Alentejo Mastiff

Show Breed

Find

Alentejo Mastiff

Compare with

Size: Extra-Large
Other Names: Portuguese Mastiff, Mutt of Alentejo, Rafeiro do Alentejo
Country of Origin: Portugal
Accreditation:
American Kennel Club (AKC): FSS
United Kennel Club (UKC): Guardian Dog

The Alentejo Mastiff is a large, rectangular livestock guardian with a broad head, dropped ears, and a thick tail. The coat is short to medium and the expression is calm and watchful.

A massive Portuguese estate guardian: rural space, a weather coat, night patrol, and no business as a city apartment dog.

The Alentejo Mastiff, or Rafeiro do Alentejo, is a Portuguese flock guardian from the Alentejo plains. It was kept with sheep and cattle to discourage wolves and thieves, living with the stock rather than herding it. The AKC lists the breed in the Foundation Stock Service; the UKC places it with Guardian Dogs.

Height: 28.7 inches
Weight: 104½ pounds
Color: Black, yellow, and fawn (a light brown color) with white markings; or white with other colors; can be streaked or brindled or dappled
Coat: Short to medium fur, the same length all over
Lifespan: 10–12 years
Litter size: 5–10 puppies

Temperament

This is a territorial, independent guardian. It is typically devoted to its own family and reserved with strangers. It is not a busy pet for a small yard; it needs space and a sense of purpose.

Training

Start socialization early and keep training calm and firm. The breed was selected to decide on its own when a threat is real, so it will not work like a soft companion dog.

Care and grooming

Brush the short coat weekly and watch the ears. This heavy dog needs moderate daily exercise, not long forced runs while it is still growing.

Shedding

Moderate.

Health

As with other giant guardians, hip dysplasia and bloat can occur. Grow puppies slowly and do not exercise hard right after meals.

Top

View Privacy Policy

Pup.com accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the advertisements placed on the Pup.com website or for the contents of any website to which a hypertext link from Pup.com links. The Seller Ads and links to products and/or services are provided as a service, and Pup.com gives no warranties, expressed or implied, about the information and/or policies of the Seller Ads or the linked-to webites, or of the information shown.

Pup.com is the sole owner of the services and of all information provided by and posted to the Pup.com website. The use, reproduction, or storing of content for any purpose other than to contact a Seller, purchase a product or service, or compare prices is prohibited. You cannot use the information provided by Pup.com to recreate a directory, rebrand the informaton or redistribute the information in any way. Information provided by Pup.com is for individual, non-commercial use only. All information, processes and content contained within and that make up the services are the sole property of Pup.com. You may not reproduce, duplicate or redistribute any information provided by Pup.com for profit or personal gain of any kind. You may not frame any content or pages contained within the Pup.com website unless expressly granted permission by Pup.com.