Estrela Mountain Dog puppies

About the Estrela Mountain Dog

The Estrela Mountain Dog comes from the Serra da Estrela range in Portugal, where they lived out with the flocks and dealt with wolves. This is a giant, heavy boned livestock guardian with a broad head and a thick coat that comes in long and short varieties, often described as having the texture of goat hair. Estrelas are calm and slow to rouse at home, affectionate with their own family and children, and naturally suspicious of anything unfamiliar arriving on the property.

Exercise needs are moderate rather than punishing, daily walks and room to patrol, but the breed does badly in a flat and turns destructive when left with nothing to do. The coat needs a weekly going over and daily work when it drops. The real commitment is training a guardian: wide early socialisation and a fence that actually holds, because an Estrela decides for themselves what counts as a threat. They also bark at night, which is precisely what they were bred to do.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Estrela Mountain Dog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation of breeding stock
• Dilated cardiomyopathy and other heart disease, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
• Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in large deep chested dogs
• Entropion of the eyelids, found on a veterinary eye examination

Your Estrela Mountain Dog puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Estrela Mountain Dog.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 34.9 to 59.9 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 59.9 kg, the largest size in the chart, which tops out at 49.9 kg, so measure the dog before you buy; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Do slow feeder bowls work? Choosing one for a puppy that gulps
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other large breeds

More on the Estrela Mountain Dog

Previous: Entlebucher Mountain Dog · Next: Eurasier

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Estrela Mountain Dog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/estrela-mountain-dog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.