The Catalan pastor - an excellent playmate

This beautiful dog shows us that a guard dog should not only be imposing, but it can also be such an adorable mascot That provokes hugging it day and night. He Catalan shepherd It is a sample of this, it is well known for being A loyal and passionate pet With its owners, they are excellent companions for children and, in addition, they are amazing guard dogs.

• Size: Medium.
• Weight: Between 16 and 20kg.
• Hair type: Long and undulating/smooth.
• Character: Intelligent, agile, protective, endearing
• Health: Healthy
• Life expectancy: Between 12 and 14 years.

The Catalan pastor enjoys great intelligence, in the right hands, his training can perform many fruits, becoming unparalleled guard dogs, thanks to their instincts that always keep them alert and their protective character. Something that will always look into sight with this precious breed of dogs is their unwavering patience to children, they are equally energetic and playful, which makes them ideals.

Appearance of the Catalan pastor

As it is obvious, his hair is thick and long going from the undulating the smooth. On his face, his eyebrows and mustache give him a nice aspect, its legs and tail are also fully covered by an abundant and thick hair. As for its colors they vary in large quantity, the Catalan shepherd can go from black and white to gray and white, silver and black, and other combinations in the same range of colors.  

The Catalan shepherd It is a race of medium dogs, their height varies, usually adult dogs range between 45 and 55 centimeters tall, and their weight ranges from 16 to 20 kilograms, being slightly smaller and thin females than males. His kind expression is complemented with a couple of ears in the upper part of the skull, adorned, as well as the rest of the body, by abundant hair. His highly expressive eyes are of a dark amber color, and his lips also have a dark color, hiding a strong jaw full of incisors.

Catalan pastor's story

The origins of Gos d’Atura or Catalan pastor, unfortunately, they are not well documented, being One of the oldest races on our planet, there are many assumptions about where it could descend, however, there is nothing truly proven. The most accepted idea is that the Catalan pastor descends from the dog originally from the Italian Alps, the Bergamascus. As the name implies, the Catalan pastor It is originally from Catalonia, northeastern Spain. Initially, in Spain it was known as The Catalan pastor's dog, it was used as a guard dog on the farms and sowments of the farmers in this Spanish zone. However, with the passing of time, it was gaineding great popularity throughout the region thanks to its friendly personality, loyal and its great value.  

Since its inception it accompanied the farmers as guardian of the properties, or as an assistant at the work of the farm. They were used as messengers or vigilantes, during the Spanish Civil War, which in turn gave them to be dogs with evidenced intelligence. The Catalan pastor race It was on the verge of extinction for the time that followed World War II although, fortunately, a few years later, the race was rescued by reproduction programs that gave very good results, this does not imply that the Catalan pastor is an extremely extended dog in the present. At present, in addition to being Very good companions at home, they also work in agility or beauty competitions. Their great charisma and intelligence helps you get each of the goals that can be proposed.

How the Catalan pastor behaves

His temperament makes the Catalan pastor One of the best company dogs That a family can adopt, that including that they are also, without a doubt, wonderful guard dogs. All people who have the joy of having one of these nice puppies, know that their personality is alive, fun and very affectionate for those who consider part of their closest family. One of the qualities that highlights when talking about the Catalan pastor is his indisputable intelligence. That is why over the years they have been the main stars in many competitions where skill, agility and intelligence is the key to finding winners in different kinds. They learn quickly, both tricks, and manners, and it must be said: bad customs as well. They stand out as athletes, because their charisma, active personality and physical agility are the particularities that stand out in them. The Catalan shepherd as a guard dog obtains an equally outstanding score, is always attentive to its surroundings in case any stranger enters their domains. They are certainly very protective with the members of their families, and neither mention how jealous they can become when it comes to their food.  

While they can be overprotectors With people, this does not mean that the Catalan shepherd is a dangerous pet when strangers are invited home, they are usually more reserved until they get to know the people around them. A good quality as guard dogs is that they will not attack, and instead, they will promptly warn their owners if something is common. The Catalan pastor is very calm, this is part of his nature. However, despite their impressive ability to learn, this learning must start since the puppies are very young, so that they can memorize not only tricks, but also good manners that will help them when it comes to developing with strangers. Its energy is very high, which is why they must be able to drain it daily, The Catalan pastor requires to exercise regularly To stay healthy and in good shape. The most advisable way to train them begins from an early age, in this way they will learn to improve their skills as a guard dog, their strength and personality. Catalan shepherds are known for their patience with children, in fact, they are one of the dog breeds that are best taken with the little ones in the house. And they also usually get along with other pets, whenever they are well underminated since childhood. His energy is comparable to that of a small child, neither will find a best playmate.

Special Catalan Cattle Care

Two basic aspects highlight when it comes to the care that we must give to our Catalan pastor for the good development of their mental and physical well -being. Each is essential for the progress of our pet in a healthy and active way.

Exercise and physical activities

The physical health of a puppy is an important step for the well -being of all pets. The Catalan pastor is one of those breeds of dogs that need a daily dose of exercise. Generally with a good walk it would be enough to meet the physical needs of a normal dog, however, for the Catalan pastor this is just a heating. The ideal for them is to complement with games that stimulate their agility and intelligence. That is why having a wide garden can make a difference since, in it, the dog can complete its daily exercise routine. 

Cleaning

As with any breed of ruffled hair dogs, the Catalan pastor needs care in his fur frequently. Hair loss is not an immediate concern, although its fur must be brushed at least three times a week to prevent it from getting tangled and to clean waste that has been stuck. Periodically review our pet's fur in brushing it not only helps strengthen ties between owner and pet relationship, but also helps us verify that everything is in order, either with some wound in the skin of the puppy, hidden under the fur, or verify that it does not suffer from fleas or other pests. We must regularly check your ears and legs, checking that everything remains in order. It should be noted that the Catalan pastor usually moves his fur in spring and autumn, first moving the front of the body and finally the rear. A curious fact is that every time the fur grows again it does so in a tone other than the previous one.

Catalan shepherd puppies

If you carry a Catalan pastor puppy home, there are several things that you must keep in mind for their good development. First: Socialize the puppy can make a big difference in his long -term life, since he can behave naturally against strangers and other animals. Puppies usually have plenty of energy, and when exercising their social skills, they turn out to be better in scenarios where they meet strangers and other animals. Puppies need a safe place to grow comfortably, which is why, by adopting a pet, regardless of, we must ensure that their environment is completely positive and comfortable. When adopting a puppy you must take into account your age, it is not very advisable to move them away from the mother very soon and in the same way, it should not be done when the puppy is very old.  

Offering them a quiet place to rest is part of our task to Adopt a Catalan shepherd puppy, since they are like young children who need their sleep hours to expand all their skills. And in comparison, they also need time to play and learn to use their motor skills and burn all the energy for which these dogs are so well known. At the end of the day, one of the most valuable things that we can offer to our pets is the love and respect that they profess towards us, this, accompanied by periodic visits to the veterinarian and a healthy diet.

Catalan pastor feed

As with each dog race, feeding our Catalan shepherd with high quality food will make a difference in its growth and prosperity. It is always good to accompany the diet of our pets with the necessary sum of exercise, since they could easily develop obesity and with it, endless medical problems that would be better to set aside. Depending on the age of our pet it is important to take into account:

• A puppy needs to eat at least three or four times per day, unlike the adult dog, who will only need two daily meals. When the dog is small, its diet must be high in nutrients and proteins so that it can grow properly.
• Once the margin of the twelve months of age has passed, the dog can already be considered an adult. Your food should be of high quality and high nutrients to provide all the values ​​you need to maintain your physical and mental well -being.

Things to consider before adopting

• The Catalan pastor needs a lot of physical and mental exercise to stay in good shape. This includes long walks and games to keep it active, going through the ball will keep him occupied for a good time.
• They move their fur in spring and autumn, this can give them a very particular appearance, and due to the way they change their fur can sometimes seem two different dogs depending on where you look.
• They are very dependent dogs of their owners, although this does not mean that they must be left alone since they worship the company of their loved ones.

What do we discover about Gos d’Atura?

The adoption of one of these puppies will mean a trip of emotions for the family that receives it. They are so charismatic and lively that there will be no time for the day you do not enjoy their occurrences. The little ones in the house will be who most like their company and will surely find a best friend in this Catalan pastor. From its uprooted and colorful fur, to its jocular and children's eyes, this beautiful dog will give the family a good dose of love, tenderness, loyalty and, above all, protection.