Dog breed
Carea Leones
|
---|
|
Other names
| Leonese Sheepdog
|
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Origin
| Leon
(
Spain
)
|
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|
Notes
| Recognized in Spanish legislation
[1]
|
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Dog
(
domestic dog
)
|
The
Carea Leones
(
English:
Leonese Sheepdog
)
[2]
is a breed of
herding dog
from
Leon
,
Castile and Leon
,
Spain
(
Europe
), and is used as a
sheepdog
. For centuries, they tended flocks of
Churra
(sheep) in the mountains of the
historical region of Leon
.
[3]
History
[
edit
]
The Carea Leones is a dog whose morphology and character have been molded by its environment, both physical and human. Regarding the physical, it can say that this breed is rooted in the regions of the
province of Leon
and
Zamora
. This was so because it are agricultural areas where crops shared its existence with sheep herds. For such coexistence come to fruition, and due to shortage of shepherd men who were at any particular time, and the number of heads could be high, it was necessary to resort to a helper who will control cattle to temptation, and this was the Carea Leones.
[4]
Ancestor of other breeds
[
edit
]
When Spain colonized America, they introduced
Churra
sheep
for food and fiber. They also brought their Carea Leones to manage the huge flocks. These dogs contributed to the type of herding dogs found throughout California and the Southwestern United States including the
Australian Shepherd
.
[5]
Appearance
[
edit
]
Their coat is smooth and short or moderate length and slightly wavy, and ranges from black to dark liver or
merle
with white and or tan trim.
Size and weight
[
edit
]
They range in size from 18 to 23 inches (45 cm to 58 cm) and in weight from 30 to 70 pounds (14?32 kg).
Temperament
[
edit
]
This breed is used as a
working dog
and as a companion. Because of its intelligence, the Carea Leones, like most sheepdogs, is easy to train.
[6]
[
page needed
]
Function
[
edit
]
The function of Carea Leones is to carry and control livestock, whether
sheep
,
bovine
or
equine
. It is a stubborn and courageous animal with cattle, not allowing these daunted it. This is an important detail and valued by shepherds, and the dog should be strong with some bite to the respect earned it by the cattle so it can control a large number of sheep and impose to the size of cows or mares, with the possibility of receiving a kick. In mountain areas these are used more for that type of cattle and take to the home the sheep, for the large herds spend most of the year, in the plain, paramos and shores where the carea is needed.
[7]
It is an intelligent animal, with great learning ability and willingness to work. It is a dog with good personality but is subject to the orders it receives from its owner.
[8]
Activities
[
edit
]
The Carea Leones can compete in
dog agility
trials,
obedience
,
showmanship
,
flyball
,
tracking
, and
herding
events.
Herding
instincts and trainability can be measured at noncompetitive herding tests. Careas exhibiting basic herding instincts can be trained to compete in herding trials.
[6]
[
page needed
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]