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A Ca de Bestiar is not necessarily suitable for a family, but is happier with one person. The bond with this special dog is all the more intense. Once you have gained the trust of a Ca de Bestiar, he will follow you absolutely loyally and selflessly.
The Ca de Bestiar is not a dog for beginners. Although he has a strong character, he is sensitive, especially when young. You should already have experience with working dogs in order to properly train a Ca de Bestiar.
Breed Description
The large and original Ca de Bestiar is also called Mallorca Sheepdog or Perro de Pastor Mallorquin. Since 1982 it has been recognized by the FCI as an independent breed under standard number 321. The Ca de Bestiar belongs to Group 1 – Herding and Drifting Dogs and Section 1 – Sheepdogs.
Origin And History Of The Breed
The origin of the Ca de Bestiar is largely unexplained. The breed originated in the Balearic Islands, being most common in Mallorca. The most likely cross is between native sheepdogs and imported dogs.
These are probably true Castilian farm dogs and herding dogs from the Iberian Peninsula. The Ca de Bestiar breed is very old. The exact age cannot be determined.
Translated, the name Ca de Bestiar means “cattle dog”. Herding herds was its main activity for a long time. The Ca de Bestiar acted independently and completely autonomously. In the past, there were hardly any fences on the islands.
The farmers showed the dogs the boundaries where the animals were allowed to go and where not, and then left them alone. They looked only every few days after the right, relied otherwise completely on the dog. This independence, self-confidence and ability to take the initiative are still distinctive traits of the breed today.
The Ca de Bestiar is not a highly specialized dog, rather a generalist. His job was to herd the flocks. He kept them together and drove them to predetermined areas.
The dog protected the cattle from stray dogs and thieves. The Ca de Bestiar was and is equally popular in the Balearic Islands as a guard dog for the house and yard.
Because of the different tasks, two different types of the Ca de Bestiar developed. For herding cattle, large, strong dogs were suitable. To herd goats or sheep, shepherds preferred smaller, more agile dogs.
Until the 1930s, the dog was very popular in the Balearic Islands. Due to the Franco dictatorship and the Second World War, the number of animals declined sharply and interest in them was lost. With the onset of tourism in the 1950s, more continental European breeds were crossed into the Ca de Bestiar.
The breed-typical characteristics were gradually lost. It was not until 1967 that this slow extinction of the breed was noticed. Alonso Guasp founded the “Club del Perro de Pastor Mallorquín” in 1970 to save the breed. Twelve years later, the breed Ca de Bestiar was recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI).
Appearance Of The Ca De Bestiar
The breeding of the Ca de Bestiar never aimed at beauty. Thus, his appearance is rather rustic and muscular, but still with harmonious proportions. His appearance is impressive.
The withers are between 62 and 68 cm in females and between 66 and 73 cm in males. Both have a weight between 35 and 40 kg.
The breed has two varieties.
- Shorthair
- Longhair
In the Ca de Bestiar with short hair, the coat length is between 1.5 cm and 3 cm. The coat lies close to the body. The undercoat is fine and thin. It lies against the skin.
In the longhair variety, the coat grows about 7 cm long. Depending on the season, the length varies. In winter it is longest. On the back, the coat may be slightly wavy.
The undercoat is not thick and well distributed. On the tip of the tail, the tips of the ears and the back of the limbs the coat is longer. The longhair variety is extremely rare.
In both varieties the hair is fine, soft and resistant. The coat color is black. White patches are permitted on the chest, neck and paws. The Ca de Bestiar is one of the few dogs that can cope in great heat, despite its black coat.
Temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius do not affect its performance. A good dog collar looks smart on the black coat. In cold areas, the undercoat grows a bit thicker, so the Ca de Bestiar can tolerate cold weather.
The head of the Ca de Bestiar is triangular, massive and well proportioned compared to the body. The triangular ears are bent and protrude slightly to the sides. They are set high, thick and relatively small.
The small, slightly slanted eyes are a light or dark honey color. Their look is lively, intelligent and somewhat sad. You can read in the eyes what the dog is thinking.
So you can easily understand the dog language. The lips are straight, so the dog does not drool and lose water in hot weather.
Character And Temperament
The Ca de Bestiar is a brave dog that is absolutely devoted to its owner. He is easy to lead once you understand him.
The characteristics as a herding dog are clearly pronounced:
- Strong territorial behavior with great protective instinct
- Self-confidence
- Independence
This makes a Ca de Bestiar a proud dog that acts independently and likes to keep other dogs and people at a distance. He is not fundamentally aggressive. Nevertheless, he is always ready to defend himself and has a low irritation threshold.
He is suspicious of strange people and animals. He prefers to have his caregiver to himself. That is why he is a one-man dog. There are individuals who are accustomed to children and other animals in the territory through early socialization.
Then a Ca de Bestiar can also integrate into a family. However, it was never the goal to breed a Ca de Bestiar as a friendly family dog. He is a persistent, independent and efficient working dog, intelligent and always alert.
Husbandry And Diet
Attitude
The powerful Ca de Bestiar does not fit into a city apartment. He is a guard and herding dog. He wants to protect his property and his territory. Therefore, a house with a garden or a yard is the right environment for him. He needs a lot of physical exercise and mental activity.
Ideal is a herd that he can watch over. As a guardian of a yard or property, you can also make a Ca de Bestiar happy with enough attention and petting.
If you want to use him as a yard dog, you can give him a place to retreat to when needed and shelter from wetness with a dog house.
A Ca de Bestiar is definitely not a dog for beginners. His reaction to strangers or other dogs is not always uncomplicated. The Ca de Bestiar belongs in responsible, experienced hands.
Through good socialization and consistent training, you can make this dog a great companion who will reliably perform his duties.
Nutrition
You should feed the big, strong Ca de Bestiar according to his body weight and activity. Whether you use wet or dry food depends on your dog’s preferences.
It is important that the dog always has access to water. A dog bowl with water should always be within reach of the dog. When feeding your Ca de Bestiar, it is best to emphasize nutrients that support the joint apparatus. These include unsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants such as vitamin E, minerals and trace elements.
You should make sure that your Ca de Bestiar does not grow too fast when it is still a puppy or young dog. This can cause damage to the musculoskeletal system later on.
If you want to give your dog additional supplements, you must be careful not to feed him too many calories. This will put on weight very quickly. Overweight causes the musculoskeletal system to wear out faster.
Education And Care
Education
The education of Ca de Bestiar is not easy. He does not have a strong desire to please you. You need experience with other working dogs so that you understand their nature. It is best to attend dog school with him.
If you want to get a Ca de Bestiar to follow you, you need to understand him. To do this, it is best if you lure him out of his reserve with varied tasks and lots of exercise. Walks and fetching sticks bore him.
A Ca de Bestiar can learn the basic obedience without problems, because he is very intelligent. He also performs it, but only up to a point. He gets bored quickly and then switches to stubborn.
If you want to keep a Ca de Bestiar in your family , he needs consistent training. It is quite possible that he will accept the family as his “pack”. But a Ca de Bestiar is looking for a reference person and he is very loyal to this person.
The connection with a Ca de Bestiar is very intense. Once you get involved with a dog of this strong, independent breed, you will never want another dog.
Care
The short coat of the Ca de Bestiar needs little grooming. If you brush him occasionally, that will be enough. With a long-haired Ca de Bestiar, you should brush or comb the coat daily. Otherwise the hair will mat. Do you already own a suitable dog brush?
Health And Typical Diseases
The Ca de Bestiar breed is healthy and robust. Due to its size and weight, it is prone to hip dysplasia and patellar luxation (dislocation of the kneecap). Regular visits to the veterinarian will help detect the diseases early.
Life Expectancy Of The Ca de Bestiar
A Ca de Bestiar lives approximately 10 to 12 years. Some dogs of the breed reach an age of 15 years.
Buy Dog Breed Ca De Bestiar
Breeders of the Ca de Bestiar breed can only be found in Mallorca, other Balearic Islands and mainland Spain. In Germany it is rare.
You can try to get a Ca de Bestiar to your home through the animal welfare. Occasionally a Ca de Bestiar is in distress and is given to an animal shelter.
More often you will find mixed breeds of Ca de Bestiar and Labrador or other dogs. A dog that comes from a shelter always has its own story. These animals can be harder to train than the dogs usually are.
Although there is a breed standard for the Ca de Bestiar, there are many more sheepdogs of this type living outside the standard in Mallorca. The Ca de Bestiar is a working dog, not a fashion dog.
Therefore, there are more “wild” breeders than standardized breeders. The Ca de Bestiar as a working dog in Mallorca is therefore larger or smaller than specified in the standard.
Decision Support
If you are flirting with a Ca de Bestiar, you need a large property and experience with working dogs. The Ca de Bestiar is a lover’s dog that you should dedicate yourself to with careful education and socialization.
He is an excellent watchdog with strong territorial behavior and protective instincts. Only with a consistent and sensitive upbringing you can get a grip on the instinct to defend his reference person, sometimes aggressively.
FAQ About The Ca De Bestiar
The Ca de Bestiar is available as a long-haired and short-haired dog.
A Ca de Bestiar has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.
A Ca de Bestiar is more likely not a family dog than he desires usually only one reference person. Overall, he is rather independent, has a low threshold and defends himself when necessary. Since a Ca de Bestiar is a working dog, it is also not suitable for beginners and you need a lot of stamina, especially at a young age.
A Ca de Bestiar costs about 350 to 450 euros.
A Ca de Bestiar is particularly suitable for individuals with dog experience.
A Ca de Bestiar is usually characterized by calmness and intelligence. Also, a Ca de Bestiar is confident, strong territorial and independent. You have to know that he has a low threshold and that he will defend himself if necessary.
The height at the withers of a Ca de Bestiar is about 62 to 73 centimetres.
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A Ca de Bestiar is not a list dog (colloquially: fighting dog).
The Ca de Bestiar does not count as a list dog.
A Ca de Bestiar weighs about 35 to 40 kg.
Sources
https://www.mallorcamagazin. com/news/society/2016/04/17/46224/a-wonderful-dog.html
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