The Patagonian Sheepdog or es, Ovejero Magallánico, italic=no is a Chilean
breed
A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
of
sheepdog
A sheep dog or sheepdog is generally a dog or breed of dogs historically used in connection with the raising of sheep. These include livestock guardian dogs used to guard sheep and other livestock and herding dogs used to move, manage and co ...
. It was bred in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for sheep-herding work in the
Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region of the
southern part of Chilean Patagonia. It has a long rough coat and is well adapted to the harsh climate of the area. The
Kennel Club de Chile publishes a
breed standard.
History
The Patagonian Sheepdog was
bred in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for
sheep-herding work in the
Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region of the
southern part of Chilean Patagonia. It derives from European working dogs brought to Chile by settlers from Europe; among its ancestors may be the
Old Welsh Grey Sheepdog, which could have been brought by Welsh settlers to the
Chubut Valley in
Argentinian Patagonia
Patagonia () refers to a geographical region that encompasses the southern end of South America, governed by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and gl ...
.
Characteristics
It is dog of medium stature, with a long thick coat which provides protection from the harsh weather of the Patagonian steppes and mountains.
References
External links
genetic link to UK sheepdogs
Dog breeds originating in Chile
{{pastoral dogs