Cao da Serra de Aires vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Cao da Serra de Aires vs Basque Shepherd - Breed ComparisonCao da Serra de Aires is originated from Portugal but Basque Shepherd is originated from Spain. Cao da Serra de Aires may grow 6 cm / 2 inches shorter than Basque Shepherd. Both Cao da Serra de Aires and Basque Shepherd are having almost same weight. Both Cao da Serra de Aires and Basque Shepherd has almost same life span. Cao da Serra de Aires may have less litter size than Basque Shepherd. Both Cao da Serra de Aires and Basque Shepherd requires Moderate maintenance.

History

cao da serra de aires - historyAncestors of the Cao da Sera de Aires were used for herding livestock in the Serra de Aires and Alentejo, Portugal. This herding dog is native to Portugal and throughout the 20th Century he was kept as a working dog.

Known also as the Portuguese Sheepdog, Portuguese Shepherd Dog or Serra de Aires Mountain Dog, there are some questions surrounding the breed's ancestry as there are few records of dogs before 1900. The dog is thought to be related to the Pyrenean and Catalan Sheepdogs and that it has descended from Briards which were imported into Portugal and crossed with the Pyrenean Sheepdog.

The Cão da Serra de Aires breed standard was accepted by the Portuguese Kennel Club, and the breed was recognized internationally in 1996. The dog was also recognized by the United Kennel Club in the Herding Group in 2006.

basque shepherd - historyThe Basque Shepherd is one of the oldest dog breeds. With this Spanish dog, you’ll find paintings dating back 12,000 years ago. The Basque Shepherd is known as a landrace breed, which means the dog hasn’t gone through the same selective breeding programs as what other breeds have. Landrace breeds have more variations in appearance and temperament than regular breeds.

The Basque Shepherd has 2 distinct varieties, the Gorbeiakoa and the Iletsua. The smooth-haired Gorbeiakoa has a softer coat that is fairly short while the rougher-haired Iletsua has a lighter coloured coat, and unlike the Gorbeiakoa, the ears are not typically erect.

Even though this is an ancient breed of dog, only the Royal Canine Society of Spain recognizes the breed with the two varieties, and in January 1996, the two breeds - Iletsua and Gorbeikoa – were recognized.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Working dog
Origin:
Portugal
Spain
Height Male:
45 - 55 cm
17 - 22 inches
47 - 61 cm
18 - 25 inches
Height Female:
42 - 53 cm
16 - 21 inches
46 - 59 cm
18 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
17 - 27 kg
37 - 60 pounds
17 - 29 kg
37 - 64 pounds
Weight Female:
15 - 27 kg
33 - 60 pounds
17 - 36 kg
37 - 80 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 6
6 - 9
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Portuguese Sheepdog, Portuguese Shepherd Dog
Basque Herder, Basque Sheepdog
Colors Available:
Fawn, gray, yellow and black
fawn, yellow orange or copper coat with other shades being red, blue and black
Coat:
Long, shaggy, single-layer coat,
smooth and soft to rough and coarse
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Detached, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

cao da serra de aires puppy - descriptionThe beautiful Cão da Serra de Aires is a medium-sized dog. He stands at 45 to 55 cm at the withers and weighs about 17 to 27 kg. He is recognizable by the long, shaggy, single-layer coat, of straight or slightly wavy hair. Don’t be deceived by the coat as below, the dog has a muscular, athletic body.

The coat comes in different shades such as fawn, gray, yellow and black. The dog has a long tail which is held straight out or down and he has medium-length, floppy ears. You’ve got to look hard, as the facial features of the dog are hidden by its shaggy coat. He has a lot of facial hair that sometimes you have to wonder if he can see out of his eyes.

Temperament:

The Cao da Serra de Aires is a wonderful canine companion and is devoted and loyal, forming strong bonds with their human family. He is a playful, amicable dog and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He is intelligent and trainable, and when properly trained and socialized,he becomes an even nicer pet to have around and is obedient to his master’s voice. He is territorial, strong willed and dominant and makes a good watchdog too.

Two Varieties

basque shepherd puppy - descriptionThe Basque Shepherd is a strong, well proportioned dog with brown eyes and medium sized ears, which sometimes have folds. This medium-to-large dog has a beautiful fawn coat of medium-length hair that can be straight or slightly wavy. He has a long feathery tail that will wag readily when he sees his owner. You’ll find other colors for the Basque Shepherd shared between the two varieties - a yellow orange or copper coat with other shades being red, blue and black. His hair is shorter on the head and he doesn’t battle with hair over the eyes.

An Intelligent Breed

The Basque Shepherd is a highly intelligent dog and also very energetic. Of the two different kinds of Basque Shepherd, it is the Gorbeiakoa which is the more outgoing. The dogs will require a firm owner and they thrive on the discipline when it is combined with lots of with lots of exercise and activities.

The Basque Shepherd is generally friendly with people, if not a little reserved with strangers. He gets on well with children and other pets in the home, although socialization and training will be necessary to bring out their best.

Characteristics

cao da serra de aires dog - characteristicsThe Cão da Serra de Aires is such a loyal dog to his human family that he makes a splendid pet. He is active, having worked historically at herding and guarding.

Socialization and obedience training ensure that he becomes an exceptional pet and he has a host of positive attributes to his name – he is intelligent, energetic, loyal and loving. He may have been used long ago to guard livestock, but today he is selected as a pet specifically for his excellent companionship and for his protective nature.

basque shepherd dog - characteristicsThe dog is well suited to being a family pet, loving to spend time with family, being a people-oriented breed. He gets on well with children as well as other pets in the home, but can be reserved with strangers.

He doesn’t have an aggressive nature, and yet he does what it takes to protect his beloved human family.

He is full of energy, hardy and tough. He loves his human family and wants to be included in all their activities. He is energetic though and as a responsible dog owner, you want to make sure that your Basque Shepherd has enough space to run.

Health Problems

cao da serra de aires puppies - health problemsAs with most dogs that are looked after well, their health can be good. The Cao da Serra de Aires isn’t likely to keep you at the vet often. Just like with any good dog, there are some health disorders that can benefit you to know about.

Being forewarned , you can get your pet to the vet quickly before the illness gets out of hand.

There are some pet owners who want to have their pets tested by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals as well as the Canine Eye Registration Foundation to rule out health defects such as hip dysplasia and cataracts before they manifest themselves in their pets. This is of particular importance to breeders so as to prevent the parent dogs passing bad genetic conditions to the puppies.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a common skeletal disease where the dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly. It can be terribly painful for your pet to get around. It’s a genetic condition and while it is more prevalent in big dogs, any breeds are susceptible.

Your dog will battle along with painful joints and sometimes his hind-end will be lame. You’ll notice that once lying down, he battles to get up again. Fortunately vets are well acquainted with this ailment and they have different options to treat and manage it.

Cataracts:

Cataracts in your dog come about from a disease process which affects the lens of the eye. The eye loses its transparency and impairs vision. There are some instances where cataracts can cause blindness. You’ll see a whitish gray area in your pets eye. The most common cause of cataracts is genetics. Get your pet to the vet who will do certain tests to evaluate the eyes and make a recommendation.

basque shepherd puppies - health problemsBecause this is an ancient breed, the Basque Shepherd doesn’t have to contend with genetic health problems such as more modern breeds. Just like other dogs though, he could be prone to certain conditions such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, ear infections and cancer. As a larger breed, he may also be prone to bloat.

Chronic Ear Infections

Breeds with floppy ears, such as the Basque Shepherd will be more prone to developing ear infections. To prevent infection, keep his ears clean and dry. If you’re unsure, the vet can guide you how- and what to do.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a disease which is common to other dog breeds too and not just the Basque Shepherd. This condition affects the hip joints and can result in chronic pain for the dog and also lameness. Checking your dog’s weight is important and the pain can be managed with medication.

Caring The Pet

cao da serra de aires dogs - caringAs a working dog used to long hours of action, the Cao da Serra de Aires will need lots of activity. He’ll need you taking him for long walks and playing ball games with him. He can become frustrated and destructive when left without any physical stimulation.

Grooming

The Cao da Serra de Aires may have long hair but he isn’t high maintenance. He won’t require professional grooming, but will require a good brush a least twice a week. This is because the long coat can tangle.

To keep him looking his best, you’ll want to be trimming the hair around his paws. Another important grooming task is checking his ears and cleaning them. You have to be careful about cleaning your pet ears if you don’t know how, as it could damage the ears. Your vet can always advise you on how this is done.

basque shepherd dogs - caringThis is a medium to large breed dog and he should therefore be fed a high quality food which has been formulated for medium to large breeds. Because he is a herding dog, you might want to also look at an active-dog or working-breed formula to supply him with that much needed energy.

Grooming

The Basque Shepherd’s coat is lush and long with either straight or wavy hair. Regular brush at least twice a week will maintain the coat, get rid of loose hair and prevent fleas.

Training

The Basque Shepherd is an intelligent breed that will respond well to socialization and training. He is a breed that loves sports too because of this very high energy levels. You need to be careful with the Basquae Shepherd around small children, not because he is aggressive in any way, but because he is highly active, and his exuberance and boisterous antics could see him unintentionally knocking over small children.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  2. Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  3. Dutch Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  4. English Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  5. Catahoula Cur vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  6. Catalan Sheepdog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  7. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  8. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  9. Queensland Heeler vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  10. German Coolie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  11. Croatian Sheepdog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  12. Red Heeler vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  13. New Zealand Huntaway vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  14. Norwegian Buhund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  15. Polish Lowland Sheepdog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  16. Mudi vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  17. Schapendoes vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  18. Nenets Herding Laika vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  19. Scotch Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  20. Smithfield vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  21. Smooth Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  22. Spanish Water Dog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  23. Swedish Lapphund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  24. Swedish Vallhund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  25. Thai Bangkaew vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  26. Border Collie vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  27. Sakhalin Husky vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Alaskan Husky vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. Catahoula Leopard vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  30. German Pinscher vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  31. Portuguese Water Dog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  32. Puli vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  33. Griffon Bleu de Gascogne vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  34. Borador vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  35. German Spaniel vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  36. Canadian Eskimo Dog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  37. McNab vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  38. Porcelaine vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  39. Finnish Lapphund vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  40. Berger Blanc Suisse vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  41. Griffon Nivernais vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  42. Hokkaido vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  43. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  44. Pumi vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  45. Griffon Fauve de Bretagne vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  46. Basque Shepherd vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  47. Basque Shepherd vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  48. Basque Shepherd vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  49. Istrian Sheepdog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  50. Jamthund vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds