Comparison: Castro Laboreiro Dog and Saint Miguel Cattle Dog

Castro Laboreiro Dog and Saint Miguel Cattle Dog are marked as similar in our database. The table compares only the data we have on the breeds.

Castro Laboreiro Dog
Photo: Schiowa, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Saint Miguel Cattle Dog
Photo: Rui Teixeira, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Castro Laboreiro DogSaint Miguel Cattle Dog
FCI group2. Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs2. Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs
Country of originPortugalPortugal
CategoryLargeMedium
Height at withers55–66 cm48–60 cm
Weight25–40 kg20–35 kg
Recognition features
  • Medium-large, agile mountain dog of slightly mastiff type with a serious expression
  • Short, thick coat without undercoat; wolf-grey most common
  • Characteristic alarm bark rising to high-pitched sounds
  • Robust, hardy, medium-sized dogue-type dog with short harsh coat
  • Always brindled (fawn, pale fawn with black overlay, grey)
  • When driving dairy cows it bites low so as not to harm the udders
CoatShort coat (about 5 cm) without undercoat, smooth, flat and very thick, thin and soft on head and ears; wolf colour is the most common.Short, smooth, dense coat of harsh texture, lightly fringed on tail, anal region and back of thighs; always brindled.
PurposeAn ancient Portuguese mountain guard dog from the village of Castro Laboreiro that protected flocks from wolves.A cattle dog from São Miguel in the Azores, known as the "cow dog", also a guard of property and people.

Breed page: Castro Laboreiro Dog · Breed page: Saint Miguel Cattle Dog

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The information is indicative. Texts are based on available sources and may contain inaccuracies; for binding details (e.g. for breeding or shows) use the official breed standard.