Estrela Mountain Dog

Also known as: Portuguese Mountain Dog

The Cão da Serra da Estrela takes its name from Portugal's highest mountain range, where it guarded flocks of sheep against wolves and raiders for centuries. It is one of Portugal's largest native breeds, with males reaching up to 50 kilograms, and the dense coat, whether short or long, was built to shrug off harsh mountain winters. Some pups still show a slight ruff of loose skin around the neck, a trait tied to the days when guardian dogs wore spiked iron collars for protection against wolf bites. The breed is calm and watchful by nature, more inclined to position itself between flock and threat than to attack outright, though it will act decisively if pushed. At home it needs room to move and firm, patient handling rather than harsh correction. Life expectancy runs 10 to 12 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Estrela Mountain Dog: how old in human years?

62–72 cmHeight
30–50 kgWeight
10–12 yrsLife expectancy

Rafeiro do Alentejo

FCI group: Pinscher and Schnauzer type, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs
FCI section: Section 2.2: Molossoid breeds, Mountain type
FCI: 173
Country of origin: Portugal

Energy level

3/5
Trainability

3/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

3/5

At a glance

Height

Males 65–72 cm

Females 62–69 cm

Weight

Males 40–50 kg

Females 30–40 kg

Life expectancy

10–12 yrs

Coat

short or long, dense (medium-length)

Temperament & Family Life

Estrela Mountain Dog's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 3/5
Good with other dogs 2/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 3/5
Trainability 3/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Estrela Mountain Dog's energy and exercise needs are low.

Energy level 3/5
Exercise need 4/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 2/5
Hunting instinct 2/5

Guarding & Alertness

Estrela Mountain Dog's guarding and alertness traits are high.

Guarding instinct 5/5
Watchfulness 5/5
Barking level 2/5

Grooming & Care

Estrela Mountain Dog's grooming needs are moderate.

Shedding 3/5
Drooling 3/5
Grooming need 3/5

Living with the Estrela Mountain Dog

A strange car stops at the gate after dark, and your Estrela Mountain Dog is already there, not lunging, just standing, large and calm, until it has worked out who the visitor is. In the mountains of Portugal it guarded flocks against wolves, and that job still seems to it the most important one in the world. It is devoted and gentle with its own people, and meets strangers and other dogs with caution.

It needs more exercise than its calm manner suggests: long walks and a yard it can patrol suit it far better than a flat. It learns reasonably well but has opinions of its own, so patience and consistency work better than strictness. Early socialisation is not a luxury here; a young Estrela should meet as many people, sounds and places as you can manage.

It is patient with children, but remember that this dog can weigh as much as an adult and can knock a toddler over without meaning to. A solid fence, clear rules and a family that treats it as one of them, not just as a guard, are what it needs to keep watch for you calmly and with dignity.

Grooming and coat

Estrelas come in two coats, short and long, but both hide a dense undercoat that comes out in tufts in spring and autumn. A thorough brush once or twice a week does it, daily during the moult. With the long-coated ones, check behind the ears, the trousers and the underside of the tail, where the hair tangles. Run a hand over the skin as you brush: under that much coat, a red or damp patch is easy to miss.

Lift the drop ears once a week and look inside; they should be clean and odour-free. Wipe the eye corners with a damp cloth and the drool off the muzzle with a towel, which you may want to keep by the door. And don't forget the nails: a heavy dog that spends a lot of time lying down wears them down less than you would expect.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

Forty or fifty kilos of mountain guardian means a lot of bone, a lot of joint and a deep chest, so the health questions here are those of big dogs. An Estrela Mountain Dog can live ten to twelve years, and those years can be largely uneventful if you know what to watch for. The conditions below are worth recognising, and when something worries you, let a vet make the call.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Hip dysplasia

The hip joint forms loosely, so the ball of the thigh bone moves more than it should and the joint wears over time. You might see a young dog struggle to get up, bunny-hop with both hind legs at a run, or avoid the stairs. Estrelas grow fast and end up heavy, so show any limp to a vet, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.
Elbow dysplasia

This is a developmental problem of the elbow, where the parts of the joint don't fit together as they should and it starts to hurt. The first sign you may notice is a limp on a front leg, especially after a long walk or first thing in the morning. A dog this size carries much of its weight on its front legs, so mention any limp that keeps coming back to your vet.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)

The stomach fills with gas and can twist on itself, cutting off its own blood supply. The dog can't settle, retches without bringing anything up, drools, and its belly swells and turns hard. An Estrela is a big, deep-chested dog, and this is an emergency: if you see these signs, get your dog to a vet immediately.

Food for giant breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (50 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 470 g of dry food a day, from €25,71 a month For a neutered, normally active 40 kg dog. Calculate for your dog