Castro Laboreiro Dog Breed
Cão de Castro Laboreiro

Portugal

This robust Portuguese breed was baptized with the name of a town known as Castro Laboreiro. It belongs to the mastiffs, but it does not weigh as much as most breeds of this class. A description would say that it looks like a heavy labrador retriever with a good height. In its region of origin it is mainly used as a protection as a guard dog –sometimes as a protection against wolves–. The head is like a retriever although less refined and the ears that are taken close to the head are medium size. The eyes are dark chestnut when the hair is of light tone and the eyes are almost black when the specimens have dark hair. The tail is long and thick and it is taken down when the dog is calm, but straight and on the loin when it is in alert. However, the tail should not touch the back.

The color is wolf gray in light or dark tones. The height at withers is 56 to 60 cm in males and 52 to 57 in females. The weight is 30 to 40 kg and 20 to 30 respectively.