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title: "Cão de Castro Laboreiro - temperament, price, health | Pedibase"
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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+4
Dogs
# The Cão de Castro Laboreiro: temperament, price, health, and breeders
Portugal
A rustic guardian of the Portuguese mountains, loyal to its own and wary of strangers.
Size LargeLife expectancy 10–13 yearsBudget ≈ €140/monthPuppy €500 – €1,000
[Find a breeder 9](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-cao-de-castro-laboreiro) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=cao-de-castro-laboreiro)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Good
Daily exercise needs Very high
Apartment living Limited
First-time owners Fair
Other pets Good
Tolerance of being alone Very good
Guarding instinct Very good
Strengths and weaknesses
- Excellent guard: Its protective instinct, vigilance and distrust of strangers make it a very good guard dog.
- Great hardiness: From a mountainous environment, it has a solid constitution and good overall resistance.
- Loyal to its family: With its own, it is faithful, docile and deeply attached to its home.
- Not well suited to apartment living: Its need for space, activity and supervision makes it unhappy in housing that is too confined.
- Reserved with strangers: Its natural wariness requires serious socialization to avoid inappropriate reactions.
- High exercise needs: This active dog must benefit from long outings and regular activities to remain balanced.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- House in the countryside: He thrives in a spacious environment where he can watch over his territory and get exercise.
- Experienced owners: His protective nature and energy require a consistent and committed handler.
- Homes looking for a rustic guardian: He is well suited to people who want a strong, loyal, and hardy guard dog.
Not recommended for
- Apartment living: The lack of space and freedom of movement does not match its daily needs.
- Unavailable beginners: Without time, a clear framework and regular training, this breed can become difficult to manage.
- Very sedentary people: Its high activity level requires a lifestyle that can include real outings every day.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
60 cmCão de Castro Laboreiro
- Height at the withers
- 55–64 cm
- Weight
- 25–40 kg
- Coat
- Short, smooth, dense
- FCI group
- 2
- Origin
- Portugal
- Grooming
- Easy to care for
## Photos and videos
See the Cão de Castro Laboreiro in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The Cao de Castro Laboreiro is a very ancient breed originating from the village of Castro Laboreiro, in a mountainous region of northern Portugal. There it established itself as a shepherd and farm dog thanks to its hardiness, robustness and guarding temperament. Over time, it has also been appreciated as a guard and family dog. The breed was definitively recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1955.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
The Cao de Castro Laboreiro is a large molossoid-type dog, with a moderately long body, robust and harmoniously developed. Its back is strong, its croup muscular, its chest oval and its neck well developed. Its elongated and rectangular head, its almond-shaped eyes with a serious expression and its drooping triangular ears contribute to its vigilant appearance. Its coat is short, smooth, lying close and fairly thick, without undercoat, generally brindle wolf grey, often described locally as a mountain color.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
The Cao de Castro Laboreiro has a balanced temperament, loyal and docile with its family. It is naturally protective and wary of strangers, which makes it a very good guard dog. Attached to its own without being demonstrative, it retains a degree of independence and real confidence in its role of surveillance.
Playful Protective
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
On a daily basis, this dog likes to have space and a structured living environment. He prefers a house with a fenced yard, ideally in the countryside, and does not cope well with apartment living. Vigilant, quite vocal and very active, he needs long outings and regular activities that engage both his body and his attention.
Training
## Training and socialization
The education of the Cao de Castro Laboreiro must combine firmness, consistency and gentleness. Brutality or injustice must be avoided, as they harm the relationship with this dog, which is sensitive to the fairness of its framework. Well guided, it proves loyal, willing and pleasant to live with, with good aptitudes for work and guarding.
Budget
## Price and budget for the Cão de Castro Laboreiro
The Cao de Castro Laboreiro remains a confidential breed and its purchase price depends mainly on the quality of the breeding, the lineage and the availability of puppies. It is advisable to favor a serious professional capable of providing clear information on health monitoring and socialization.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/cao-de-castro-laboreiro/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
The Cao de Castro Laboreiro is generally considered a hardy, rustic dog with overall solid health. The available references do not attribute to it any clearly identified particular predisposition to a specific disease, which confirms its profile as a robust dog when it benefits from good living conditions and regular veterinary follow-up.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/cao-de-castro-laboreiro/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The Cao de Castro Laboreiro needs a complete, balanced diet adapted to its large size as well as to its high activity level. The ration must support muscle mass, endurance and the maintenance of a stable weight without excess.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/cao-de-castro-laboreiro/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
The name of the breed comes directly from the Portuguese village of Castro Laboreiro. It has built a reputation as a livestock guardian capable of driving away predators in mountainous areas. Its brindled wolf-grey coat is one of its best-known distinctive signs, as is its serious gaze. The breed has been recognized by the FCI since 1955.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the Cão de Castro Laboreiro
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Can the Cao de Castro Laboreiro live in an apartment?
No, this breed is not well suited to apartment living. It thrives more in a house with well-fenced land and an environment that allows it to exercise every day.
### Is the Cao de Castro Laboreiro a good guard dog?
Yes, it is one of its strengths. Naturally vigilant, protective and wary of strangers, it has strong aptitudes for guarding and surveillance.
### Is the Cao de Castro Laboreiro suitable as a first dog?
It is generally not the easiest breed for a beginner. Its size, need for space, energy and protective instinct require a consistent, available owner capable of providing serious training.
## Find a Cão de Castro Laboreiro breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most Cão de Castro Laboreiro breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
### Cão de Castro Laboreiro breeders by country
[6 breeders of Cão de Castro Laboreiro in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-cao-de-castro-laboreiro/germany) [2 breeders of Cão de Castro Laboreiro in the Netherlands](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-cao-de-castro-laboreiro/netherlands) [1 breeder of Cão de Castro Laboreiro in Italy](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-cao-de-castro-laboreiro/italy)
[All breeders of Cão de Castro Laboreiro in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-cao-de-castro-laboreiro)
## Ready to welcome a Cão de Castro Laboreiro?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-cao-de-castro-laboreiro)
## Discover other breeds
[Portuguese Mountain Dog
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/portuguese-mountain-dog)
[Alentejo Mastiff
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/alentejo-mastiff)
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[Karst Shepherd Dog
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/karst-shepherd-dog)
[Boxer
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/boxer)
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