With its roots in the vast Pampas, the Uruguayan Cimarron breed is extremely strong. It is a dog that is a true survivor, with a long and hard story to tell. Therefore, we want to unravel all the ins and outs of this curious breed, explain where it comes from, what it is like, what it is like to have it at home, what it needs and its most relevant he alth problems.
Will you stay to discover all the characteristics of the Uruguayan maroon? On our site we explain everything you need to know and how to adopt one of these precious dogs.
Origin of the Uruguayan Cimarron
The Uruguayan Cimarron is a dog of uncertain origin The only thing that is known is that it could be the direct descendant of the dogs that arrived to Uruguayan territory accompanying the European conquerors. It is suspected that the current Uruguayan wild dog is the product of natural selection, since the colonizers' dogs that were abandoned or escaped had to survive in a new and unknown environment, enduring only the strongest.
However, their struggle to survive does not end there. Due to the abundance of food in the regions where it began to reproduce, packs of wild maroons began to attack herds and even caravans of travelers. For this reason, some were persecuted and killed, reaching thousands of maroon deaths. However, some locals did see the virtues of the breed and decided to domesticate it and incorporate it into their daily lives, turning the Uruguayan Cimarrón into an excellent guard and shepherd dog for the different herds throughout the territory. Thanks to this and to how much these dogs fought to continue living, the breed is what we know today.
In 1989 the first official recognition of the Uruguayan Cimarrón breed was achieved, with the elaboration of its standard by the Uruguayan Kennel Club (KCU)[1]In the case of the International Cinological Federation, the standard arrived in 2017[2]
Characteristics of the Uruguayan Maroon
In the Uruguayan Cimarron there is enormous variability between different specimens, although they are usually found in a size between between medium and large In general terms, an adult male bighorn weighs about 38-45 kilograms and measures 58-61 centimeters at the withers, while an adult female weighs between 33 and 40 kilograms and has a height at the withers between 55 and 58 centimeters. Their life expectancy ranges between 10 and 13 years.
The Uruguayan wild dog is of the Molossian type, so its body is similar to these canine breeds. Thus, it is strong, robust and with powerful muscles that give it such an athletic appearance. He is an agile dog and has great balance. Its legs are straight and well-muscled, while its tail is thick, medium-set and low-set.
The snout of the Uruguayan Cimarron is wide and somewhat shorter than the skull, with a nose that is either black or according to the color of its fur, being in any case quite wide. The eyes, almond-shaped, are medium-sized and penetrating, usually dark in color. The ears, also medium in size, are medium set and triangular in shape that fall towards the sides of the head. In the past, the ears of the Uruguayan Cimarron used to be amputated, but luckily this is now an illegal practice in most countries, since it is a completely unnecessary cruelty that harms the he alth of the animal. For more information about why you should not cut the ears of the Uruguayan Cimarrón or any other dog, do not miss this article: "Why is it bad to cut the tail and ears of dogs?".
This dog's coat is short, dense and smooth, with an undercoat that is silkier and denser than the top.
Colors of the Uruguayan maroon
The official colors of a Uruguayan maroon are bay and brindle in any variety, which includes blue brindle and blue bay. It may or may not have a mask and carbonado. White spots are accepted as long as they are located on the throat, lower jaw, belly, chest or legs, but not reaching the wrist joint.
The Uruguayan Cimarron cub
Ever since they were little, feral dogs show their strong character and tenacity They are dogs that, if not trained as puppies, often present problems of socialization, especially with other animals, with which they are territorial and aggressive. Therefore, in this breed it is vitally important to begin socialization and exposure to people and other animals as soon as possible.
Character of the Uruguayan Maroon
The Uruguayan Cimarron is a dog with a balanced character, very sociable if it has been properly used to contact with others, but above all and above all he stands out for his great security and courage He is a tenacious dog that never gives up, he does not stop until he achieves his goals, which sometimes makes it difficult to I deal with him. Without a doubt, he has a very strong personality.
It is not a suitable breed for those who are not used to having a dog, since they need patience, perseverance, company and considerable prior knowledge of the breed and how to handle it.
The Uruguayan Cimarron breed is better adapted to large and open spaces, although there are many specimens that live in flats without problems because are properly stimulated. As for its relationship with others, it can present aggressive responses to other dogs and animals, since it must be taken into account that it was traditionally a dog trained as a guard and hunting dog. It can live with children if properly trained, but supervision is recommended.
Care of the Uruguayan Maroon
One of the primary requirements in caring for a bighorn is that you exercise daily, with a minimum of 45 -60 minutes of intense physical activity, a little more if it is of moderate intensity. Walks are not enough for him, he needs to run and exercise to stay he althy and calm. You can practice a sport like running or swimming with this dog, play or practice in Agility circuits.
As far as other care is concerned, the Uruguayan Cimarron does not require great attention, it is enough to provide it with a balanced diet and adapted to its nutritional needs, good hydration and affectionate care His coat requires only regular brushing, at least a couple of times a week, to remove dirt and dead hair. It is recommended to trim your nails if they do not wear down naturally.
For their diet, you can opt for natural feed for dogs with the characteristics of the Uruguayan maroon or follow the BARF diet, preferably in the hands of a veterinarian specialized in nutrition.
Education of the Uruguayan Maroon
If we want to train a Uruguayan Maroon we must not doubt that we are facing a great challenge, because this breed has earned, and not without reason, a great reputation for how difficult it is to train it. It is a fairly independent and stubborn dog, it does not stand out for being docile or tending to give in to requests, which is why, in general, it is considered a dog with a Strong personality.
Precisely because of the above peculiarities, it is necessary to have certain knowledge of dog training, so it is not a breed suitable for beginners. When it comes to educating and training a Uruguayan Maroon, perseverance and positive reinforcement are key. Likewise, it is essential not to forget the socialization of the puppy to ensure that he learns to relate correctly to other dogs, animals and people. With this, it will be a very sociable dog, but without this process we will achieve just the opposite. In case of adopting an adult feral with problems related to the lack of socialization, we recommend you go to a canine educator or an ethologist.
In general, the areas that usually require more attention in the case of the Uruguayan wildcat are aggressiveness, possessiveness and territoriality, and socialization. To do this, you need a lot of patience, knowledge and above all effort, since it is possible, although difficult, to train a maroon. Again, if we don't get it, the best thing to do is go to a professional.
He alth of the Uruguayan maroon
In general, given the origins of the breed, which was initially completely wild, it is a dog with enviable he alth. However, he is not immune to disease. Some of them include disorders such as hypothyroidism, which affects the functioning of the thyroid gland, leading to deficient production of thyroid hormone, essential for a good metabolism. Some symptoms of hypothyroidism in dogs are tiredness, weight gain for no apparent reason, infections, and thinning of the skin.
To find out if the wildebeest suffers from this and other conditions, it is essential to carry out regular veterinary check-ups, since most are detected with basic tests such as blood tests or routine check-ups.
Other noteworthy conditions are obesity, elbow or hip dysplasia and gastric torsion. For this reason, it is essential to keep it well fed, exercised and, of course, go to the reference veterinarian on a regular basis.
Where to adopt a Uruguayan Maroon?
Adopting an animal must always be a strongly thought-out decision, but it has to be even more so in the case of the bighorn. Due to its peculiar characteristics, such as its daily physical activity needs and its very strong character, it is necessary to know that we will be able to dedicate time and resources to its daily care.
In general, especially in their country of origin, finding a Uruguayan Maroon for adoption is relatively easy, but educating them is not, as we have already mentioned. Therefore, you have to be very careful and if you do not have training knowledge, be willing to seek professional help. The latter is very important to ensure that our bighorn does not show aggressive or destructive behavior, as it could be fatal for everyone.
