gos d'atura català would have predominated
For centuries, the gos d'atura català enjoyed great popularity in Catalonia thanks to its great virtues as a shepherd dog and as a guard. However, the breed lost much of its admirers after World War II, reaching the brink of extinction. Fortunately, in the 1970s a group of breeders started a program to recover the breed. Today this is a rare dog in most of the world, but the population of Catalan Shepherds is slowly but gradually increasing.
Characteristics of gos d'atura català
This dog's body is slightly longer than it is tall, with a length:height at withers ratio of 9:8. He's also strong and muscular, but not heavy. The overall impression he gives is one of strength and agility. The legs are strong and muscular, suitable for trotting long distances.
The head is strong and has a broad base, although it is slightly longer than it is wide. The nose is black and straight. The eyes are round and dark amber. They are very expressive and have a lively and intelligent look, although it is sometimes difficult to see them behind the abundant hair that falls on them. The ears are set high, triangular, fine and end in a point.
The tail of gos d'atura català can come in two varieties. In some dogs it is long, exceeding the hock. In other dogs it is short, with a length of less than 10 centimeters.
The beautiful coat of these dogs is long and coarse, and can be straight or slightly wavyCatalan Sheepdogs have abundant undercoats all over their bodies, but especially in the rear third. On their heads they have abundant hair that forms a beard, mustache, toupee and eyebrows.
The coat of these dogs appears to be one color when viewed from a distance, but when viewed up close, the color is defined by a combination of hairs of different shades. The basic colors resulting from these combinations are wafer, sand and gray Occasionally, the combination gives specimens that from a distance appear to be black and tan.
Shedding is very curious in this breed, as it occurs in two stages. The Catalan gos d'atura moults first the hair on the front half of the body and then the hair on the back half. Therefore, for some time, it seemed that it was a dog with two different coats, or two half-dogs united by magic.
The gos d'atura are medium-sized dogs. The height at the withers for males varies between 47 and 55 centimeters. Females reach a height at the withers that ranges from 45 to 53 centimeters. The ideal weight is not indicated in the FCI breed standard, but these dogs usually weigh between 20 and 27 kilograms.
Character of the gos d'atura català
This is a very faithful and affectionate dog with his family, but somewhat reserved with strangers. Like most sheepdogs, the gos d'atura català is a very intelligent, brave, stable, vigilant and hard-working dog. In addition, his herding instincts are so strong that he tends to lead the flock even without any guidance from the shepherd.
Indoors, the Catalan Sheepdog is very quiet and calm: he will love to be combed, paid attention to and spend long hours in serene tranquility. He is a very grateful, sweet and understanding dog, very skilled and empathic. However, once we go for a walk with him, on an excursion or take him to a pipi-can, we will enjoy observing an energetic, active dog with an overwhelming personality. He is really active and agile. Although he usually creates a special bondwith a single member of the family he tends to behave wonderfully with adults and children being a respectful and faithful dog. Especially with little ones, this dog is extremely careful, protective and loyal
Although many people use this magnificent dog as a work tool, what the Catalan Shepherd really needs is an active companion and that offers you your best years to have fun and enjoy practicing exercise and varied activities in company. As we have commented previously, the gos d'atura català is a suspicious dog with strangers and, without training it for it, it is an excellent alarm dog that will warn us before the arrival of any intruder. It has a powerful bark.
Catalan nature care
To begin with, we will talk about Catalan Shepherd hair care which must be frequent and rigorous, otherwise we risk the appearance of knots and accumulated dirt. The ideal would be brushing between 4 and 5 times a week carefully and neatly, trying to reach all areas. We recommend looking for a brush with thick, separate metal bristles.
Bathing should not be excessively frequent as this removes the natural protective oil from your skin. To do this, wash every two months or when it is really dirty is the most appropriate. During their bathing sessions we can take the opportunity to trim the hair in some areas (of the eyes for example) with great care and delicacy. That will help us maintain a splendid appearance of the dog. Don't forget that if you don't know how to do it exactly, the ideal thing would be to go to a professional for instructions.
On the other hand, we must also mention the exercise necessary for the gos d'atura català If we don't live in a rural environment where In order for this dog to develop a skill that it has inherited by nature, grazing, we must provide it with different and varied activities so that it can burn off the accumulated energy. To begin with, it will be essential to allow him to have at least three long walks in which we will allow him to run without a leash for 10 minutes a day
Active exercise at least once or twice a week will also be very helpful. Agility, canicross or other exercises for adult dogs are an excellent way to maintain this dog's muscles and stimulate him mentally and physically. We must never forget that sport is essential for this breed, if we cannot please this dog better, we should opt for a more relaxed and calm one.
Despite their exercise requirements, these dogs can adapt well to life in a flat, as long as they are allowed enough exercise. Either way, they are not ideal dogs for sedentary and quiet people. They are better pets for dynamic people who prefer to be physically active frequently.
Catalan nature education
Because they are naturally reserved with strangers, the Catalan Sheepdog needs to be socialized at an early age, both with people and with dogs and other animalsOtherwise, the Catalan Shepherd may begin to develop fearful, antisocial and even aggressive behaviors related to fear. It is very important to start the education of this dog with socialization.
On the other hand, his ability to learn new things allows him to easily learn the different orders of obedience, some basic tricks and herding instructions. His intelligence and capacity make him perfect for those who love to work on dog education and training, which should always be based on positive reinforcement or the use of the clicker. We must never use punishment or mistreatment with this sensitive breed.
He alth of the gos d'atura català
The breed is not particularly prone to hereditary diseases, but the required veterinary care should still be provided. Vaccinations and frequent check-ups are important. In addition, it is good to train the dog to allow itself to be searched, because its dense fur can hide some wounds and bruises.
