Estrela Mountain Dog
Group: Pastoral
Size: Large
Coat length: Medium
Grooming required: More than once a week
Coat sheds: No
Home size: Large House
Garden size: Small/Medium
Lifespan: Over 10 Years
Exercise: Up to 1 hour per day
This is a large, strong and sturdy dog. They come in two coat types: long and short. The long has a slightly coarse, thick top coat and dense undercoat. The short is similar but the outer coat is shorter. They can come in a variety of colours.
They are Portuguese and were bred to fight wolves and protect sheep. Their urge to guard is strong and they are devoted to their family but can be suspicious of strangers. They are strong-willed but intelligent and trainable. They can be taught to get on well with strangers and other animals.
They need good daily exercise outside and often favour being outside because of their thick coats. They're also agile and capable of jumping substantial heights.
They are relatively easy to groom despite the thick coat. There are no known health problems.