If you got only a quick glance at this dog, your first impression might lead you to think it’s a heavy Labrador Retriever or an oddly colored Rottweiler. It’s neither. It’s a Cão de Castro Laboreiro, sometimes referred to as the Portuguese Cattle Dog. Some have referred to the breed as a herding dog, but it is actually is a fearless, intelligent and highly protective livestock guardian dog that works by patrolling its the territory.

This native of northern part Portugal is one of the most favored of the Portuguese guarding breeds (if not among the rarest), and a few of the dogs have been brought to America; one owner opined that he thought the Castro could become for the livestock industry what the German Shepherd is to the military if only more knew about them.  The dogs are naturally suspicious, very courageous, highly intelligent and learn quickly. They have a thunderous bark that’s been described as a highly singular baritone that climbs the scales to a “fortimisso finish.”