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35-646: The origin of this breed conjoins the history of all the Iberian mastiffs , and its evolution is linked to the transhumance route on the Iberian Peninsula . In ancient times, this molossus dog was found in the high regions of Portugal, in particular in Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province. The breed is used to improve pastoralism by developing it as a livestock guardian dog , particularly against Iberian wolf attacks, that are always prolific in

70-410: A 'single owner' [dog]. And because he is quite jealous and possessive, it is important to emphasize the importance of education and socialization...." They are possessive of toys and food, and owner control is essential. They are highly trainable and responsive to positive dog training techniques. They do not respond well to punishment, and have 'a long memory.' They are high energy dogs that require

105-483: A calm and reserved reaction to threats, and is notably curious and intelligent. An important attribute is its ability to work as a mixed pack with intact males and females; of course, younger males have to socialize to "temper their dominance" and adapt to working within the pack. They have a natural predisposition toward digging under fences and "expanding their territory," which needs to be monitored and controlled. They are high energy — fit, active, vigorous defenders of

140-486: A good companion dog. Females are generally more tractable and better companion dogs than males. Like most livestock guardian dogs, they bond with the flock; they are independent thinkers; and they must be trained to respond to their master's voice. Early training and socialization is essential. The breed association counsels: "... like all shepherds, the Transmontano Cattle Dog is a dominant dog and

175-701: A lot of space. In the right environment they are very effective to protect an estate and flock. They are well adapted to protecting flocks (and perhaps herds) from wolves; their use is also seriously being considered for the western United States. In 2020, the FCI provisionally recognized the breed. There is also a small breed association , and the government of Portugal maintains a breed registry and facilitates placement of Cão de Gado Transmontano for flock protection from wolves through its agency Parque Natural de Montesinho . Grupo Lobo supports placement of these dogs to protect flocks from wolves; thereby helping to preserve

210-421: A small (18%) portion of the diet. Wild boar (44%) and roe deer (35%) were the most important prey items, with ibex (3%) and red deer (0.3%) barely being targeted. The structure and availability of prey populations, as well as the size of its prey, often affects the diet of the Iberian wolf as well, as it has been observed to occasionally consume smaller prey such as rodents and birds. The consumption of unusual prey

245-469: Is a system of rugged mountain ranges in the south of the Iberian Peninsula where a very small wolf population has lived in isolation for half a century. A breeding pair of wolves was last sighted in 2013, however an extensive survey in 2016 could not find a breeding population. The DNA of a road-killed wolf from 2003 indicated high levels of inbreeding and 30% of the genome being that of dog. It

280-564: Is home to 2,200-2,700 wolves which have been isolated from mixing with other wolf populations for over a century. They form the largest wolf population in Western Europe . Due to population controls and damage to livestock , Iberian wolves were, as of September 2021, the only Western European subspecies of wolf whose hunting remained legal, yet only in Spain. Nonetheless, very few hunting permits were given every year, strictly north of

315-788: Is often due to varying biodiversity throughout its range. Wolf populations strongly declined across Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries largely due to human persecution, and by the end of the Second World War they had been eradicated from all of Central Europe and almost all of Northern Europe . Their population decline continued until the 1960s, with isolated populations surviving in Italy , Spain, Portugal, Greece , and Finland . Wolf populations have commenced recovering naturally since then. The Iberian wolf consists of over 2,000 individuals in over 350 packs distributed across 140,000 km . Their densities in some regions are among

350-619: Is the largest of the Portuguese breeds. It is a powerful, muscular and large breed with a broad muzzle and large head. Males range from 75–85 cm (30–33 in), and weigh between 132–165 lb (60–75 kg). Females range from 68–78 cm (27–31 in), weighing in between 110–130 lb (50–60 kg). They have moderately loose-fitting jowls and a single dewlap . They are first and foremost working livestock guardian dogs, and their development and temperament should be understood and appreciated in that context. This breed has

385-544: The Belgian Mastiff , have the word "mastiff" in their name, but are not considered true mastiffs. Many older English sources refer to mastiffs as bandogs or bandogges, although technically the term "bandog" meant a dog that was tethered by a chain (or "bande") that would be released at night; the terms "mastiff" and "bandog" were often used interchangeably. One of the most famous "bandog" programs in England, led to

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420-576: The Douro river . Along with the difficulty of their hunt by virtue of their vigilant nature and the rarity of their sightings, they were strongly desired by many European hunters as a big-game trophy . The Iberian wolf Canis lupus signatus Cabrera 1907 is classified as Canis lupus lupus by Mammal Species of the World . Some authors claim that the south-eastern Spanish wolf, last sighted in Murcia in

455-539: The "bandog" breeds. In the twentieth century the term "bandog" was revived to describe some large fighting mastiff type dogs crossed with any bulldog in the United States. Iberian Wolf The Iberian wolf ( Canis lupus signatus , or Canis lupus lupus , Spanish and Portuguese : Lobo ibérico ), is a subspecies of grey wolf . It inhabits the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula , which includes northwestern Spain and northern Portugal . It

490-428: The 1930s, Iberian wolves were relatively spread throughout Portugal, but destruction of habitat, loss of wild ungulates and the persecution by humans made it lose most of its territory (from around 44,100 km in 1900–1930, to only 16,300 km in 2002–2003) though populations have grown to about 29,000 km since. Some Spanish naturalists and conservationists such as Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente called for

525-556: The 1930s, was a different subspecies called Canis lupus deitanus . It was even smaller and more reddish in color, without dark spots. Both subspecies were nominated by the Spanish-born zoologist Ángel Cabrera in 1907. The Iberian wolf's skull morphometrics , mtDNA , and microsatellites differ from other European wolves. In 2016, a study of mitochondrial DNA sequences of both modern and ancient wolves indicated that in Europe,

560-711: The animal's protection to the European Parliament Committee on Petitions . Over a few weeks in September and October 2013, about 30 puppies and young wolves were killed by hunters in Asturias, León, and Cantabria. Although hunting is banned in Portugal, about 45% of wolf deaths are due to human activities, including illegal hunting. Calling the rate unsustainable, 10 organisations signed a statement requesting stronger protection. Sierra Morena

595-523: The area. The breed has evolved over time with improved genetics through selective breeding for the conditions of pastoral farming . It is thought by some that the breed is related to the Tibetan Mastiff , but no proof of this exists. It is related to the Rafeiro do Alentejo , the southern Portuguese cattle dog, which "for many centuries" would follow the cattle herd in their migrations within

630-411: The country. As those migrations were curtailed, the two breeds diverged. In the mountains of Portugal, which are characterized by steep fields of pastures and difficult road access, this breed has adapted to the conditions of the region (i.e., may be classified as a landrace ), and to the types of cattle , sheep , and goats that have traditionally grazed in these areas. Until the second half of

665-682: The end of the Pleistocene Ice Ages due to the isolation of the Iberian Peninsula when glacier barriers grew in the Pyrenees and eventually reached the Gulf of Biscay in the west and the Mediterranean in the east. Height is 70–90 cm and body length 110–140 cm. Females weigh 25–35 kg while Males weigh 35–55 kg. The Iberian wolf lives in small packs. It is considered to be beneficial because it keeps

700-527: The end of the hunting and the protection of the animal. Today, the hunting of wolves is banned in Portugal, and in Spain since 2021. The 2003 census estimated the total Iberian population to be 2,000 wolves. Wolves have been reported as returning to Navarre and the Basque Country and to the provinces of Extremadura , Madrid , and Guadalajara . A male wolf was found recently in Catalonia , where

735-525: The establishment of a recognized "bandog" breed known today as the Bull Mastiff . The least common "bandog" program in England was funded by Sir Nathanael Dieu-est-Mon'plaisir, the St. Louis Vincent Mastiff or South American Mastiff was named after Vincent Louis who reared plantation dogs originating from St. Louis and other parts of South America. This rare breed is the most expensive mastiff-type dog amongst

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770-490: The flock, and well adapted to fending off wild boar , foxes , and wolves , which are the prevalent predators in the area. Feral dogs are another opponent. They are an "excellent night guardian." "This dog is an athlete of all terrain able to make many miles along rugged landscapes, protecting both day and night his herd of possible threats. The largest of these is the Iberian Wolf , an endangered species that with

805-426: The help of dogs of this breed can be preserved." Representatives were selected and imported to the United States for a United States Department of Agriculture study on use of dogs to mitigate wolf predation in the western United States. They need large spaces and by nature like to roam free. They are ill-suited to being chained or apartment living. To cope with the heat, they like to burrow and make dens. They are

840-546: The highest in Europe, with up to 7 wolves/100 km . In 2018, a study identified that this wolf could be categorised into 11 genetic groups. Four groups were identified in the Portuguese regions of Alto Minho , Alto Trás-os-Montes , and one group located south of the Douro river . Seven groups were identified in the Spanish regions of western Galicia , eastern Galicia, western Asturias , central Asturias, eastern Asturias, south-eastern Asturias, and Castilla y León . Until

875-504: The last native wolf was killed in 1929. However, this animal was not a member of the Iberian subspecies, but an Italian wolf ( C. l. italicus ) migrating from France . As of 2013, an estimated 300 individuals remain in Portugal. In October 2013, Ecologists in Action called for an urgent review of the Iberian wolf census, which may overestimate their numbers. Later that month, wolf association Lobo Marley sent 198,000 signatures calling for

910-412: The mastiff type. Mastiffs have historically been guard dogs , protecting homes and property, although throughout history they have been used as hunting dogs , war dogs and for blood sports , such as fighting each other and other animals, including bulls , bears and even lions . Historical and archaeological evidence suggests that mastiffs have long been distinct in both form and function from

945-400: The morphological and genetic differences between them. Cabrera identified two types of wolves living in Spain. In comparison, C. l. lupus had a pale, undefined stroke on the cheek that contrasts with the white on the throat; C. l. signatus had a white stroke on the cheek that joins the white throat and with a reddish snout; and C. l. deitanus was much smaller and with more colouring than

980-399: The population of wild boars stable, thus allowing some respite to the endangered capercaillie populations which suffer greatly from boar predation. It also eats rabbits , roe deer , red deer , ibexes and even small carnivores and fish , depending on location. In Guadarrama National Park , the Iberian wolf primarily (82%) fed on wild animals, with domesticated animals only making up

1015-651: The reintroduction of wolves to northeast Oregon. Since their return in 2008 through 2014, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife documented "86 fatal wolf attacks on livestock." A similar experiment with cattle herds was conducted by the USDA in Montana. The breed has a short to medium coat with a dense undercoat, well adapted to the warm dry climate of the region. Generally the coat is white, with large patches of black, yellow, fawn, brindle or 'wolf grey'. It can also be of solid colour of fawn, yellow, wolf grey or brindle. This

1050-542: The similarly large livestock guardian dogs from which they were most likely developed; they also form separate genetic populations . The Fédération Cynologique Internationale and some kennel clubs group the two types together as molossoid dogs; some modern livestock guardian breeds, such as the Pyrenean Mastiff , the Spanish Mastiff and the Tibetan Mastiff , and an extinct draught dog called

1085-449: The twentieth century, the region was primarily pastoral. This changed when the government of Portugal encouraged land clearance so that grain could be grown. However, many of those areas have returned to their previous use as pasture. This breed continues to guard extensive sheep flocks in the region, and more than 95% of the dogs are so employed. As of 1995, the breed was exclusive to Portugal, with no known exports to other countries, and

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1120-616: The two most genetically distinct haplotypes form the Italian wolf , and separately, the Iberian wolf. The National Center for Biotechnology Information / Genbank lists the Iberian wolf under Canis lupus signatus . In 2020, a genomic study of Eurasian wolves found that the populations of the Dinaric Alps - Balkan Mountains region, the Iberian peninsula, and Italy diverged from each other 10,500 years ago followed by negligible gene flow between them. Their long-term isolation may explain

1155-488: The wolves (a protected species in Portugal) from human conflict. Mastiff A mastiff is a large and powerful type of dog . Mastiffs are among the largest dogs, and typically have a short coat , a long low-set tail and large feet; the skull is large and bulky, the muzzle broad and short ( brachycephalic ) and the ears drooping and pendant-shaped. European and Asian records dating back 3,000 years show dogs of

1190-460: The wolves to the north. C. l. signatus is described by Cabrera as being 140–180 cm in head and body length, and 70–80 cm height at the shoulders. The Iberian wolf differs from the more common Eurasian wolf with its slighter frame, white marks on the upper lips, the dark marks on the tail, and a pair of dark marks in its front legs that give it its subspecies name, signatus ("marked"). The subspecies differentiation may have developed at

1225-535: Was rarely seen outside of the northern Iberian peninsula. The breed has been imported to the US state of Oregon , as participants in an experiment to document the introduction and effect of "bigger" and "bolder" breeds – than so-called "white dogs", i.e. the Great Pyrenees , Akbash and Maremma Sheepdog  – as a deterrent to predation by wolves. This occurred in large part because of

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