Nowadays, the Spanish shepherd dog Gos d’Atura, also called the Catalan Sheepdog, is not necessarily used for farmers anymore. In a family with children, this dog also fits perfectly. However, there are a few things to take into account when you want to bring this dog breed into your home.
For example, this dog is energetic, vocal, very eager to learn and it also has a special body characteristic. Want to know what these are and whether this dog breed suits you? Then read everything you need to know about the Catalan shepherd here.
From shepherd to Spanish police dog: the history of the Catalan shepherd
The Gos d’Atura comes from Spain, from Catalonia to be precise. Hence its name: Catalan shepherd. It is believed that this breed was brought to Spain by the Romans thousands of years ago. These dogs were then used to guard and herd livestock. It is likely that this dog breed descended from a type of Pyrenean Mountain dog.
During the First and Second World Wars, the Gos d’Atura were given a different role: they then served as guard and courier dogs. Today, Spaniards use the Catalan shepherd as a police dog for search and rescue operations. In the 1970s it seemed for a while that the breed would slowly die out. Fortunately, thanks to a special breeding program, the dog breed has been preserved.
Gos d’Atura is a cheerful family dog
Originally, the Gos d’Atura is a working dog. He is inquisitive, intelligent and has a lot of courage. With tons of energy, this dog breed is tireless. Although these dogs are certainly not hyper or busy in the house. In some cases, the Catalan Shepherd is somewhat reserved toward strangers.
In general, though, they are cheerful and curious dogs. In addition, you have a real watchdog in the house with this breed. He is alert, brave and likes to keep watch for you. In addition, these dogs bark at the slightest thing. So whether he sees a burglar, or a little bird: he will bark.
Only if you already socialize the Gos d’Atura as a puppy will he get along well with other pets. In fact, by nature this dog is very territorial and is therefore not so easy to deal with other animals. Thus, it is not wise to introduce a new pet, be it a cat or dog, into the household at a later age. This shepherd tends to chase anything that runs away.
Do you have a family with children? In general, the Catalan shepherd lives in harmony with all housemates. So also, with children. However, he does tend to protect children from the family. So, watch your dog carefully when your children’s friends come to play. During the children’s boisterous play, your dog may try to protect your children from “dangerous friends. In general, this shepherd dog does not really have the urge to herd housemates. So that’s another advantage with children. This makes these dogs a great fit in a