Hearing the word sheepdog, you might picture a medium-sized dog with a long, shaggy coat. Exactly, this is how a Catalan Sheepdog is. Also known as the God d’Atura, it is an ancient and rare breed of herding dogs for centuries. With a long history of working with farmers in Spain’s northeast, this dog proved to be a great herder and a working dog.
Also, it keeps on displaying a friendly nature towards so you can think of opting for it as a great family pet. The good thing is, this pup is even good to handle for those who don’t have prior experience of handling dogs. We highly recommend you to get to know further about this adorable and talented dog in this article.
Catalan Sheepdog History
The Catalan Sheepdog is an ancient dog that descended from ancient mountain breeds, Pyrenees-type dogs, and probably influencing other herding breeds. It is named after the place of its origin, the Catalonia region of Spain. Perros de Pastor Catalan and Gos d’Atura Catala’s names were explicitly developed for herding purposes in their native land.
The dog faced near-extinction during World War II but was forced to recover from it until the 1970s. However, it results in a relatively smaller size than before. It is famous for its role as police dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, messengers, and sentinels in Spain. Due to these attractive characteristics, this dog participated in the Spanish Civil War.
Catalan Sheepdog Characteristics
Catalan Sheepdog has a medium to a small body covered entirely with dense fur giving it a furry appearance. The long fur covers the whole body, with locks covering the eyes, nose, and ears. Full beards and mustaches of this pup give it a cute yet funny look. This heading entails the rest of the characteristics of this rare dog.
How Big to Catalan Sheepdog Get
The hairy medium-sized Catalan Sheepdog male stands 47–55 cm at the shoulders while weighing approximately 16–20 kg. On the flip side, the female counterpart has a height ranging between 45–53 cm, and its weight is about 16–20 kg. With the coat colors black, fawn, sable, grey, brown, red, this canine appears gorgeously handsome.
How Long Does Catalan Sheepdog Live
Catalan Sheepdog has the life expectancy of a medium-sized dog. However, no one is sure about the exact life span as it can be reduced or increased depending on many factors. All you can do is take up-to-date care of your little puppy.
How Much Does a Catalan Sheepdog Cost
The average cost of a Catalan Sheepdog little puppy is somewhere between $1200 – $1500. It would be best to buy from a breeder that has a good reputation in the market. Otherwise, careless breeders can food you with an unhealthy pooch that causes problems later.
Catalan Sheepdog Temperament/Personality
If you want to have a dynamic dog with an excellent work ethic, consider the Catalan Sheepdog! It is not even friendly with the youngsters and elders but also wonderfully gentle with children. It is known to have genuinely positive personalities and can live in various distinctive home conditions.
Its background can also explain this dog’s temperament as it is rarely getting exhausted when working owing to its working background. Moreover, herding sheep’s instincts give it a sharp eye, intelligence, and a certain degree of independence. These instincts make it a natural protector that will be defending the family and their belongings when needed.
The highly devoted Catalan Sheepdog is not a clingy or needy dog; instead, it is suitable for the right amount of care, diet, and exercise. In relation with other pets, it generally mixes very well with them, but the herding instincts require this interaction not to be unattended.
Caring for Catalan Sheepdog
As a working breed Catalan Sheepdog needs a lot of exercises and a spacious place to live. Its energy and activeness increase the appetitive requiring a healthy adequate diet amount. The long fur needs proper maintenance, which can be prone to developing germs if not cleaned properly. So, read along to know the critical tips for caring for your boy.
Catalan Sheepdog Nutrition
You can keep Catalan Sheepdog on homemade raw food or the commercially prepared dog diet. In both cases, the food must be healthy, full of nutrition, and filler-free. Go for a good quality diet if buying from the market and takes the vet’s recommendation if opting for homemade dog food.
How to Groom a Catalan Sheepdog
Despite having dense and coats, the Catalan Sheepdog is a moderate shedder. If you keep brushing its coat thrice a week, then it can manage the shedding even more. It sheds in the coat mostly, which is why frequent brushing is necessary to avoid matts. The long fur needs trim when necessary, especially from the eyes, to make your doggy see correctly.
Catalan Sheepdog Activity Levels
Generally, a Catalan Sheepdogs is a high-energy dog that essentially needs exercise daily. It does best in a house with a yard and an active family that takes it to parks, picnics, and adventures. The pet parent must ensure a daily 60 to 80 minutes of walk and exercise in any case.
Caring for Catalan Sheepdog
Catalan Sheepdogs is not a very demanding pup and good to go if you fulfill its basic needs. I need moderate grooming having teeth brushing, nail clipping, hair trimming, and occasional bathing.
The key is to make a regimen of everything and do it as a per routine. It would be best if you are consistent with your dog’s care; otherwise, you will be having issues regarding the dog’s behavior and health.
Catalan Sheepdog Health
Catalan Sheepdog is an enthusiastic and healthy doggo that remains fit with doing a lot of activities. Follow all the points mentioned above to keep it healthier and fit throughout life. Avoid common allergies and infections by ensuring good hygiene. Furthermore, take your puppy to a veterinary clinic for examination regularly.
Breeds Similar to Catalan Sheepdog
- Pyrenean Sheepdog
- Briard
- Portuguese Sheepdog
- Majorca Shepherd Dog
Best Dog Food For Catalan Sheepdogs
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dog Food is the best food for Catalan Sheepdog, providing an all-round well-being of the dog. Real Meat, natural veggies, fruits, and whole grains have made this food rich in nutrients. This food helps a dog to get the necessary nutrients.
- The food is rich in high-quality protein.
- Dogs get strong bones and teeth with the help of calcium and phosphorus.
- It boosts the immune system in pups.
Best Puppy Food For Catalan Sheepdogs
Puppies need a proper diet to get the necessary growth, and Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Healthy Puppy Formula Dry Puppy Food is a perfect choice for your Catalan Sheepdog with real chicken ingredients. It enhances the immunity system in puppies. This food is also rich in added vitamins and minerals.
- This food comes with high-quality protein for the proper muscle growth of pups.
- The presence of DHA gives support in developing the brain and vision.
- Pups can easily digest this food as this is good for your Catalan Sheepdog’s stomach.
Best Dog Crate For Catalan Sheepdogs
MidWest iCrate Double Door Fold & Carry Dog Crate is an excellent choice for your Catalan Sheepdog. This dog crate is famous for its comfortable design. It comes with two doors so that your Catalan Sheepdog can feel the crate convenient.
- The crate can be placed easily at home.
- The enclosure can easily be folded and carried away comfortably.
- The divider panel inside the crate helps in the proper growth of the puppy.
Best Dog Bed For Catalan Sheepdogs
A dog parent must provide their Catalan Sheepdog a luxurious bed so that it can get a sound sleep for this, Best Friends by Sheri The Original Calming Shag Fur Donut Dog Bed is a wise choice for every dog parent. This round designed bed provides your Catalan Sheepdog a protective feel. A disabled dog gets good support relaxing on this bed.
- This soft furry bed will keep your pet warm during chilled days.
- Pets suffering from joint or muscle pain can get utmost relief resting on these beds.
- It can be washed in the machine.
Best Dog Harness For Catalan Sheepdogs
Avoid dog chains and use Sporn Non-Pull Mesh Dog Harness to give your Catalan Sheepdog utmost relief. This stylish harness helps easy control of the dog. Catalan Sheepdog won’t get choked with this harness as it is available with padded sleeves that give extra relief to the front legs of your Catalan Sheepdog.
- Veterinarians always suggest dog parents using the harness.
- Catalan Sheepdog will get utmost comfort with the harness.
- Excellent ergonomic design of this harness makes it more convenient.
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