Portuguese Sheepdog puppies

About the Portuguese Sheepdog

The Portuguese Sheepdog worked sheep, goats and cattle on the plains of southern Portugal and is nicknamed the monkey dog for their expressive, whiskery face. They weigh 17 to 26.8 kg, stand 42 to 55 cm, and carry a long wavy coat over a lean, agile frame, living 12 to 13 years. The character is intelligent and devoted, sometimes to the point of shadowing one person around the house, wary of strangers and quick to react to anything out of the ordinary.

They need a proper job or a substitute for one: long walks, herding, agility or scent work, plus daily training rather than a token stroll. The coat wants regular brushing to keep tangles out, particularly around the face and legs. Early and continued socialisation matters because the breed is naturally suspicious. Supervision is sensible around children and other pets given the herding instinct. Owners most often go wrong by leaving one alone and bored, which turns into barking and destruction.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Portuguese Sheepdog 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 medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. 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 dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed for
• Progressive retinal atrophy, detectable by DNA test and an ophthalmologist evaluation

Your Portuguese Sheepdog puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Portuguese Sheepdog.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 17 to 26.8 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 26.8 kg; chew toys made for medium 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

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Portuguese Sheepdog

Previous: Portuguese Pointer · Next: Portuguese Water Dog

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 Portuguese Sheepdog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/portuguese-sheepdog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Jmanur, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.