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This breed came from Catalonia, Spain. It is presumed that he is descended from the ancient Pyrenees sheepdogs. During the Spanish Civil War, the Catalan Sheepdog served as messenger and sentry.

The Catalan Sheepdog is courageous, intelligent, and energetic. His greatest traits shine through when herding; not only is he obedient to the commands of his handler, but he often takes the initiative, directing the sheep with remarkable ease. This brave, alert breed also makes an excellent guard dog. As a pet, he is loyal and gentle with children. This breed is well adapted to living outdoors.

While this dog can live indoors, he needs a lot of exercise. Daily brushing is required.

Head:Strong, slightly convex. Pronounced stop. Straight, short forehead. Cone-shaped muzzle.
Ears:Set on high. Fine leather. Drop, triangular ending in a point. Cropped ears are acceptable for working dogs.
Eyes:Round. Dark amber eyes. Black rims.
Body:Strong with length being slightly greater than height. Deep chest. Ribs well sprung. Straight back. Powerful, slightly sloped croup.
Tail:Attached low. Long or short (maximum length 10 cm). Some varieties are naturally tailless. Docked tail is permitted for working dogs. Hangs in a hook when relaxed. Richly clad with hair.
Hair:Long, flat, and rough. Thick undercoat. Full beard, mustache, forelock, and fall. Seasonal shedding occurs in two stages, beginning with the front half of the body, followed by the back half of the body.
Coat:Color created by a mixture of hairs of various shades – fawn, reddish-brown, gray, black, and white. The base colors are fawn, gray, and sable.
Size:Dog: 47 to 55 cm.Bitch: 45 to 53 cm.
Weight:Dog: approx. 18 kg.Bitch: approx. 16 kg.
Group:Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)