The Mallorcan Shepherd

El Mallorcan shepherd dog or Ca de Bestiar It is the breed of dogs that originated from where I was born and live, the island of Mallorca, in the Balearic archipelago. It is not well known outside the archipelago, but now I have the opportunity to tell you about it, to introduce it to you, and to tell you all the secrets of this beautiful and noble animal.

These are dogs that have always been used to protect and direct sheep, but those of us who are lucky enough to live with one, either purebred or crossed, we can say they are excellent companions and best friends.

History of the Mallorcan shepherd or Ca de Bestiar

It is still not clear how this unique dog got to Mallorca, but there are those who believe that it was King Jaime I who brought his ancestor from Catalonia during the conquest of the island, or shortly afterwards. What is clear is that once he set foot on Majorcan lands, the shepherds and the townspeople were in charge of giving it its own characteristics that would differentiate it even from other Mediterranean shepherd dogs.

In 1970, they began to select those specimens that attracted the most attention, either for having blacker hair, longer legs, or for other reasons, and they began to be crossed with Ibizan Hounds or Egyptian war dogs (not yet it is clear with which) with the intention of "creating" the Mallorcan shepherd dog that we know today. Ten years later, in 1980, the standard was drafted to set the characteristics and thus have a reference to assess it. This standard has also served to recover the Ca de Bestiar, and so that the International Cynological Federation (FCI), recognized it as a breed on September 13, 1982.

Physical characteristics

The Ca de Bestiar is a large dog, with a weight of 40-45kg for males and 30-35kg for females. The height at the withers is 66 to 73cm in them, and 60 to 68cm in them. The most common type of hair is short black hair, but there are also long hair, with white feet, with red and brindle skirts. The latter is recovering thanks to a breeding program.

The head of this beautiful dog is large and wide, with an elongated mouth. His eyes are brown, not too big. The body is very well proportioned, with long and wide legs designed for running. The tail is long, but it does not touch the ground.

Has a slow growth rate, reaching full maturity (both physical and mental) at 3 years.

Character of Ca de Bestiar

The Mallorcan shepherd dog is an animal very noble, intelligent and calm. He is a bit suspicious of strangers, but he will quickly realize whether or not they like dogs, and if he does, he will politely but curiously approach to be petted.

Es very affectionate, especially with that person who is in charge of taking care of it. In fact, if there are "single human races", this would be one of them, but this does not mean that you will not love or obey the rest of the family, just that you will feel more attached to one of them.

How do you take care of yourself?

Like all dogs, the Mallorcan shepherd dog will need some basic care to be happy, which are:

Food

To ensure that your health is always excellent, it is highly advisable to give a quality meal, either natural food or feed with a high content of protein of animal origin (minimum 70%).

Veterinary

It is essential to take him to the vet for him to put the necessary vaccinations, and the microchip. Likewise, every time we suspect that you are not feeling well, we must also go. And of course, if we have no intention of raising it, it is advisable to neuter or sterilize it from 8 months the females and the year the males.

Physical and mental exercise

As it is a dog that loves to exercise, and that also needs to do it, should go for a walk or, better, a run every day. But not only that, but at home you should play with it, either with interactive toys, balls, stuffed animals ..., or with several.

You can even sign up for hunting, herding, or agility classes so that you discharge all your energy and be happier if possible.

Hygiene

Another issue that we cannot forget is hygiene. It does not usually get very dirty, unless you go around the field a lot or spend time in the garden, but once a month it's time to bathe him, using a special dog shampoo.

It is also advisable clean your teeth once a day with a paste specifically formulated for dogs.

Majorcan shepherd dog diseases

It is a very resistant breed, but being a large dog it can suffer hip dysplasia.

Where and how to buy

Would you like to live with one of these magnificent animals? If so, I can tell you that you will not regret it. Take note of these tips:

Buy in hatchery

This is a breed that, as it is not known, there are very few breeders that exist, and practically all of them are on the island of Mallorca. But how do you identify those who are really serious and professional?

When you visit it, you must find the facilities clean.
Dogs they must be healthy and active.
The one in charge must answer all questions that you have.
You must be able know the history of the puppy family, and above all, if they have or have had any disease.
The owner of the center must be concerned about the fate of the puppies, which will not be less than two months old.
When the appointed day comes, will deliver your new friend with all the documentation in order (passport and pedigree).

Buy from a pet store

If you choose to buy it in a pet store, you should know that You will not know which parents it comes from nor will they give you the pedigree. However, the price is cheaper as we will see below.

Buy from an individual

You may very well have seen some ads for the sale of these dogs, but You have to be very careful with online ads, as there are many (too many) that have been placed by people who want to scam to those looking for a furry friend. How then to identify those who are really serious?

The advertisement must be written in only one language. It may seem obvious, but many people have been misled into believing that this "norm" was being met. You should know that often these people write a text in their language, translate it with the help of an online translator, and copy and paste that text in the ad. Web translators have improved a lot, but they continue to make mistakes, so if you read a word that is not very coherent (or not at all), be suspicious.
In the ad contact information should be seen of the person, at least the phone number and the province.
You must to be able to meet her to see the puppies, and thus be able to make sure that they are well cared for and therefore, that their health is good.
This person will not give you the puppies with less than two months of age.
They won't ask you for money up front.

Price

The price of the Mallorcan shepherd will vary depending on where you buy it. For example, if it is from a farm, the price is around 400 euros; On the other hand, if it is in a pet store or a private individual, it can cost around 150-200 euros.

Adopt a Ca de Bestiar

Despite being a breed, and despite the fact that it is still in the recovery phase, there are many people who abandon them. Why? Well, the reasons can be several: not being able to maintain them, removals, ... The fact is that both the kennels and the animal shelters (Protectors) it is very easy to find several copies, usually adults.

For this reason, if you want to help an animal that has lived for many years with someone who has ended up abandoning it, from here I encourage you to adopt.