Cao De Castro Laboreiro

     

History

In their meanderings out of the Estrela range, many flocks moved to the flat lowlands of the north for winter grazing. The smaller, dark, smooth-coated Estrela dogs are believed to have been the stem of this breed, possibly crossing with native breeds long ago. His place of origin is in the very northern tip of Portugal where he took his name from the small village of Castro Laboreiro, meaning "village of the laborers." Not being part of the great migrations fending off wolves and bears, the Castro did not grow as large.Today he is not limited to one village, but is found throughout the country, as one of the most favored of the Portugese guarding breeds, A few have reached other countries and some are used in American flock-guard programs. An owner states his opinion on the Laboreiro's ability: "I believe .  the Castro could become for the livestock industry what the German Shepherd is to the military," Due to his naturally suspicious and courageous character, he has adapted easily to police or guard work as well as protecting flocks, herds and isolated homesteads. The Laboreiro's threatening bark is frightening and singular, beginning with a rumbling baritone, quickly climbing the scales to a fortissimo finish. The breed is bright and learns quickly, but uses its own judgment in decisions. Like many of the flock guards, he is constantly alert, protecting his flock or his family against threats. Totally dedicated to those he keeps safe, the dog is a good companion. Due to his thundering bark, a country home (or understanding neighbors) may be best. His sleek coat and tipped ears need little care other than a quick brush.

                           

Standard

 

HEAD   Even in size, showing lightness rather than coarseness; dry but not too lean; skin well developed, but without wrinkles; slightly long head, rather rectangular and well set. Jaws powerful with good occlusion.
CRANIAL REGION   Skull * Fairly developed and seen from front slightly salient. Profile almost straight. Frontal furrow hardly noticeable. Occipital crest hardly marked.
Stop: Not very marked, nearer to the tip of the nose than to the top of the skull.


FACIAL REGION   Nose *  Well developed, large, straight, nostrils well open, always black.
Muzzle *  Nasal bridge long, strong, straight throughout its whole length tapering towards the tip of the nose, without however being narrow or pointed. Mouth well cut; lips regular, neither pendulous nor fleshy, close fitting, with labial corners hardly visible. Mucous membranes of the mouth, the hard palate and the edges of the lips strongly pigmented with black.
Teeth: Whole, strong, white and well set into well muscled jaws. Normal bite.
Eyes *  Slanting, even with the socket, tonsil shaped, medium sized, perfectly equal and well open. Severe and hard expression. Different shades of brown, from hazel in dogs with a light coat too very deep brown, almost black in dogs with darker coats.
Ears *  Of medium size (12/12 cm), moderately thick, almost triangular with a rounded tip; fairly high set, hanging, falling naturally close and flat to the head, parallel to each other. When the dog is attentive, the ear turns forward, its outer surface remaining in forward position.

 

 

 
BODY   Upper line *  Straight back of medium length; loins strong, wide, short and well muscled, nicely joined to the rump in a gently sloping line.
Chest *  Ogival in shape, high, broad and rather deep.
Underline *  Rather flat belly, even somewhat narrow, with distinct difference in level between the xyphoid and the groin, forming a noticeably rising underline.
Tail *  Entire, not docked. At rest the tail should reach the hock. Nicely dressed sabre tail, long and thick at the set on, very hairy on the underside, well attached to the rump; set higher than usual. At rest, it falls down naturally to the buttocks which should be covered with abundant hair, yet not between them. When the dog is excited, the tail is carried above the topline bending upward, forward and slightly sideways, but never carried downward like a hunting-horn

 

 

 
NECK   Straight, well shaped, short, well set to head and body, of well proportioned thickness. Proud carriage. No dewlap.

FORE AND HINDQUARTERS   Both fore and hindquarters very correctly vertical, either seen from the front or from the rear; seen from the side, the forelegs still appear upright whilst in the hindlegs the line of the rearpastern below the hock joint to the ground slopes a little forward, off the vertical (dog standing too far under). Well developed bone, well covered with powerful muscles especially on the upperarms and on the thighs, the latter showing distinct muscular masses, easily seen from the rear. Forearm rather cylindrical, straight, slimming gradually down to the pastern which should be neither too long nor too bent (not down in pastern). Joints and articular angulations well developed; medium open angles (shoulder-upperarm almost straight, tibio-tarsical angle medium blunt.)

 

 

 

 

 

 
FEET   Well proportioned to the size, rather rounded than long, almost cat feet. Large toes, naturally arched, neither turned outwards (splay feet) nor inwards (bow feet), and well connected. Thick, tough pads. Well grown nails, black or dark gray, strong, smooth and regularly worn. Single or double dewclaws acceptable.

GAIT   MOVEMENT  * Easy rhythmical gait, the legs moving parallel to the median plane of the body. This dog normally moves at a natural walk or sometimes in an easy amble, unless a strong reason urges him to trot or even to gallop.

 

 

 
COAT   HAIR *  Thick, resistant, rather rough to the touch, slightly dull, smooth, very close over the entire body and very dense. Short hair (about 5 cm) is the usual, longer or shorter hair is exceptional. Generally the hair is thicker and shorter on the head and the ears where it is softer and finer as well as on the lower parts of the fore-and hindlegs. It is thicker and longer on the tail, especially on the underside, making it appear heavier in the middle part. Very hairy thighs. No undercoat.
COLOUR   Wolf colours in all shades from very light to medium and dark shades, the latter being more usual. Exceptionally all 3 shades may be present on different parts of the same dog: dark wolf colour on the head, back and shoulders, medium shade on the chest, rump and thighs, light colour on the belly and the lower parts of the limbs. The most preferred, however, is the locally called "mountain colour" considered by the breeders in Castro-Laboreiro as a characteristical ethnic trait: a mixed coat, similar to the coat of a wolf, greyish, in lighter an darker shades, not black, with brown (pine-seed colour) or reddish (mahogany colour) hairs interspersed on parts or over the whole body. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
HEIGHT Height at withers:Males55 to 60 cm
Females  52 to 57 cm * Size and weight of a typical dog.
Head * Length of skull 13, 5 cm *  Width of skull 13 cm
Length of muzzle 11 cm *  Chest * Girth 72 cm *Width 20 cm *  Height 27 cm *  Upper line * Length of the trunk 62 cm *  Width 14 cm *  Length * Body 68 cm * Tail 38 cm
Height *  At withers 60 cm *  Of the forelegs33 cm * At the rump 60 cm

 

 

 
FAULTS   Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Head *  Oversize, too bony or too fleshy. Too narrow, too long or too pointed.
Nose *  Any other colour than black.
Jaws *  Under- or overshot mouth.
Eyes *  Wall eye, different in size.
Ears *  Atypical set on, very large, fleshy or rounded.
Deafness *  Either congenital or acquired.
Tail *  Hunting-horn tail, docked tail, congenital short tail, tail non existent (anury).
Coat *  With markings or very different from the for the breed typical colour.
Size *  Much above (giantism) or much below (dwarfism) normal.

 

 

 

 
SCALE OF POINTS   Males Females Head carriage, skull, nostrils, muzzle,stop mouth, eyes, ears 2020
Neck, withers, shoulders,forequarters 1513
Chest, loins, upper- and underline 1515
Rump, pelvis, hindquarters 1315
Feet, toes, nails 5 5
Tail: carriage,shape, set on 7 7
Coat: texture, colour, density  5 5
Genaral appearance: harmony of build,gait,size substance, gendercharacteristics 2020

 

 

Faults   Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note **  Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

 

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