KENAI
Catalonian Sheepdog

The breeds · herding

UKC Herding · FCI standard 87

Catalonian Sheepdog.

FCI 87 utilization: driving flocks is the true essence of the breed; obeys the shepherd and in many cases shows initiative, directing the flock and preventing any animal separating from the others; through bravery and courage can also be used for guarding. RKC: originated in north-eastern Spain as a sheepdog in the Spanish Pyrenees, still widely used as flock herd and guard in that region. A very sedate dog, active and intelligent, devoted to the shepherd and flock, wary of strangers RSCE (reproducing the standard): same utilization, driving the flock with initiative and also vigilance work; the national club's short history says it comes from the Catalan Pyrenees and has spread through all the grazing areas of Catalonia. Wikipedia: traditionally used to herd livestock, particularly horses and sheep; today also a companion; they guard sheep without needing instruction..

Breed sets the odds. The parents set the dog. Every number here shows its source, its spread and how sure we are. Nothing on this page is a prediction about one dog.

0INHeightdogs null, bitches null. An ideal from the standard, not a range.
38–55LBWeight, all linesbreed dogs 44.1 to 55.1 lb; breed bitches 37.5 to 46.3 lb.
1HRSExercise, every dayUp to 1 hour per day (RKC). The constraint most homes get wrong.

The body

What the breed is built like. Registry standards give an ideal, not a range.

Height at the shoulder

dogs 18.5 to 21.7 in · bitches 17.7 to 20.9 in

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 2004

Disqualifying fault: more than 3 cm over or under the limits. No ideal printed.

Weight

dogs 44.1 to 55.1 lb · bitches 37.5 to 46.3 lb

EditorialWikipedia (English)

Editorial figure only, in kg as printed; conversions to lb are computed (see the cache). No standard prints a weight, so this is the sole source for the row.

Coat

FCI 87: long, flat or very slightly wavy, rough, abundant undercoat on the rear third; beard, moustache, tuft and eyebrows not obscuring sight; mixed-hair colour in fawn, sable and grey (basic colours); white or black spots not admitted. RKC colours: black and tan, grey, fawn, sable; coat length medium RSCE (reproducing the standard): same long, flat or very slightly wavy rough coat with abundant undercoat on the rear third. Wikipedia: long coat ranging from fawn to dark sable and light to dark grey; a short-haired variety exists but is nearly extinct.

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 2004

Shedding

RKC 'Sheds: no'. FCI: moult occurs in two stages, front of the body first, then the hindquarters, giving the look of two dogs with different coats

Breed clubThe Royal Kennel Club

Heat tolerance

2 of 5 · Long flat or slightly wavy rough coat with abundant undercoat on the posterior third. FCI temperament: very resistant to heat, cold and all atmospherics; a very frugal diet suffices to work in extreme conditions RSCE (reproducing the standard): very resistant to heat, cold and all atmospheric agents.

DerivedFederation Cynologique Internationale, 2004

Derived from the coat (long, undercoat = 2). The FCI standard states heat resistance outright; the second key may weigh that.

The dog at home

What the breed asks of a day. The first thing most homes get wrong.

Exercise need

Up to 1 hour per day (RKC)

Breed clubThe Royal Kennel Club

RKC band mapped: up to 1 hour = 60.

Exercise need

RKC: up to 1 hour per day; small house, small to medium garden, town or country; 'active and amenable, popular as a herder and family companion'

Breed clubThe Royal Kennel Club

Grooming load

2 of 5 · Once a week (RKC grooming band)

Breed clubThe Royal Kennel Club

RKC library mapping: weekly brush = 2.

Grooming

RKC: once a week; coat length medium. FCI: long, flat or slightly wavy coat with abundant undercoat on the posterior third of the body; beard, moustache and eyebrows; the moult comes in two stages, front then rear

Breed clubThe Royal Kennel Club

The work

What it was built to do in the field, and what a test or trial asks of it.

Role

FCI 87 utilization: driving flocks is the true essence of the breed; obeys the shepherd and in many cases shows initiative, directing the flock and preventing any animal separating from the others; through bravery and courage can also be used for guarding. RKC: originated in north-eastern Spain as a sheepdog in the Spanish Pyrenees, still widely used as flock herd and guard in that region. A very sedate dog, active and intelligent, devoted to the shepherd and flock, wary of strangers RSCE (reproducing the standard): same utilization, driving the flock with initiative and also vigilance work; the national club's short history says it comes from the Catalan Pyrenees and has spread through all the grazing areas of Catalonia. Wikipedia: traditionally used to herd livestock, particularly horses and sheep; today also a companion; they guard sheep without needing instruction.

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 2004

Primary game

Stock worked, not game. Wikipedia: traditionally used to herd livestock, particularly horses and sheep; guards sheep without needing instruction. FCI 87: drives and directs the flock.

EditorialWikipedia (English)

Stock, not game.

Also used on

FCI 87: guarding missions (bravery and courage); excellent companion given size, coat, intelligence and loyalty. RKC: popular as a family companion Wikipedia: also a watch-dog, a pet, and excels at dog sports such as agility and dog dance.

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 2004

Field trial standard

FCI 87 classification: Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs, Section 1 Sheepdogs, 'Without working trial'. The standard allows cropped ears, docked tail and blunt canines in working dogs

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 2004

How common the problems are

Evaluated dogs skew toward breeding stock; the numbers are still the best there are.

Most common disorders

Wikipedia: Catalan sheepdogs are prone to hip dysplasia; average life span 12 to 14 years (editorial, not a measured median).

EditorialWikipedia (English)

No count or study cited by the page; RKC lists the BVA/KC hip and eye schemes.

What to ask a breeder for

The health clearances the breed’s own club and registry name. Reference only: what to ask for, never a statement about any dog’s health.

How to read this page

Every value carries a label. Measured means peer-reviewed data on many dogs. Studied means peer-reviewed, smaller or indirect. Breed club means a club or registry states it. Editorial means expert opinion with no measurement behind it. Where two good sources disagree, both are shown and neither is averaged.

Published when the entry rests on the best information available from no fewer than three independent sources, checked by a second pass that did not write it. 3 sources on this page. Found something wrong? Tell us and the correction is logged with its date.

Also called
Gos d'Atura Catala, Catalonian Sheepdog

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