One of the eight National Breeds

Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal (República Portuguesa) lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of its capital, Lisbon, in the 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of its colony, Brazil. The 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of following six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. Lying between Spain and the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal has over 10 million inhabitants. The Alentejo is an area in the middle and south, stretching from the Tagus River to the Algarve. It’s a very dry part of Portugal, used for cultivating grain. Cork is a well-known product of this area. Because of large-scale land ownership, the Alentejo was where the Portuguese Revolution in 1974 had its biggest first impact. One of the eight national breeds of Portugal is the Rafeiro do Alentenjo. Its other names are Portuguese Watchdog or Alentejo Mastiff.

Various kings of Portugal were fanciers of hunting big game. One of the kings is photographed (before 1910) with his Rafeiro’s. Some of the dogs have cropped ears, which is not done anymore in Portugal. (Photo courtesy Fernando Julião)

 

Moving cattle

The eight national breeds of Portugal belong to the Working Group and the Gundog Group; the Rafeiro do Alentenjo belongs to the first group and is the largest. His ancestors were molossoid dogs crossbred with local breeds. The name ‘Rafeiro do Alentenjo’ dates from the beginning of the 19th century and has two meanings. Rafeiro is the Portuguese word for ‘bastard’ or ‘dog from the street’, but in older dictionaries the same word means ‘brave’, ‘strong’, ‘protector’ or ‘big’. Both meanings refer in a way to this breed: a big, strong dog, developed out of a mix of local dogs.

The Rafeiro is similar in appearance to other mastiff breeds. It has a strong resemblance, in looks and character, with the Anatolian Shepherd Dog (or Turkish Karabash), the Spanish Mastiff and the Cão da Serra da Estrela (Estrela Mountain Dog). Undoubtedly there is a relation.

Little is known about the early history of the Rafeiro, but it is assumed its origin was in the Tibetan highlands, thousands of years ago. They may have migrated westward into Asia Minor, crossing the Balkans and following the Romans to the shores of the Atlantic. In the Pyrenees, the natural border between France and Spain, they mixed with local dogs.

Geographic and climatic differences between northern and southern Portugal meant there was a need from early times to move cattle from one place to another in search of better pastures. For centuries, large herds were driven between the Douro region in the north and the Alentejo in the middle and south. The herds were accompanied by powerful, mastiff-like dogs that were ready to take action when necessary.

The breed was taken to the Azores Islands and to South America; it is believed that its offspring, the now extinct Fila Terceira, was involved in the creation of the Fila Brasileiro in Brazil.

Old photograph dating from the beginning of the 20th century of a Portuguese herdsman with his Rafeiro. (Photo courtesy Fernando Julião)

The Alentejo is an area in the middle and south of Portugal, stretching from the Tagus River to the Algarve.

Thanks to a small group of dedicated breeders, the continuity of the Rafeiro is now ensured and the work to save this national heritage goes on. (Photo courtesy Fernando Julião)

Symbols of aristocracy

Being sober dogs of peaceful demeanour, the early Rafeiros settled down with their owners and that’s why their ‘profession’ changed. Apart from guarding the herds, they also became the guard dogs and watchdogs of the big rural estates belonging to wealthy Portuguese families. The Rafeiro was a multi-functional dog, used in packs to hunt big game like wild boar.

During the revolution at the beginning of the 20th century, a number of wealthy Portuguese landowners were murdered, as were their dogs which were one of the symbols of aristocracy.

In the 1974 revolution, the dogs were killed by the landowners. The workers had occupied and tried to keep the landowners from entering their own estates. Because Rafeiros protect those who care for them and feed them, they protected the workers, and the landowners were forced to shoot the dogs in order to gain access to their own properties.

Undoubtedly there is a relation between the Rafeiro do Alentejo and the Estrela Mountain Dog. Size and coat are very similar. (Photo: www.cao-da-serra-da-estrela.de)

The origin of the Rafeiro was in the Tibetan highlands, thousands of years ago. They may have migrated westward into Asia Minor, crossing the Balkans and following the Romans to the shores of the Atlantic. (Photo: Wikipedia)

Dedicated breeders


Two distinguished cynologists, António Cabral and Filipe Romeiras, were the founders of the earliest breed standard, more or less a census, which was officially established in 1953. The breed declined dramatically in the 1960s and ‘70s. By the ‘80s it was thought the Rafeiro do Alentejo would not survive. Thanks to the Faculty of Veterinaries in Évora and a small group of dedicated breeders, the continuity of the Rafeiro is now ensured, but the work to save this national heritage must continue.

Today the breed has two breed clubs in Portugal: the Associação de Criadores do Rafeiro do Alentejo and the Clube Português do Refeiro do Alentejo; they have no websites. The original valid breed standard dates from 1967; the present standard from 1996. The number of the breed’s standard is 96; the Rafeiro is one of the first breeds to be recognized by the FCI.

This photo was taken at the World Dog Show in Portugal, 2001. It shows a lady in traditional costume with her Rafeiro do Alentejo. (Photo: Alice van Kempen)	The Rafeiro Alentejo is a sober dog of peaceful demeanor. (Photo: www.tudoben.com)

 

Tough with strangers, gentle with children

The Rafeiro do Alentejo is an almost-unknown breed, not only in Europe but also in his homeland of Portugal. Nowadays he is still used for herding and guarding cattle, but also for defense (not attack). The Rafeiro is protective and tough with strangers, especially after dark. An impressive dog, independent, alert and sometimes stubborn, he demands respect and has a lot of self-confidence but is gentle with children. Dr. Erich Schneider-Leyer described the Rafeiro in his book Hunde der Welt as a frightening guard dog, during the day less attentive, but attacking strangers during the night. Because of his size, he is not always suitable as a companion in the house.

Hip dysplasia may occur in the breed but is not common. His coat requires little grooming. When a Rafeiro do Alentejo barks, the low, deep tone can be heard from a long distance.

Origin: 19th-century Portugal.

Original purposes: Herding dog and guard dog.

Description: An imposing, sturdy dog with a quiet charisma. The general construction is rather long than large. The breed has a bear type head, well-proportioned to the size of the body. The top skull between the ears is slightly and regularly arched; the stop is not pronounced. The muzzle is shorter than the length of the skull. The lips are slightly rounded in front, overlapping and well cut. The strong jaws are well-developed and well-set. The eyes have a calm expression and are set almost level with the orbital ridge. They are dark, horizontal, elliptical and small. The triangular ears are set on, folded and hanging at the sides. When the dog is attentive, they still keep folded; they rise at the base and the vertical wrinkles are more pronounced. There is some throat skin and the skin around the body is fairly loose as well. The neck is short and strong, the body is strong, long, well-muscled and bulky. The forechest is wide, but not very marked. The chest is wide and deep; bone is heavy and the thighs are well-developed.

The Rafeiro has strong and straight forequarters and they are rather wide in front. Hind legs are standing well apart. Forefeet and hind feet have strong toes; they are well-closed and long, but not too arched. The tail is set on at medium height and is thick, long, slightly curved towards the tip, but never kinky. In action it may roll upwards. The straight, dense medium-length coat comes in black, wolf grey, fawn, and yellow with white markings or white with markings of these colours, either dappled, streaked or brindled. The breed has a heavy, slow and rolling movement.

Various kings of Portugal were fanciers of hunting big game. One of the kings is photographed (before 1910) with his Rafeiro’s. Some of the dogs have cropped ears, which is not done anymore in Portugal. (Photo courtesy Fernando Julião)

Disqualifying faults are: a long and narrow head, an overshot or undershot mouth, too short hair, light eyes or eyes of different colour or shape.

The Rafeiro do Alentejo is an excellent watch dog of farms and dwellings in the Alentejo as well as a highly appreciated protector of the herds. During the day he is less vigilant, but threatening against strangers.

Height/weight: 26 to 29 inches for dogs; 25 to 27.5 inches for bitches; weight is 88 to 110 pounds for dogs and 75 to 100 pounds for bitches.

Information: www.cpc.pt (Portuguese Kennel Club, in Portuguese).

 

About the Author

A breeder/exhibitor/judge and retired bookseller and publisher, Ria Hörter is a contributing editor of “Onze Hond”, leading dog magazine in The Netherlands. She also writes for “The Canine Chronicle”, “Dogs in Canada”, for the Dutch Kennel Club and the Dutch hunting magazine “De Nederlandse Jager”. She is the president of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Spaniel Club Netherlands, Editor of the Club’s magazine and the Secretary of the Breed Group of Gundog Breeds in The Netherlands. She is a member of the World Dog Press Association and was a finalist the 2005 Annual Writing Competition of the Dog Writers Association of America.