Rafeiro do Alentejo Breed Information
Learn all about Rafeiro do Alentejo dogs, read about the Rafeiro do Alentejo breed information, find out about the Rafeiro do Alentejo Breed Standard, Rafeiro do Alentejo behavior and more.
Rafeiro do Alentejo Breed Introduction
The Rafeiro do Alentejo breed would have become extinct if it were not the effort of a dedicated group of breeders in Portugal. Rafeiro do Alentejo dogs suffered their lowest decline in the 1980s but their numbers are doing better in this new millenium.
The Rafeiro do Alentejo’s Behavior
Source: the Dog Breed Info Website
Recommended for: pet, guard dog dog
The Rafeiro do Alentejo dog breed is not for beginner dog lovers. As guard dogs the Rafeiros do Alentejo are confident and alert at night, something they are bred to do. They are calm, steadfast, and courageous. But they are suspicious and wary of strangers. Sometimes they are stubborn and dominant. It is advisable to begin training as early as possible before they become too big and too strong to be taught. They can tolerate other animals as long as the introduction is made while still young. They are patient and are docile with children.
Remember that breed only provides a general clue as to any individual dog’s actual behavior. Make sure to get to know dogs well before bringing them into your home.
The Rafeiro do Alentejo’s Physical Characteristics
Here are some of the characteristics of the Rafeiro do Alentejo breed as determined by the Central Pets, Furry Critter and Dog Breed Info websites.
- Size: males 27 – 28 inches; females 25 – 28 inches
- Coat: medium length, thick, straight, dense
- Color: black, wolf-like, tawny, yellowish
- Eyes: dark
- Ears: small, medium size, triangular, rounded tips, dangling
- Tail: long, thick, carried down, slight curve
The Rafeiro do Alentejo’s Origins and History
Source: Dog Breed Info website
Country/Region of Origin: Portugal
Original purpose: guarding, hunting boars
Name: Named after Alentejo, a region where the breed was often used to guard farms and homes
Historical notes: Rafeiro do Alentejo dogs are believed to have been descended from the ancient Tibetan Mastiffs and had changed as they moved west to Asia Minor and hence to the Balkans following the Roman legions until they settled on the western strip of the Iberian peninsula. Tribesmen there depended on cattle for substinence and henceforth valued the dogs’ usefulness in watching over the herds.