Dog
Group:
Working 
Cao da Serra da Estrela Champions
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Pronunciation:
(kown da serra d’ schtrela)
Breed Description:
The temperament of the Cao da Serra da Estrela breed of dog is loyal and affectionate to its family but aloof to others. These dogs are intelligent and alert. They can be self-willed but they are trainable. They can be very territorial. These dogs should be well-socialized from a young age, especially with children and other pets. They are generally very good family dogs. These dogs can be dominant and hard to control for first-time pet owners or for someone who has never had a large, dominant dog before.
Height:
The Cao da Serra da Estrela breed of dog stands between 24 1/2 and 28 1/2 inches tall.
Weight:
These dogs usually weigh between 66 and 110 pounds.
Exercise:
The Cao da Serra da Estrela breed of dog is a large, active dog and it needs regular moderate exercise. You do need a fenced yard with this breed. They should not be allowed off-leash since they are territorial and they can try to guard a very large area if they roam at large.
Life Expectancy:
The lifespan of the Cao da Serra da Estrela breed of dog is said to be 12 to 16 years.
Grooming:
The Cao da Serra da Estrela breed of dog requires at least weekly grooming to keep hair from tangling and matting. Ears should also be cleaned regularly to prevent ear infections.
Origin:
This is a very old breed. The Cao da Serra da Estrela breed of dog is believed to have originated or been developed in the Serra da Estrela region of Portugal centuries ago. They are livestock guardian dogs and not herding dogs. The breed remained pure for hundreds of years but, unfortunately, was crossed with German Shepherd Dogs at one point. The breed fell on low times in the 1960s but they have made a comeback since then and are a very popular breed in Portugal now.
Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
