Facts & Origin
The origin of the Pastor Garafiano
The Pastor Garafiano is a very old dog breed. Its ancestors probably lived on the Canary Island of LaPalma before the 15th century. These so called small wolves mixed with the dogs brought by the Spaniards and through this crossing the Pastor Garafiano was born. Its name comes from the municipality of "Garafía", which is located in the northwestern region of this island.
After that there was another crossing with the German Shepherd in the meantime, but this made the Pastor Garafiano aggressive. So the breeders returned to the original cross, as it was actually a friendly herding dog for herds of goats and sheep. Today, the Pastor Garafiano is maintained as a separate breed by the Real Sociedad Canina de España and is listed by them with standard number 405 of Group 1, Section 1. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale has not yet recognized it.
It has always been used as a guard dog or herding dog on the island of LaPalma. It could prove itself best of all dog breeds in this difficult terrain, where extreme climatic conditions prevail combined with frequent water shortages.
| Alternate Name | Perro Pastor Garafiano |
| Origin | Spain |
| Life expectancy | 10 - 14 years |
| Care requirements | high-maintenance |
| Activity level | high |
| FCI group | not recognised |
| AKC group | not recognised |
| KC group | not recognised |
Attitude, character and temperament of the breed
The breed characteristics of Pastor Garafiano
- alert - since its existence it has been used as a protector
- agile - it loves a lot of movement and always wants to be challenged
- intelligent - for it senseless commands are first questioned by it
- docile - if you are consistent with your Pastor Garafiano, it likes to follow orders
- loyal - once it has taken you into its heart, it will not leave your side again
- family friendly - it likes children and loves to romp around with them
The typical character traits of Pastor Garafiano
The Pastor Garafiano is in its nature a very active dog with a high intelligence. If your Pastor Garafiano has only had good experiences with you, it will be very grateful and friendly towards you. You will get to feel this through his good obedience and protective instincts. With its innate alertness and agility, it notices everything in your environment. In addition, it is a good climber, as it has been active in the wild areas of the island of LaPalma since its existence and still is today.
So it likes to accompany you everywhere and walks very well on the leash. Since it is a sociable dog, he gets along for the most part with any other breed of dog. If you have less time for your Pastor Garafiano, it is advisable to keep it with other dogs, so that it can find his species-appropriate workout. It loves to play, whether with other dogs or with people of any age and does not shy away from water.
Your Pastor Garafiano needs a consistent education, because it is self-confident and independent. Therefore it is advisable to have already gained some experience with dogs. In addition, you can integrate him into your family, because it is very adaptable and friendly.
Character
Usage
Health and breeding information
Diseases, buy pastor and breeding
There is no information about typical diseases. There are no specific diseases of the breed. If you want to buy a Pastor Garafiano dog, you have to ask uncle Google. There are German breeders for the Garafiano, who pay attention to the exact specifications of the breed standards and also maintain their website regularly, if the bitches have new litters in planning or are already pregnant.
Appearance and coat of the Pastor Garafiano
The Pastor Garafiano was never bred for its appearance, but rather for its functionality. Therefore, differences can occur in the same breed. Your Pastor Garafiano may have erect or partially bent ears and may also vary in coat color.
In general, its appearance is more like an Old German Shepherd, although he is not quite as massive. Its smooth coat is medium long to long and soft, the color spectrum ranges from light yellow over red to brown, almost black. At least the muzzle and around the eyes it is mostly brown to black. The tail of the Pastor Garafiano is also covered with dense fur.
Its stature is medium to large with a short neck and a comparatively small head. The head of the Pastor Garafiano has a slightly arched forehead and the drooping or slightly erect ears are grown further back.
| Fur length | medium |
| Fur | wavy |
| Ear shape | Standing Ears |
| Tail | fanned out |
| Anatomy | sporty |
| Size ♀ | 55 - 62 cm |
| Weight ♀ | 24 - 30 kg |
| Size ♂ | 57 - 64 cm |
| Weight ♂ | 28 - 35 kg |
| Suitable For | - |
