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Gos d'Atura

History

The history of this breed is so old that it goes back to the time of the Romans, when they conquered the Iberian Peninsula . Most experts agree that during the expansion of the Roman Empire the ancestors of the Italian Bergamasco were taken throughout the country and crossed with local breeds. Influenced by climate, the mountain terrain and the demanding work required of dogs, the result was the foundation of various breeds that are found today throughout a large part of Europe and are part of the heritage of the Gos d’Atura Català. This includes the Ca de Serra d' Aires from Portugal, the Petit Berger from the Pyrenees, the Briad from France, the Nizzins from Poland, the Bearded Collie and the Old English Sheepdog from Great Britain. The Gos d'Atura Català thrived for centuries and is still seen today as a versatile working dog, prized herder and guardian of livestock in Catalonia and the Pyrenean Valley regions, but it remains relatively unknown outside Spain. It is believed that there is less than 200 Spanish bred Catalonian Sheepdogs in the US .

The first movement to set the standard for the breed was made at the beginning of the 20th century. In the Spanish Book of Origins (Libro of Origins Espana (L.O.E.) a dog named ‘Piar’ was listed in 1914 as having similar features of the dog we know today as the Gos d’Atura Català. In 1923 at the International Exhibition of Canines in Barcelona a dog known as ‘Milan” was shown and is considered the precursor to the Gos. In 1926 “ Milan " was given the breed name Gos d’Atura. As a result in June of 1929 at the Canine Exhibition of Barcelona, the Gos d'Atura Català was recognized by the International Canological Federation (FCI) and given the number 87 based on Tac and Iris; two exceptional dogs of the breed. However, after WWII this breed almost disappeared as the need to secure livable wages forced people to leave their farms to move to the cities. Large production farms replaced the small farms and the need for shepherds. The Gos d’Atura breed as a guard and stock dog was no longer in strong demand, so in the 1950’s and 60’s dogs were either destroyed or rarely bred and their numbers dwindled. In the 1970’s a group of four men and women collaborated their efforts to go out into the fields and purchase dogs from shepherds that had continued to follow the breed standard, were aware of the bloodlines and bred the Gos d’Atura for ability, not physical looks. Qualities of health, endurance, loyalty, strength and, most importantly, herding instincts were valued and sought out. This dedicated group began the breed recovery process and kept true to the inherited genetics of those shepherd’s dogs and their efforts can be seen in the modern pedigree of this dog. The Gos d'Atura is one of the few breeds that have remained faithful to its origins and are not being bred for physical appearance alone or on personal whims. Because of this true form to function breeding, a dog from the beginning of the 20th Century could be shown at a present day Dog Shows and would look the same as those born recently. Today this dog not only excels in herding, it is successful in agility, competitive stock dog trials, search and rescue and of course as a loyal companion.

GENERAL APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER DESCRIPTION * A very sedate dog, active and intelligent, with a noble expression , with a hardy and pleasant character, really devoted to the shepherd and the flocks entrusted to him, wary of strangers, which at times make him seem unsociable. He is very vigilant, very resistant to heat, cold and all atmospherics. A very frugal alimentation is sufficient for him to work in extreme conditions. SIZE* From 47 to 55 cm for dogs - from 45 to 53 cm for bitches DIFFUSION * Originates from the Catalonian Pyrenees, has propagated in all other pastoral zones of Catalonia thanks to his normal function, that of shepherding flocks. PROPORTIONS * Of well balanced medium proportion, medium size, with a beautiful coat, slightly longer than high, approximately in proportion of 9 to 8.

UTILIZATION it is in the driving of flocks that the true essence of this breed manifests itself, because not only does he obey the shepherd, but in numerous cases, he shows his initiative, directing the flock with marvelous ease, preventing any animal from separating from the others. Through his great bravery and courage, he can also be used for guarding missions. Because of his size, his beautiful coat, his intelligence and his great loyalty to his masters, he can be an excellent companion.HEADGENERAL APPEARANCE * Strong head, slightly convex and wide at the base, without heaviness, well proportioned with the rest of the body. The skull-muzzle proportion is of 4 to 3.

SKULL Slightly longer than wide, with a clearly marked furrow in its first third part, which gets flatter and remains so up to the occiput where a crest is formed. Occipital bone pronounced. The upper profile of the skull is slightly domed and may show a less accentuated short space in the middle. The frontal sinus well developed, as much lengthwise as widthwise. Superciliary ridges well marked. FRONTAL-NASAL DEPRESSION (STOP) : Well visible but not too pronounced.MUZZLE : Straight, rather short, in shape of a truncated pyramid, with rounded outlines.NOSE : Straight, proportioned with the head, must be black.LIPS : Rather strong, short, formed almost straight, with lower lip not pendulous, strongly pigmented with black; the palate is also black.TEETH * Strong, of good size, white and sound. Scissor bite. Blunt canines (tusks) are admitted in the working dogs.EYES * Wide open, expressive, alert and intelligent gaze, round, dark amber color, with black rimmed eyelids.EARS * Set high, triangular, fine, pointed. Insertion cartilage supple and not thick. Hanging ears, carried close to the head. Ratio between ear width : length = 8 to 10. Covered with long hair ending in mobile fringes. For the working dogs cropped ears are accepted.

NECK Vigorous, solid, muscled, rather short, but with such proportions permitting a good mobility, well tied to the shoulders. BODY * APPEARANCE : Slightly elongated, strong, muscled, giving an impression of power and agility WITHERS * Well visible. BACK : Topline straight, not saddle-backed, slightly raised croup, which, in any case, shall be equal or slightly inferior to the withers. That difference at first sight may seem favourable to the croup because of the quantity of coat and undercoat which it carries. CROUP : Robust, muscled, slightly sloping. CHEST : Wide, well developed, reaching elbow level. Curved ribs, not flat, allowing for a good thoracic capacity in respect of the work. BELLY AND FLANKS : Belly slightly tucked up, with short but strong and well marked flanks. TAIL * Rather low set, may be long, going beyond the hock, or short, measuring less than 10 cm. There are also tailless subjects, and, for the working dogs, docked tail is admitted. When the dog is at rest, the tail just hangs. It forms a hook in its lower part. Sabre tail also accepted. In action, the tail is raised gaily but not rolled on the back. Is abundantly covered with slightly wavy hair.

FOREQUARTERS GENERAL APPEARANCE : Strong, lean, straight, vertical and parallel, seen from the front or in profile. PROPORTIONS * The elbow-wither distance is about equal to that of the elbow to ground.SHOULDER * Muscled, strong, slightly oblique. ARM * Strong, muscled with parallel elbows, neither in or out, close to the body.SCAPULAR-HUMERAL ANGLE * Of about 110o.FOREARM : Vertical, strong, fit for the work.HUMERAL-RADIAL ANGLE * Of about 135o.CARPAL & METACARPAL * Following the same vertical as the forearm, rather short.FEET * Oval, pads black and hard, interdigital membranes neat and well covered with hair, nails black and strong.

HINDQUARTERS

APPEARANCE * Strong, muscled, vertical, giving impression of power and agility.

THIGHS* Long, broad and muscled, with strong bones.

COXAL-FEMORAL ANGLE * Of about 115o.

LEGS* Strong bones and muscles.

FEMORAL-TIBIAL ANGLE * Of about 120o.

HOCKS * Must be well let down, parallel and vertical.

ANGLE OF HOCK * About 140o.

METATARSAL * Rather short, strong and vertical.

FEET * Identical to front feet, but with low set double bony dewclaws. These dewclaws are joined together and joined to the first toe of the foot by a membrane.

GAIT/MOVEMENT Supple, typical of shepherd dogs. Gallop only obtained in very large spaces, but in the ring, the typical gait is a short trot, with that gait peculiar to all dogs with dewclaws. SKIN * Rather thick, close and tight all over the body and the head. Well pigmented. COAT * Long, flat, or very slightly wavy, rough with abundant undercoat on the whole of the posterior third of the body. On the head we notice a beard, moustaches, tuft and eyebrows which do not affect the sight. Tail well covered with hair as are all the extremities. It is noticeable that during the moult we observe a typical phenomenon : the moult occurs in two times. First of all it affects the coat on the front part, giving the impression of two halves of dogs with different coats; then it is the turn of the hind part of the dog and everything becomes uniform again.

COLORS Seen from the distance the dog seems to be unicolor and may have lighter shadings at the extremities. Seen close up, it is noticeable that the color comes from the mixture of hairs of different tones : fawn, brown more or less reddish, grey, black and white. The basic colors deriving from this mixture are: fawn, in its light tones, medium or dark, sable, with chestnut hairs, fawn, white and black, also in its light tones, medium and dark, grey, made up of white, grey and black with shadings going from silver grey to black grey. If black is dominant and is simply combined with white, it gives a black which looks frosty. These are also dogs with a mixture of black, fawn and reddish brown, which can dominate in one or several parts, giving the impression of black and tan subjects. Not admitted are white or black spots. Sometimes a few white hairs, as a star shape on the chest are tolerated, or on the upper part of the toes, but, in that case however, this must not be accompanied by white nails.

FAULTS IMPORTANT FAULTS : Head flat or without furrow; rose shaped ears or badly set; insertion cartilage thick, long or sticking out; light eyes; 2 PM missing, slight prognathism; saddle back; legs or feet turned in or out; a few white nails; lack of bone in the dewclaws or single dewclaw. ELIMINATING FAULTS * Lack of pigmentation of the lips, the nose, eyelids and palate; brown nose; blue eyes; white spots; missing more than 2 PM or any two teeth; tail rolled on the loins; lack of dewclaws or interdigital membranes; all the nails white; more than 3 cm more or less of the limits of the size; head like a Pyrenean shepherd or a Briard; lower or upper prognathism.

SUPPLEMENTARY CONSIDERATIONS Quality being equal, we tend to prefer dogs without any mutilations (ears, tail or blunt teeth for reason of work). We shall refuse those with such mutilations if they are not dogs working with flocks. The well pigmented tones are desirable in the color and therefore better appreciated. 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.