Cão de Castro Laboreiro
A rare, hardy Portuguese mountain guardian with a wolf-grey coat, a deep bark and a strong sense of duty.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 55–60 cm · Females 52–57 cm
- Weight
- Males 30–40 kg · Females 20–30 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–90 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Double coat, short
- Colours
- Wolf grey, Brindle
- Bred for
- Guarding livestock, Guarding
- Country of origin
- Portugal
- FCI
- Group 2, no. 170 · Pinschers, molossers & mountain dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 2/5 – Low |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 1/5 – Very low |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 2/5 – Low |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 5/5 – Very high |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 1/5 – Very low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with being alone | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- live rurally with secure fencing
- want a hardy, natural guardian
- have experience with livestock guardian breeds
Think twice if you …
- have frequent visitors or a busy city home
- want a dog that obeys without question
- mind barking
Care
Temperament
Devoted and watchful, with a strong protective instinct and an independent mind. It is reserved or suspicious with strangers and quick to sound the alarm with its distinctive bark.
Exercise
Needs daily walks and, ideally, a large securely fenced area to patrol; hiking and long country walks suit it.
Grooming
The short, dense coat needs a weekly brush and more during seasonal shedding.
Training
Intelligent but independent, as befits a guardian; early socialisation and consistent, respectful training are essential.
Health
The breed is generally robust, but hip dysplasia can occur, as in most large dogs. Ask the breeder for the parents' hip results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Cão de Castro Laboreiro comes from the remote village of Castro Laboreiro in the far north of Portugal, near the Spanish border. There it guarded cattle and flocks against wolves and protected farms, developing into a lean, agile and tough dog well suited to rugged hills.
The breed is still rare and mostly kept by people in its home region or by dedicated enthusiasts. It is loyal to its family but takes guarding very seriously and is suspicious of strangers. It suits rural homes with secure fencing better than busy city life.
Did you know?
The breed's bark is described as starting low and rising to a high, howl-like note, and it is said to carry a long way across the mountains.